Looking forward ....

.... to a four-day week - it's St. Patrick's Day on Friday, so woohoo, four-day week and long weekend coming up.  So great - and then only another fortnight until Easter Holidays, hop, skip and jump to May Bank Holiday, June Bank Holiday and before we know, it, Summer Holidays!!!   Just like that!

I had a baby card to make for my friend - she was heading out to Canada to visit her daughter and meet her new baby grandson for the first time.  Here's what I made:

I've used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday (turned on its side) and I'm also entering the following challenges: Pink Gem Challenge ("3 Bs" - baby, blue and blobs!), Daring Cardmakers ("Take the rough with the smooth"), Cas-ual Fridays ("Off the edge") and Creative Inspirations ("Use Lili of the Valley products").

I painted a rough background with two colours of housepaint and overlaid with a sentiment printed on acetate.  I used my trusty Lili of the Valley baby stamp coloured with distress inks.  Here's a side-shot of the detail:

Recipe:

Stamp: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Paper: MME "Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks"

Font: "Peanut Butter Cookie" - dafont.com

Die: Nestabilities "Large Pinking Circles"

Other: Housepaint, acetate, grey marker

Thanks for looking!

Who's making a guest ....

.... appearance - me!!  I won a challenge back in January on Our Creative Corner and Laura invited me to do a Spotlight post featuring my work.  I didn't hesitate to say "yes" - and today my post appears on the Our Creative Corner blog.

I made a card for my old boss's new grandson, and here it is:

I used a recent sketch from Deconstructed Sketch and I'm also entering the following challenges: Party Time Tuesdays  and Crafty Girls ("Anything Goes"), ABC Challenge ("J is for Just as you Like"), Creative Inspirations ("Lots of Layers") and Stampin' for the Weekend ("Your Favourite Stamp").

 

I still haven't bought any new baby stamps, so I thought I'd do something a little different with the Lili of the Valley one I've used so many times - I stamped on kraft, coloured with prismas and cut out a circle.  Here's a close-up of the image: 

And here's a side-shot of the layers on the card:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Persimmon"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Colouring Medium: Prismacolor pencils

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug "Tiny Bubbles"

Font: "Throw my Hands up in the Air" - www.dafont.com

Other: Nestabilities "Large Pinking Circles" die, Basic Grey "Ambrosia" and "Granola" buttons

Thanks for looking - and thanks, Laura, for spotlighting my work on Our Creative Corner.

Une carte ....

.... Française aujourd'hui!! Flippin' 'eck, I had to google that spelling, my school French is way past rusty!!  My stepmother's nephew and his wife, who's French, had a baby girl, so I thought I'd give a nod to her French heritage and put the sentiment in French.  Here's what I made:

I used a sketch from a couple of weeks ago on Deconstructed Sketches and I'm also entering the following challenges: Lili of the Valley Monthly Challenge and Stamping for the Weekend ("Anything Goes") and ABC Challenges ("X-tra Special").

I stamped the ubiquitous Lili of the Valley baby stamp yet again!!  About time I invested in a few different baby stamps maybe?!!  Here's a closer view:

Recipe:

Papers: Kelly Panacci "His and Hers"

Stamp: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Mesh, buttons

Thanks for looking!

Screeeeeeeaaaaaaaaamm ....

.... I'm on me hollyers!!! At last, thought 12 noon today would never come!!  Now I can spend the next 9 weeks doing whatever I want (ha!).  Have had my wings slightly clipped by the fact that last week, we got a cat, and she has to stay inside for at least a month and gets a bit whingey when we leave her at home on her own.  What was I thinking?!!!  Will post a pic soon when I get a nice one of her.

Yesterday, I did a speedy-ish thank you card for my son's teacher.  Here's what I made:

Recipe:

Papers: MME "Sky's the Limit"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Lazy Afternoon"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Making Memories stickers

Very bad photo, taken this morning in a rush on the way out the door.  I used the sketch from last week's Deconstructed Sketch and I'm also entering this into Shopping Our Stash ("Oldest Embellishment" - min are the sparkly brads), Creative Inspirations ("Anything Goes + ribbon"), Simon Says Stamp and Stampin for the Weekend ("Anything Goes") and Lili's Little Fairies ("1 image, 2 papers, 3 types of embellie - brads, ribbon, letter stickers).

Thanks for looking!

What an output ....

.... those of you "card-a-day" gals will be chuckling when I say that this, my seventh post this month, is my highest monthly total in about two and a half years!!!  Dang, am I on fire or what?!!!

Today's card is a commissioned card for a new baby.  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: Lili's Little Fairies ("Butterflies"), Shopping our Stash ("Tag it"), Crafts and Me ("Tags or Punches") and Basic Grey Challenges and Simon Says Stamp both have "Anything Goes".

I used the ever-versatile Lili of the Valley baby stamp yet again (!), coloured with distress inks.  Here's a closer look:

And here's a side-shot of the layers and the little tag with the baby's name on it.  For any non-Irish readers, in case you were wondering how to pronounce the name on the card, it's an old Irish name(apologies in advance to any Irish Mammies of Oisins reading but it's not a name I particularly like!!).  Anyway, take the first syllable of the rapper, Usher's, name, and combine with Charlie Sheen's surname: Ush+sheen = Usheen.

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Thrift Shop" and Basic Grey "Oxford"

Stamp: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Punch: Nestabilities "Lacy Circles"

Other: Butterflies from cupcake wrapper, hairy string, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Hap.hap.hap....

.... happy holidays!!!  EEeeeeeeeeeeeeee - the day has finally arrived!!  We finished up at 12.00 noon today, after several exceptionally hectic weeks. I completed my last task at 11.55 - turned off the computer and ........ aaaahhhhh ..... it's the best best feeling to look forward to 9 whole weeks off!!

My daughter got her first summer job, which we are thrilled about - she was in 7th heaven the day she got her first paycheck, raced down to the shopping centre to spend it, but came home empty-handed!  She was so overwhelmed with all the things she could afford to buy that she couldn't make up her mind!!  The indecision didn't last long, however - she went into town the very next day and blew the lot!! 

I hadn't seen the inside of the craftroom in ages until I started making a card and giftbag for my son's teacher on Wednesday afternoon - finished it yesterday.  It was to have been my entry for this week's Paperplay challenge (which is "Flags/Pennants/Banners"), but it's a day late.  Oh well, I'm on the DT, I can add it!!!  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Papertake Weekly and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Lili of the Valley  ("A little bit Distressed"), Simon Says Stamp and Show ("Depths of Distress"), Stampin for the Weekend ("Show us your Style"), Basic Grey Challenges ("Favourite Colour Combo" - I've used my favourite olive green colour - and I love blue/green, even if it "never should be seen"!) and Creative Inspirations ("Anything Goes").
My son's teacher is a country girl - she made a container vegetable garden with the kids this year, so this fruit/veg paper from Basic Grey "Piccadilly" was just perfect.  Here's a close-up of the cute Lili of the Valley image, followed by a dodgy shot of card and giftbag.

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Piccadilly"

Stamp: Lili of the Valley "Back to School Boy" - oops, wrong end of the year!!

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Needle + Thread, buttons from stash, scalloped scissors, scalloped oval Nestabilities

I've got so much planned for this summer: catching up with friends, serious cleaning and decluttering of the house, painting a chair I rescued from a skip, catching up with blogs, lots and lots of card-making I hope.  Let's see how much of that list I manage to achieve!!

Thanks for looking!

Howzat ....

.... another card done!!

This one is for my brother - the cricket-playing one.  Here's what I made:

I used a cute Lili of the Valley cricketer image, but given that my brother ain't so cute, I tried to come up with something different to add to it, and I'm very chuffed with how it worked out.  Here's a side shot of my spring-loaded cricket ball:

I used the sketch from this week's Totally Gorjuss, and I'm also entering this into the following: Papertake Weekly and Lili of the Valley ("Anything Goes"), Kaboodle Doodles and Shopping our Stash ("Masculine") and Crafty Cardmakers ("Distress It").

Here's a closer look at the image.  Doesn't the little guy look nervous as that giant cricket ball comes hurtling towards him?!!!

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Oxford"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Cricket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Spring from an old notebook, needle + thread, twine

Thanks for looking!

So much for ....

.... March - tut tut - one post in one month is completely pathetic, isn't it?!!  March has been busy at school and also at home - we've had visitors, events and all sorts.  Went to a Mini friend's 50th birthday party at the weekend - great fun - some of our Swedish, German and English Mini friends had travelled over for the event and it was so lovely to see them again.  Also last week, I went to see "The Hunger Games" in the cinema with my book club.  I had devoured the books and wasn't sure what to expect of the movie.  General consensus was that it was good, but nowhere near as good as our imaginations!

Now it's April - and what's more, it's the Easter holidays, oh joy!  Two whole weeks off, and I've already made a few cards.  The first is my dear friend's birthday card - here's what I made for her:

Very bright, isn't it?!!  My friend's favourite colour is orange, not one I use often, but I went out on a limb especially!!  I used the sketch from last week's Papertake Weekly, but alas, I'm too late to enter that challenge - thankfully they're having an "Anything Goes" this week, so I can put it in there!

I'm also entering the following challenges: Lili of the Valley, Simon Says Stamp, Stampin for the Weekend and Joyful Stamper's Inspire Me Fridays all have"Anything Goes", Bunny Zoes Crafts ("Shabby Chic/Vintage"), and Creative Card Crew ("Spring").

I've used this cute "Lili of the Valley" image, coloured with distress inks.  I've been experimenting with them, trying for deeper colour contrast, and blending less smoothly - I'm happy with the clothes and skin on this girl, but am still struggling with hair.  Here's a closer look at the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Picadilly"

Stamp: Lili of the Valley "Milly Just for You"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Punch: MS "Arch Lattice"

Other: BG Mellow buttons, seam binding, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

And another one....

.... finished - I am really impressed with my card output this week - will be back to school on Monday, though, so I'm sure it'll all come to a screeching halt then!

Had a baby card to make, a boy for a change - I've just looked back in my blog history and this is only the 4th baby boy card I've made in four years.  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch on this week's Sketch Saturday and I'm also entering this on the following challenges: Stampin' for the Weekend (photo inspiration and blue+cream+brown colour combo), Totally Papercrafts (ribbon/bow), Kaboodle Doodles and Creative Card Crew ("Masculine") and Creative Inspirations (also Cream/Blue/Brown).

I'm loving all those buttons - I keep meaning to use them more often and I certainly piled a fair few on this card!!  I used this sweet Lili of the Valley image again.  It's so versatile, does perfectly for boy or girl baby cards.  Here's a close-up - the light had changed completely so the colours are totally different to the first post.

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Weathervane" + BG "Kraft Basics"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: BG "Granola" + "Bittersweet" buttons, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking - now to do my son's 10th birthday card!

Happy Valen....

...birthday!  My daughter's best friend is 17 today, so her pals have planned a "Valenbirthday" for her.  They've bought 17 packets of love heart sweets (yum, I love those), love heart jewellery, a tub of heart jelly sweets, and they are sneaking into her house this morning to make heart shaped pancakes for her breakfast.  They asked me to make a card and here's what I ended up with:

I used bright happy colours and lots and lots of hearts!  I've used the sketch from this week's Sketch and Stash (and an old but never inked Lili of the Valley stamp and some new baker's twine).  I'm also entering the following challenges: Bunny Zoe's Crafts ("Celebration"), Daring Cardmakers ("Pretty Hearts and Paper Doilies"), Fussy and Fancy Friday ("With all my Heart"), Our Creative Corner ("Best Friend" and I've got flowers on the pp, hope that counts) and Totally Gorjuss ("Lurve"). 

Here's a closer look at the image, I found her skirt really difficult, the fold lines just don't look right.  Oh well, it'll do!!

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Modern Homemaker"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Maisie Two Balloons"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Punch: MS "Valentine Lace"

Other: Baker's Twine, Doily Heart, seam binding, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Trying to catch up on ....

.... some sleep this week.  We were so tired after the weekend away - all those late nights and early mornings took their toll!!  And it was a very busy week in school too, which didn't help.  We had an unannounced visit from an inspector on Thursday - cue behind the scenes panic and mayhem - but all was well!

Went to a 40th birthday party today, luckily the birthday girl has small children, so the party wasn't a late-nighter - we came home at 9pm.  Here's the card I made for her:

I used the lovely sketch from this month's CLP Challenge and I'm also entering this into Colour Create ("Pink, Brown, Cream, White"), Cute Card Thursday ("Anything Goes") and Stampin for the Weekend ("Tickled Pink").

I used this sweet stamp from Lili of the Valley, first time to ink it up.  The gorgeous die-cut doily was done with a friend's die at a crop a while back - I cut several in the one colour - why didn't I think to do some other colour too?!!  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: MME "Stella Rose - Hazel" and Crate Paper "Emma's Shoppe"

Image: Lily of the Valley "Milly Just for You"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks
Other: Diamond Stickles, BG Pearls, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

No, I haven't been ....

.... away on holidays for the last three weeks - I have simply no idea where the time has gone.  Spent the first fortnight of the summer hols trying to wrestle house and laundry into some kind of order, the third week was a completely indulgent Harry Potter fest - my son and I spent the entire week watching all the previous movies and reading the books in the run up to HP8's release - then went to see it on the release day.  We loved it!

We spent a few days this week visiting some Mini friends of ours down in Cork - they run a B&B in their house - a fantastic old converted train shed (The Old Train House B&B) - and we had such a good time touristing by day and gossiping by night!!!

But now I'm home again, with a scarily large backlog of cards to make!!  The first one is also my PaperPlay entry this week.  Our challenge is called  "In the Garden" and we are sponsored by Whiff of Joy.  Here's my card:

I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Colour Create ("Pink, Green & White"), Fussy & Fancy Friday ("Summer"), Stamp Something ("Something embellished") and Totally Gorjuss ("Punch or Die").

I've used a gorgeous Lili of the Valley fairy image - so cute.  Here's a closer look:

Recipe:

Papers: BG "Wisteria"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Fairies - on Tiptoe"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Nestabilities Lacey Circles, MS Branch punch, Diamond Stickles, flower and brad from stash

Thanks for looking - another card started at a crop this evening, who knows, I may even finish it tomorrow - cough cough cough!!

Eek, I'm getting a bit ....

.... maybe nearly almost quite old/middle agedish!!  I've been invited to a past colleague's birthday party, I was a bit taken aback to realise she will be 40 - I thought she was a lot younger than that!  What next, am I going to start thinking that policemen all look like teenagers!!! 

Here's what I made for her (very dark and yucky photo - will try to retake before I hand it over):

I used the sketch from this week's Lili of the Valley Thursday Challenge. I'm also using this fortnight's Colour Create Challenge colour scheme of Chocolate, Strawberry and Cream and entering this into The Shabby Tea Room ("Keeping Warm").  I started this card at a crop on Saturday and I left all the papers I intended to use at home.  My kind friend, Jackie, let me "borrow" some of hers - thanks, Jackie!!

I love the image on this card, another Lili of the Valley that I bought in a set and this is the first time I've inked this one up.  Here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Papers: BG Bittersweet (brown), the red ones I don't know

Image: Lili of the Valley "Rosie Posy"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: ribbon from stash, Perfect Pearls, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!