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!

Another lovely ....

.... worldwide swap.

The November reveal for Card Chain Challenge is up on Deborah's blog.  This time, I received a card from Gail in Norway and I sent a card to Greta in Oregon (both places I'd like to visit!!).  Here's what I sent to Greta:

I spent some days thinking this one through, I had decided to use the little bird house stamp and the woodgrain paper, but getting it how I wanted took a bit of late-night wrangling!!  I picked lilac and yellow (not colours I normally use), coloured the bird house and stamped the background image, then meh!  Something was missing!  Then I thought about adding some stitching, so picked vibrant yellow thread and I think it just lifts the whole thing.  Here's a close-up of stamping and stitching:

Recipe:
Papers: MME "Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks"

Stamps: Hero Arts "Happy Hello", Hero Arts "Hello Circles", CC Designs "Birdhouse"

Other: Glossy accents, needle & thread

And here's the cute Gorjuss Girl card that Gail sent all the way from Norway - love that glossy black hair:

Thanks for looking, and if you'd like to join in the challenge, the January sign-up opens on 7th December.

Forgot all about ....

.... this one.  I started making this card well over a year ago, at a crop I think.  Then bits of it sat on my desk for months and months until eventually I finished it at another crop.  Then it sat on the desk again for a while, then I put it in a storage box, and when I took it out to write for a friend's birthday today, I realised I'd never photographed or uploaded it!!  Here's the slow card:

I'm entering this in the following challenges: Crafty Cardmakers ("Slap it On"), Papertake Weekly ("Anything Goes") and Shopping our Stash ("3-2-1" - I have 3 banners, 2 flowers, 1 brad).

This card covers the change in style of my card-making - see, I was still spending ages and ages stitching when I started it (the background paper and the circle base for the flower) and then the other layers aren't stitched at all!!  Here's a little side-shot of the dimension on this card:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Ambrosia" and MME "Stella Rose Hattie" - I think!!

Stamp: Hero Arts "Doodle Leaf Flower"

Colouring Medium: Prismacolor Pencils

Die: Nestabilities "Eyelet Circles"

Other: Hero Arts pearls, Julie Frog's washi tape, Basic Grey "Sugared" brad

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!

Made a start ....

.... on the February workload!  My mother-in-law's birthday is this Saturday, but since she comes over for dinner every Thursday evening, today was my deadline for getting her card done.  I was sticking the last bits together before I left for school this morning, and had to bring it to school for half-decent light to photograph, bit last minute-y really, but it's done and she liked it very much, so phew!!  Here's what I made:

Update 11th Feb: This card was picked as a Cupcake Cutie on Cupcake Craft - thank you!
Another Update 13th Feb: This card was picked as a winner on Mojo Monday - thank you!

I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday (turned on its side), and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Cupcake Craft ("Yellow and Grey"), Moving along with the Times ("Only Girls Allowed"), Crafts and Me ("Favourite Colour Combo") and ABC Challenge ("G is for Going Dotty").

I really like yellow and grey combined, so much so I'm thinking it might look nice in the sitting room!!  I pulled together papers from 2 different manufacturers and 4 different collections, and added brads and buttons from another 3 lines.  Such diversity!!  I printed the digi image twice and cut out and layered up three petals over the base image, adding a few stripes of glossy accents for extra oomph!  Here's a closer view:

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Seaside", MME "Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks", "Stella Rose Hattie" and "Stella Rose Hazel"

Image: Digi but I can't remember where I got it - can anyone enlighten me?

Colouring Medium: Prismacolor Pencils

Other: BG "Sugared" brads, BG "Bittersweet" and "Urban Prairie" buttons, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

No images again ....

.... I've been doing a lot of sentiment only cards lately, I wonder is my style changing?  Only time will tell, I suppose! 

This card is my bit-late-again DT sample for this week's PaperPlay.  Our challenge is called "Wooden it be Nice", use something to do with wood, could be woodgrain paper, wooden embellishments, tree image/stamp.  I used lovely woodgrain paper.  We are sponsored this week by Whiff of Joy.

This card is for the family of a very elegant and stylish elderly lady who died last week.  At her funeral, we were told how she had a different coloured umbrella for every ensemble!  She always had hair, makeup and nails impeccably done and, indeed, on her way down for MRI tests in hospital, made the porter wait until she had her can of hairspray with her!!  So with all this in mind, I wanted to make a card fit for a lady.  Here's what I ended up with:

I used the lovely sketch from this week's Mojo Monday and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: The Shabby Tea Room ("Rustic Elegance"), Fussy and Fancy Friday ("Anything Goes" and The Crafty Pad ("Distress It").

Here's a side-shot of the card, showing the distressed, inked and rolled roses:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Capella" and MME "Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks"

Other: Ribbon from stash, Hero Arts pearls

Thanks for looking!

Brief? What's a ....

.... brief?  You know how I can't do "themed cards"?!!  I laughed when my friend asked me to make a card for her brother-in-law's 60th birthday.  She told me his name and age (obviously!), and then went on to say he likes Jags, Man Utd., and what his job is.  I asked her who did she think I was and said she'd get the name and the age on the card!!!  I did add a little car paper and red/white colours (among others), though!  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Deconstructing Sketches, and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Simon Says Stamp and Show ("Favourites" - mine are BG papers and stitching), Stamp with Fun ("Three Papers") and Totally Gorjuss ("Traditional Christmas Colours").

Here's a side-show of the layers and stuff!

Recipe:

Papers: MME "Holly Jolly" and BG "Oliver" and "Wander"

Other: Handmade tags, circular numbers, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

So that's September ....

.... done and gone!!!  Well, more or less, anyway.  September is always a mad month, given that not only are the kids back in school, but so am I!!  By this week, my office was beginning to look a bit less like an explosion in a paper factory!  And now that all is settling down, it's time for me to start work on Junior Infants for next year!! No rest for the wicked!!  The state of my house, though, is another story that will do for another time!!

All that being said, I've had neither time nor energy for crafting until another pesky deadline grabbed me by the throat this week.  A card for my friend for her husband's 50th birthday.  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: Charisma Cardz ("Something for the Guys"), Cute Card Thursday ("Letters and Numbers"), Moving along with the Times ("Seeing Red"), Crafts and Me ("Favourite Colours" - mine is that petrol-y blue) and Simon Says Stamp ("Anything Goes").

 

Excuse the light in the pics, I was in a rush to take them this morning, and now it's Autumn, we're back to bad blue natural light and cruddy yellow artificial light!!  Here's a yellow-lit side-shot of the dimension in this card:

 

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Oliver" and "Oxford" and MME "Holly Jolly"

Die-Cut: Nestabilities "Petite Ovals Large"

Other: Recycled corrugated card, star snap from stash, Rusty Pickle numbers, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

From one extreme ....

.... to the other!  We went to my friend's son's 21st party at the weekend, and also in attendance were other friends with their new baby, Matthew - all of 5 days old!!  He is the cutest little guy, and also the most calm and tranquil baby I've seen in a long time.  But in case you think I was getting broody, I wasn't - I am so glad I'm past that stage!!!  I made this card for him:

I used the sketch from this week's Sweet Sketch Wednesday, and I'm also entering it in the following challenges: Mo's Digital Challenge ("Anything Goes"), Cupcake Craft Challenge ("In Stitches") and The Cute Pie Challenge ("No Flowers").

I used one of Mo Manning's cute baby images - here's a closer look, followed by a side-shot of the dimension of this card.

Recipe:

Papers: MME "Stella Rose - Hattie"

Image: Mo Manning "Binky Baby"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Brads and ric-rac from stash, buttons - Basic Grey "Granola".

Thanks for looking!

Spring forward....

.... fall back!  That kind of describes my crafting these days, it's all long spells of inertia followed by manic bursts of activity, usually triggered by family birthdays!  I had two friends' birthdays this week, one female and one male, and I decided to make things easier on myself by using the same sketch for both cards.  I made one card yesterday, and then I was at a crop today and made the other (and dropped it to the birthday boy on the way home, talk about last minute!). 

The sketch is this week's Mojo Monday - I like the elements, especially the pennant shape.

So here is my lady card:

And the man card:

I've also entered them into the following challenges: Totally Gorjuss ("Anything Goes with a Button"), Craft Your Passion and Papertake Weekly ("Anything Goes"), ABC Challenge ("Kraft") and Crafty Creations ("Stripes").

Here are some side-shots of the dimension and tags on the cards:

Recipes:

Papers: MME "Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks" and "Stella Rose Hazel", BG "Jovial"

Dies: Cheery Lynn "English Tea Party Doily Die" and Nestabilities "Pinking Circles"

Punch: MS "Doily Lace"

Other: Buttons and ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Time to get mushy ....

.... again, what with Valentine's Day coming up!!  Our challenge on PaperPlay this week is a timely one, "Love Letters", and we're sponsored by Stamp Fairy.

I've had the usual extra challenge of making a non-soppy, non-girly Valentine's card for my husband - here's what I ended up with this year:

Update 18th Feb: This card was picked as a Top 3 on Shopping our Stash - thank you!

The papers are actually Christmas ones, from two different MME collections, but I think they fit the bill very well.  I do like the letters, I printed them from the computer, backed with chipboard, cut out and covered with contact for shine.  Here's a close-up:

There are tons of Valentine/Love challenges around atm, of course, so I'm entering this into the following: Creative Inspirations, Simon Says Stamp, Truly Scrumptious, Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge and Shopping our Stash.  I'm also entering Papertake Weekly ("Anything Goes").

Here's a side-shot of the layers on the card, lots of dimension:

Recipe:

Papers: MME "Holly Jolly" and "Lost and Found Christmas"

Other: Ribbon from stash, needle + thread, burgundy stickles, glossy accents

Thanks for looking!

Slipping already ....

.... oh dear, I didn't make anything yesterday.  Only because I got a reprieve, we were supposed to go to a friend's daughter's 2nd birthday in the afternoon (I was going to make her card in the morning), but they had to cancel it - so that one went on the long finger!!

But I can't escape my own daughter's birthday, coming up fast, so today I made her card.  Here it is:

I used the sketch from this week's Papertake Weekly and I'm also entering this into Kenny K's Krafty Girlz ("Metal Embellishment"), Totally Papercrafts ("Bling it up") and Crafts and Me ("Ribbon").

The MME papers I bought last week in Cork have the perfect colour pallette, as my daughter's current favourite colours are mustard, dark grey and wine. 

This is the first time I've used a Kenny K image, I really like this one for an older teenage girl, although I'm a bit sniffy about some of their images, too tarty for my taste, guess I'm a big old pearl-clutcher!!!  I broke out my pro-markers for the first time in absolutely ages to colour this - still haven't got the hang of doing hair, but I'm pleased with the rest of it, especially the jeans and the shoes.  Here's a close-up:

I made the numbers myself - printed out from the computer, stuck down and cut out from chipboard - and then I added a row of gems to each.  Here's a side shot of the dimension on this card:

Recipe:

Papers: MME Stella Rose "Hattie"

Image: Kenny K "Club Kid"

Colouring Medium: Pro Markers

Other: Fancy Pants "Daily Grind" chipboard cloud, Hero Arts gems on numbers, Prima swirl, Doodlebug brads, ribbon and buckle frpm stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Yahoo, a commission ...

.... from school, for a teacher who recently got engaged (I've never made an engagement card before).

I've also made it for this week's challenge on The Sugar Bowl, which is this interesting sketch:
.

I've flipped it 90 degrees and done a DL card (very out of my comfort zone - but there needs to be plenty of space for all the staff to sign it!!!). I used my Leanne Ellis "True Love" stamp, and decided to use more masculine colours - after all, the card is for a bloke as well as a girl!!!
.
I agonised for ages over whether or not to cut the image into 4 pieces to replicate the "window" in the sketch. In the end, I did it and I think it makes it a much more interesting card. I also glossy accented the flower and leaves.

Recipe:
Papers: MME 29th Street Market
Stamp: "True Love" Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen
Colouring Medium: Pro-markers
Other: Ribbon and brads from Stash, Fiskars border punch, needle and thread

ETA: Took the pics again in daylight today - it was a grey day so they're only a bit better, but the colours are at least truer!!
Thanks for looking.

P.S. Update on the baby's name from a few posts back, they called her Cara (so glad I put repositional adhesive on the nameplate!):o).