Break out the yellow ....

.... because the sun is shining!!

It's been a very dank and grey spring here in Dublin, bar one sunny week way back in March (not that I'm complaining, as such - as I've said before, I like our weather). But today, the sun made a surprise appearance and it's to be fine for the whole week. My, what a good mood everyone is in!! And we've got Sports Day in school on Friday - it is so strange to hear people talking optimistically about the weather a whole 5 days in advance! Normally, we'd be hedging our bets and waiting until Thursday before deciding whether or not it can go ahead!

So when doing a commissioned card for a confirmation, I included a colour that I almost never use - YELLOW!! Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Sunday Sketch + Stamp and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Paper Sundaes ("Pretty in Pink"), Basic Grey Challenges ("Anything Goes" - my third entry!), Sugar Bowl ("Free for All" using Sugar Nellie stamp), The Ribbon Girl ("Pinks and Creams") and Simon Says Stamp + Show ("Summer Holiday").

I used this cute Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl image - but masked out the heart and envelope seams and added a cross so it looks like a prayer book.  I was told that Róisín, the girl who the card is for, has reddish-blonde hair - so I had a go with the distress inks - quite pleased with the result.  Here's a close-up and then a pic of the distressed, inked and rolled flowers.

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Ambrosia", "Kissing Booth", "Nook + Pantry" and "Capella"

Stamp: Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl "Sent with Love"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Punch: MS "Branch"

Other: Ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Arrrgh, these early....

.... mornings are getting the better of me!!  When left to my own devices, my natural waking time seems to be 9.15am - not 9 or 9.30, but 9.15.  So back at school and getting me plus two kids up at 7 is not a barrel of laughs!!  My husband, on the other hand, has to get up at 5am - eeeeeeeuuuuuugh!!!
I still haven't photographed my son's birthday card, the weather's been too overcast, but I'll hopefully get it up over the next day or two.  I was chuffed to see that my Valentine's card was picked for Top 3 on Shopping Our Stash - got a blinkie for me sidebar!!

In the meantime, it's Thursday and my PaperPlay team's turn to play.  Our challenge this week is "For a Mother" and we are sponsored by  Crafty Cutting.  I don't have a Mum, but it was my Mother-in-Law's birthday recently.  Here's what I made for her:

She likes flowers, so I used these Hero Arts stamps that I've made many cards with, I love them, there are four stamps and they can be used in so many combinations.  My MiL loved the colours.  Success!! 

I'm entering this into the following challenges: Moving Along with the Times ("Lots of Layers"), Crafts and Me ("Shades of Spring") and Paper Sundaes ("Birthdays). 

Recipe:

Papers: Crate Paper "Farmhouse"

Stamps: Hero Arts "Peeking Posies" set

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Punch: Fiskars "Threading Water"

Other: Ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

No more excuses ....

.... I'm back, trying to work out what I've been doing since the 22nd April (not much!!), and showing the one solitary card I've made since then.  I had the most lovely Easter hols, the Royal Wedding was a fab way to finish off the fortnight - what a fun day - there was practically a me-shape in the sofa when I finally got up, 'cos I didn't move off it all day long!!!  Back to school then, and it was straight in the deep end - this summer term is so very short it's manic trying to fit everything in.  Had a great Saturday night this weekend at our friends' house watching the Eurovision Song Contest - we were disappointed that Jedward didn't win - but that still didn't make the evening any less fun.

I've made this card for another of my husband's infernal nephews - quite late, but as we knew we weren't going to see him until this weekend, I let the deadline slip by ..... emmmm .... only a month and 2 days.  Bad auntie!!  Here's what I did:

I'm entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges ("Mix & Match" - I've used Wander papers and I think the buttons are Mellow), Mo's Digital Challenge ("Here Comes Summer" - the colours are quite bright and summery, I think), Paper Sundaes ("Birthdays"), and Stamp Something ("Anything Goes").

I used this excellent Mo Manning image and decided to try out colouring on kraft with prismas - quite hard not to obliterate the lines of the image - and the sansodor tends to soak in quite a bit, but I'm reasonably happy with the result overall.  Here's a closer look:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Wander"

Image: Mo Manning "Video Boy"

Colouring Medium: Prismacolor Pencils and Sansodor

Sentiment: Computer generated by me!

Other: BG Buttons, Tim Holtz crackle paint around edge of image, hairy string, needle + thread

Now I have to try and sort out a card for my "little" brother's 40th this weekend - I have no idea what to get him or what to put on his card (well, maybe a 4 and a 0!) - and he hasn't yet told us what he'd like to do for the event.

Thanks for looking - I promise to be a better blogger!!

Slightly belated ....

.... but I'll say it anyway, Happy New Year to one and all - hope 2011 will be a good year for you and yours!!

I've seen lots of threads on message boards about New Year's resolutions.  Typically, my resolution is not to make a resolution, I find that's an easy one to achieve!!!  But really, the most improving thing I could do is to stop procrastinating!!!

This card is a case in point, one of the teachers at school asked me to make it in mid-December.  OK, the snow was a valid excuse, then Christmas itself and all the visiting and socialising that entails.  But by last weekend, when I was still ensconced on the sofa and the house was cleaned up after the New Year's party, I had run out of excuses.  So I dragged myself up to the craftroom and, what do you know, made something!  Here's the card:

I used the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers.  I'm also entering this card into the following challenges: Shabby Tea Room (11 elements - mine are: 4 papers, 4 hearts, 1 image, 1 ribbon, 1 border punch), Lili of the Valley ("New Beginnings"), Paper Sundaes ("Something New" - my new is the ribbon) and Papertake ("Anything Goes").

I used Pumice Stone Distress Ink to ink the edges of the papers, I like the look against those pale pink papers, makes them stand out more.  I used the same Lili of the Valley stamp that I used on the last baby card  - it's so cute - just coloured with distress inks and highlighted with stickles.  Here's a close-up:

And here's a wee side-shot of the layers - lots of paper on this card, but I kept the dimension as flat as I could as the client is sending it through the post:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Sugared"

Stamp: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: MS Valentine Lace punch, Nestabilities Labels 4, diamond stickles, gingham ribbon, needle + thread

That's all for now- I'm going to go and make a start on taking down the Christmas decorations - such a gloomy job!

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!!

My first challenge ....

.... for Creative Card Crew!!   This week, the theme is "cute and girlie" and we're sponsored by the wonderful MelJen's Designs - I think everyone in blogland must now be aware of her lovely digi stamps, with their distinctive swirls.  Check out what the other CCC girls have made - all gorgeous stuff!

I have tried and tried to use digis, but no matter what I do, my printer is not complying and when I try to colour, I am not happy with the results no matter what medium I use.  I found a site last night that recommends washing the printed image under the tap to remove some of the excess ink, has anyone tried that?  I'd love to know if it is worth a shot.

Anyway, moan over, back to my card:

I've also entered this in this week's Sugar Bowl (DIY - participants can use whatever past sketch they wish - I've gone for No. 30), Daring Cardmakers (It's a Girl Thing), Paper Sundaes (stitching) and Basic Grey Challenges (stitching).

I used this beautiful Sugar Nellie girl by Leanne Ellis and coloured with distress inks - love the soft pinks and greeny/blues of the BG Olivia papers, my favourites at the moment, I think.  I stickled bits of the image and used glossy accents on the leaves, particularly on the ones I cut out, to strengthen them.  Here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Stamp: Leanne Ellis "Belle Flower" for Sugar Nellie

Papers: Basic Grey "Olivia"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Doily and ribbon from stash, stickles, glossy accents, needle + thread

Thanks for looking - and don't forget to enter my blog candy (click here) - only 6 days left!!!

Had another go ....

.... at digi-stamps this week for my PaperPlay DT card.  Sandie set the challenge with a lovely sketch to follow, and we were sponsored by Meljen's Designs.  I had a bunch of crafty friends round at my house yesterday - we had a super-productive day chat-wise and eating-cake-wise, but not so much craft-wise!!!!Here's the sum total of my day's hard work!!:

I'm also entering it into the new Wild Orchid Challenge (say it with flowers - I'm saying it with flower!), Paper Sundaes (lots of Layers) and ABC Challenge (You + Me).

That poor little girl - I initially coloured her face with Antique Linen Distress Ink, it picked up some of the printer ink and she ended up looking very very queasy.  I salvaged her as best I could by adding tattered rose, it took away the worst of the green tinge, but I think she looks like her face (and ears!) need a good wash!!!  But I do like how the jeans and shoes turned out.  Here's a close-up (errrrrr - not sure I really want you to see it!!!):

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Max + Whiskers"

Stamp: Meljens from Whimsy Stamps

Punch: Fiskars "Threading Water"

Other: Ribbon and flower from stash, distress inks, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!



P.S. I got a package of stuff in the post today, part of which completes my blog candy.  Just have to put it all together and photograph over the next few days - watch this space!