A day of contrasts ....

.... we were over at my in-laws' house yesterday - it was my husband's grandmother's 92nd birthday.  She used to have parties on the 5 year marks, but since she turned 90 (had a BIG celebration that year!), she's insisting upon having a "do" every time - and rightly so!!  All her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were there, she ate more food than she normally eats in a week, and all had a nice time.  Then we went in to a pub in town to see my husband's nephew's heavy metal band launching their first album.  Wonder what next weekend will bring!!! 

Here's the card I made for "Granny Susie":

I used the sketch from this week's Papertake Weekly, and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Bunny Zoes' Crafts, Party Time Tuesdays, Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge and Simon Says Stamp ("Anything Goes"), Crafty Cardmakers ("Distress It") and Shopping our Stash ("May Flowers").
Here's a closeer look at the cute Sugar Nellie image I used (first time inking this one!):

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Capella"

Image: "Miss Tulip" by Mary Hall for Sugar Nellie

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Die Cuts: Nestabilities Ovals and Scalloped Ovals

Other: Hairy string, 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!

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!

It's a beautiful day ....

.... here in Dublin.  I was at school and didn't even realise the sun was out until I stepped outside the door at going-home time.  Aaaaaggghh - the glare - had to grab the sunglasses quickly!!!  And now here I am at home sitting inside at the computer!!!

But only because it's Thursday, PaperPlay day.  Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp and they're giving the winner a $15 store voucher.

(Please note: This is a voucher code that entitles the winner to a $15 saving off their order in Simon Says Stamp,  P+P charges will still apply unless the conditions are met to earn free P+P,  please check here if you would like to see these conditions)

This week's challenge is very appropriate - "Summer Citrus Splash", use greens, yellows and oranges.  I have been making a series of quick and clean/simple (for me!) cards and the first of them is my DT entry.  Here's what I did:

I'm entering these into the following challenges: Cute Card Thursday ("Embellish It"), Truly Scrumptious ("Summer Sparkle"), Stamp with Fun ("In the Garden"), A Spoon Full of Sugar ("Flower Power") and The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge ("Clean and Simple").

I've coloured the images with distress inks, used rub-ons for the sentiment on the thank you card and printed the sentiment directly onto the congrats card.  I popped the images up over the ribbon for dimension and added rock candy stickles on the centre of one flower and glossy accents on the other (don't think it shows in the pics, though).  Here's a close-up - and you can see that I took the photos on different days, the light is so different!!

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Togetherness" and October Afternoon "Thrift Shop"

Images: Hero Arts "Peeking Posies" set

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Making Memories alpha rub-ons, gingham ribbon from stash, East of India hearts ribbon, needle + thread.

Thanks for looking - I think I might just have to go out to the garden now!  Happy bank holiday weekend to all my fellow Irish crafters!!!