Even though ....

.... we're back in school, I do like Autumn!  It's my second-favourite season, after Winter (yes, I am a strange person - it's not like we usually even get a proper wintery Winter!).  And, as usual, as soon as school starts up after the hols, the weather becomes beautiful!  It's been a lovely week thus far, sunny blue skies and warm dry days.

It's PaperPlay day again, and this week our seasonal challenge is "Autumnal Tags" - we want participants to either make a tag or a card with a tag on it, featuring Autumnal colours.  We're sponsored this week by Simon Says Stamp, the lucky winner will receive a storecard.

I made this for my friend's son who has just turned 21 (eek, he was almost 3 when I first met him!):

I used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday, and I'm also entering this into the following: Papertake Weekly ("Anything Goes"), ABC Challenge ("Wishes"), Simon Says Stamp ("Put a Stamp on it"), Cute Card Thursday ("Autumn Gold") and Card Crafters Circle ("For the Fellas").

I used a Kenny K image that is perfect for the birthday guy - he's a real boy racer.  I went to a scrapbooking class a few weeks ago - we were using these gorgeous Tim Holtz Destination papers.  We made a vintage suitcase first, which I love (boxes to put things into are a teeny compulsion of mine!), and then we started making an album to put in it - at which point I stopped, 'cos I wanted to use my papers for cards instead!!!  So glad I did that!  Here's a close-up of the image:

 

Recipe:

Image: Kenny K "Maximum Mud"

Papers: Tim Holtz "Destinations"

Colouring Medium: Promarkers

Other: Corrugated card, glossy accents, eyelets, ball chain, needle + thread

 

Thanks for looking!

And another ....

.... one!  Yes, I know, I'm slightly shocked at the quick turnaround, why couldn't I have done this all summer long, I would now have a box full of cards for any and all occasions instead of having panicky deadlines all the time!!! 

We're back to school tomorrow, sigh, but one of our teachers is retiring - she's having a big luncheon at her house today for all the staff and I made this card for her:

The little tag says on one side "Goodbye Tension" and on the other, as you can see, "Hello Pension"!

I used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Mo's Digital Challenge ("Distressing"), The Shabby Tea Room (inspiration photo, distressing + title/sentiment), Shopping our Stash ("Use your Favourite Things" - mine are patterned paper, distressing, stitching) and Basic Grey Challenges ("Anything Goes").

I used another of Mo's fab images, my teacher friend is an avid gardener, so this is perfect for her.  Here's a closer look:

 

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Kissing Booth"

Image: Mo Manning "Eileen"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Dies: Nestabilities "Petite Oval Large" and "Petite Scalloped Oval Large"

Other: Prima and Wild Orchid flowers, net, ribbon, pins and bling from stash, 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!

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!

Only one more ....

.... man card to do now I've finished this one.  Phew!  We were out last night at a friend's surprise 40th party - I made his card in a rush in the afternoon, photographed in horrid light before tucking it in my bag, went out, had a great night, came home - and d'oh, realised the card was still in my bag!!  Oh well, at least that meant I got to re-take the pics in daylight (albeit winter daylight)!  Here's what I made:

Update 3rd Dec: This card was picked as a Top 3 on CES Challenges  - thank you!

I used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday, and I'm also entering this into Basic Grey Challenges ("Lost and Found" - reuse something found around the house - I've used the corrugated packaging cardboard and the burgundy string which was from a clothes label) and CES Challenges ("Special Milestone Birthdays").

As I was tight for time on this, it's a variation of the 60th card I did a few weeks back. Used the delicious BG Oxford paper again - soooo good for male cards, and yes, more rosettes - I love making them so much.  Here's a side-shot of the rosettes and dimension of the card:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Oxford"

Sentiment: Computer generated

Other: Doodlebug brads, needle + thread, corrugated cardboard, string from stash, BG "Bittersweet" buttons

Now just have to do a belated birthday card for another nephew that has been put on the long finger again and again - those poor guys always get left 'till last, and then it's full steam ahead on the Christmas cards and whatever else Christmassy I get around to!

Thanks for looking!

If card-making was my job ....

.... I'd be living in a cardboard box by the side of the road by now!!  Honestly, I'm such a slug - I really need to crank up a gear or two or several and make more things!

But the reason I'm here is I did make something!!!  Another baby girl card, and I only realised after I'd made it that I made a card for a girl called Olivia using Basic Grey "Olivia" papers.  Serendipity!!  Here's my card:

I've used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday and I'm also entering it into the following challenges: Mo's Digital Challenge ("Oh Baby"), Wild Orchid Challenges ("Anything Goes"), A Spoon Full of Sugar ("Shabby/Vintage") and Stamp Something (Digi week).

I used another cute image from Mo Manning, it's part of a set called "Diaper Crew".  Here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Olivia"

Image: "Diaper Days" by Mo Manning

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Wild Orchid flowers, nestabilities, ribbon and doily from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!  I'll hopefully have another card to share before the weekend (but don't hold your breath!)

More seasonal ....

.... stuff - I've been overloading you all with orange for the past few posts.  Well, it ain't over yet!!

This fortnight's challenge on Creative Card Crew is called "Autumn or Fall" (covering both sides of the Atlantic!!).  We are sponsored by Sassy Cheryl, and she gave us some fun images to work with.  As soon as I saw the raggedy Star Annie, she reminded me of a spooky Hallowe'en scarecrow, so I decided to make a Hallowe'en decoration thingie on a stick.  Here's the front:

For the front, I used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday.  I'm also entering this into Sassy Cheryl's Challenge (use a Spellbinders' Die), Totally Papercrafts ("Let's go Dotty") and Stamp Something (Spots and Stripes).

And now for the back (and the orange!).  I printed off the lettering from the computer, transferred onto chipboard, cut it out and covered with crackle accents.  I had run out of time so, for once, the stitching is faux (eek, the shame!!):

Recipe:

Image: Star Annie by Sassy Cheryl

Papers: very very old Daisy Ds

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: American Crafts velvet rick-rack ribbon, Crackle Accents, kebab skewer painted black!

Thanks for looking!

Last day of ....

.... freedom - oh, I'm so not ready to go back to school, but alas, I have no choice.  I practised getting up early today (8 o'clock!!) and I did not like it, what'll I be like tomorrow when the waking hour is SEVEN!! I think the kids will be prising MY fingers from the doorframe and pulling ME out the door by my ankles!!

In keeping with the week that's in it, the theme on Creative Card Crew this fortnight is "Back to School".  We are sponsored by Simon Says Stamp and the winner will receive a $15 store credit.  Check out what my talented teamies have made.

I had no school themed stuff, so I decided to buy one of Mo Manning's beautiful images, it's my first one of hers.  Here's the card I made:

Update 3rd Sep: This card was picked as a Top 5 on Stamp Something - thank you, ladies - another blinkie - yayyyy!
Update 4th Sep: This card was picked as Winner on Sketch Saturday - thanks so much!

I've used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday.  I'm also entering it into the following challenges: Fussy & Fancy Friday ("Back to School"), Stamp Something (another "Back to School"), Cute Card Thursday ("Dieing for a Punch" - no punches or dies), Shabby Tea Room ("Old/New" - my old is the papers, new is the image) and a new challenge blog, CES Challenges ("Anything Goes").

I think I may have finally beaten my digi troubles.  I printed the image in "everyday" setting rather than "normal", and heat set it with my heat gun a few times and left it overnight before I coloured (with distress inks of course!) and I am pretty happy with the result.  Thanks to Mina for the printing hints, and also to Deirdre and Sandie for the "Adjust contrast" photoshopping hints (what a difference it makes!)!!  Here's a close-up of my image:

Recipe:

Papers: Fancy Pants "The Daily Grind"

Stamps: Hero Arts "Apple" and Mo Manning "Erasmus"

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Other: Fancy Pants ribbon, scallop edge scissors, needle + thread

Thanks for looking! 

Taking the lazy ....

.... way out!!  It was my turn to set the challenge this week on PaperPlay,  I cheekily decided to take the easy peasy option, so the theme is "Anything Goes"!!!  We are sponsored this week by Waltzing Mouse Stamps - I hadn't come across their stamps, but have a look - they are gorgeous - more to add to the wish list, I particularly like the vintage labels.

Here's my card (pic taken at 7am this overcast morning, so it's a bit dark!):

I used this week's sketch on Sketch Saturday (I rotated it).  I'm also entering this card on Simon Says Stamp (dotty - you have to look closely, the dotty bit is the scalloped bit the image is mounted on), Fussy & Fancy Friday (stitches, scallops, sparkle), The Shabby Tea Room (1 ribbon, 2 buttons, 3 punches or dies),  Crafty Creations (summer) and Bunny Zoes Crafts (summer).

I dug into my stash and used some very old Crate Paper papers for this card, and went crazy with stickles.  Here's a close-up of the sweet image:

Recipe:

Papers: Crate Paper "Blue Hill"

Stamp: Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie "Bluebell"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Ribbon from stash, "Blue Hill" chipboard buttons, sentiment stamp from stash, diamond stickles, needle + thread

I'm off now to contemplate on my first card for Creative Card Crew (eeek - the pressure!).  Don't forget to enter my blog candy - post at top of blog.

15 hours to go ....

.... until summer holidays, yippee!

Made a thank you card for my son's teacher for this week's PaperPlay.  The theme this week is "It's sunny here" and the prize is a €15 gift certificate from Bunny Zoes Crafts. Here's my card:

The title of challenge may be "It's Sunny Here", but this morning when I took the photo, it wasn't!!!  So the card is a good deal more vibrant looking in real life!!

I used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday, and I'm also entering it on ABC Challenge (X-tra dimension - mine is the popped up sun), Cute Card Thursday (reuse, renew, recycle), and Crafty Creations (shine - again, the sun).

I really like that happy sun.  I cut it off a carrier bag from Daisy & Tom some years back and almost threw it out lots of times.  Glad I kept it now.  I cut out the round part, slathered it in glossy accents, popped it up on the card and drew the rays with black zig marker.  Here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Early Bird"

Stamp: Hero Arts "Row of Perky Flowers"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Glossy Accents, needle & thread

I've just realised I've passed 10,000 hits on my blog.  Time to organise a candy, I think.  I'll organise something next week (when I'm on my .... summer holidays!).

Thanks for looking.

One down ....

.... I'm not counting what's left to do 'cos I don't want to think about it!

I've got a deadline of the week after next to get quite a few cards done, so last night I made one of them as my DT entry for this week's PaperPlay - the theme is "home" - and it's quite a loose interpretation, e.g. new home, something from your home that inspires the project, etc.  I was thinking about this during the week while looking out at the back garden, and I saw rather a lot of dandelions on the lawn.  "Bingo - a dandelion wedding card", thought I.  I had intended to post a picture of these inspirational dandelions, but husband cut the grass in the meantime!!!  So here's the card:

 

Sorry about the abysmal lighting - another November in June day here today!!! 

I've used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday and I'm also entering it on Create 4 Fun  (black/white/one other colour - mine's silver).

This card is a rariety for me, because I didn't use any patterned paper - just cardstock.  And I'm really annoyed, I carefully measured up the centre section before I stuck it down - normally I just go by eye - and after all my sums and adding up on my fingers - the piggin' thing is off-centre!!   Grrrr!

The black bit down the middle is a gorgeous black velvet ribbon I've had forever, with a narrow silver ribbon on top.  I stamped the image twice, first in Tuxedo Black, then overlapped with Versamark and heat embossed with silver - might be easier to see in this close-up:

Thanks for looking!

Oh my, all my friends ....

.... are turning 50, and policemen are definitely looking younger - does this mean I'm getting old?!!!

I had another 50th birthday card to do this week, and have used it for my PaperPlay DT entry, which this week is to "use a stamp and some bling".  We are sponsored this week by Stitchy Bear Stamps, the prize being 4 of their digital images.  Right, on to business, here's my card:

Excuse slightly blurry image, I took the pictures in a wild hurry before leaving for school, and had to hand the card over there so couldn't re-take.  I've used the sketch from Sketch Saturday (lovely to work with it was too!), and I'm also entering this on Crafty Angels (1 ribbon, 2 papers, 3 flowers - my papers have at least three flowers!), Simon Says Stamps (Birthdays/Celebrations) and Bunny Zoes Crafts (3 flowers, 2 papers, 1 ribbon or lace).

The lady who is getting this card, although she's Irish, lives in Finland, so I went with a slightly Scandi vibe with the colours on this card.  I did try to put three actual flowers on it, but the papers are so very busy, they were practically invisible, so I didn't use them, and decided that there are enough flowers on the papers to fulfill any flowery requirement!!!  The tag has Happy 50th Birthday on one side, and "Marion" on the other with some blingy bling.  I've also blinged the image, put stickles on her collar and gems on the little sticky-out bits of her dress - here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Stamp: "Poinsettia Girl" by Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Early Bird"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Ribbon, Stardust Stickles, Hero Arts Gems, Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, needle & thread

Thanks for looking!