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!

That mention ....

.... of churning out cards on my last post had the immediate effect of making me screech to a complete creative halt.  I mustn't use such dynamic verbs in future!!

I had a commissioned deadline to meet this morning, so having huffed and puffed about it all week, I got down to it yesterday afternoon and made a card.  It's for a friend's relative, Auntie Bina, who is 90 today.  I haven't met her but she sounds like a fun and fiesty lady, so I decided to avoid any little old lady pastel shades and go for vivid colours.  Here's the end result:

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Modern Homemaker"

Image: Pure Innocence "Hello Cupcake"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Diamond Stickles, ribbon from stash, glossy accents, needle + thread

I used the sketch from this week's Stamp with Fun, and I'm also entering this into Moving Along with the Times ("Ribbons and Bows"), Dutch Dare (recipe - I've got image, papers, layers and ribbon), ABC Challenge ("Dazzle") and Crafty Cardmakers ("Recycle" - my red ribbons and bow were kept from Christmas crackers).

I finally ordered my Christmas card stuff, and it arrived during the week.  I'm slightly freaked out by the lateness, so my design is quite simple (even though I wish I could add stitching, just don't have time).  Have a few other birthday cards to make and then the production line begins.

Thanks for looking!

Churning out ....

.... the male cards!!  November is a month for male birthdays in my family, nothing like adding that pressure to that of the upcoming Christmas season!!  My husband is first, then his nephew, then a two-week gap before some more.  Gah!!!  Anyway, here's what I made for my husband this year:

I'm entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges ("Anything Goes" - second time this week!), CES Challenges ("Entertain Us - Song or Film" - of course, mine is "The Italian Job"!), Totally Papercrafts ("Stitch It"), The Shabby Tea Room ("Homespun Fall" - a gorgeous inspiration pic that I've taken the colours from) and Our Creative Corner ("Masculine - using non-traditional colours").

Another pinwheel (or are they called rosettes?) - anyway, I love making them.  They are the perfect way to use those strips that are cut off the edge of a piece of 6" x 6" paper to make the background layer for my cards, those strips I can never bear to throw away.  I have oodles of them and at last can put them to some use!!!

I've been teasing my husband because he's getting to that stage where he's doing that stretchy arm thing when he's reading - needs to get the eyes tested, etc., and he is in complete denial.  When he looked at this card, he said "There's only one "L" in Paul", to which I replied "There's only one "L" plus an exclamation mark on your card - you need to get your eyes tested!".  Hee hee, got 'im!!!

I had to make the Mini bit three times - I had decided to try out the cracked glass technique, used about half a pot of e.p. building up the thickness I wanted, cracked OK, then my son came to see what I was doing and asked was the Mini supposed to look like it had crashed!  Oh dear, not quite the look I was going for.  The second one I forgot to distress the edges before putting one layer of e.p. on and it looked bland.  This is the third!

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Wander"

Stamp: "Mini" by Blade Rubber Stamps

Sentiment: Computer Generated

Other: Distress Inks, ribbon from stash, Doodlebug brads, needle + thread

Now on to nephew's card - eek!  He's turning 20 so no longer a teenager, but that doesn't make it any easier!!

Thanks for looking!

Had a lovely afternoon ....

.... in my craftroom, making a commissioned card.  I really enjoyed myself - even though I'd left it until almost the last moment.  Had a moment of panic when I started questioning the age of the birthday boy - I knew it was 60, but I started arguing with myself and trying to work it out logically - so ended up having to text to check for sure!!!  And of course, it is 60!!  This card is also my DT entry for PaperPlay this week - our challenge is called "Button Up".  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday.  I'm also entering this into Basic Grey Challenges ("Anything Goes") and Simon Says Stamp ("Buttons").  I made the pinwheels - fun but fiddly, especially when took on a life of their own when I was trying to fix them to the backing circles!  I made a star and the numbers and crackle accented them - here are some close-ups:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Oxford"

Sentiment: Computer generated

Other: Doodlebug brads, BG Bittersweet buttons, handmade pinwheels, star, numbers

Thanks for looking!

Happy Hallowe'en ....

.... everybody!
It's so lovely to be on holidays - a week of rest and relaxation after a very busy September and October.  It was a quick run-up to Hallowe'en this year, we only put up decorations yesterday.  My daughter didn't trick or treat this year for the first time (at 17!!) - even last year, she and her friends dressed up and went around after all the little ones had finished.  Tonight, she went off to a friend's house for an evening of watching scary movies instead.

So J and I carved the pumpkins - here they are just finished:

 

And here they are lit up - mine is Beetlejuice on the left and J did Devil Flanders:

I really like our fireplace this year - we painted the chimney-breast black earlier in the year and it just hadn't occurred to me until now just how good it would look at Hallowe'en!!

And my son's costume this year - hmmmm - all I can say is it was cheap!!  He got this old copy paper box about a month ago, spent some time defacing it, and declared himself all set for trick or treating.  He calls this extravaganza "box-head"!! 

Tomorrow, I might get to my craftroom - I have a commission for the end of the week and husband's birthday coming up too, so no excuses.

Thanks for looking!

Ahem ....

.... well, hello there - I've crawled out from that rock I've been hiding under for the past month!!  Work has been very busy, add that to all the kids' extra curriculars starting up again, husband working nights, and sundry other bits and pieces, and I haven't even had time to open the door of my craftroom, never mind make anything.
I always find it very hard to get back into the swing of things after such a long hiatus, I never like what I first make, and this time is no exception.  It's my entry for this week's PaperPlay, which is called "Use Black".  Nice challenge, one of my favourite colours and I used it in a card for a neighbour boy's birthday.  Last minute - the kick I needed!!  But no time to colour images or anything like that - just a quick shaped card with stuff on it!  Here's what I made:

We're back to the winter lighting again, I promise it is somewhat more vibrant in real life than it looks on the screen!!

I'd like to think I'm back on track now - especially since the spectre of Christmas cards is looming!! I haven't had time even to browse for materials and ideas, I would normally have ordered and received all by now.  Hope to get a chance to bloghop too - how I've missed that!

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!