And another ....

.... one - the usual "end-of-summer why didn't I make more cards?" guilt fest!!

This is for a friend of mine who, as you can see, is turning 50.  Her favourite colour is black, and she's a bit of a glamour-girl, so I went for black with a bit of glitz on her card.  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday and I'm also entering Little Red Wagon ("Layers").

It was difficult to photograph - there's so much glitter.  I've been meaning to make one of these rolled-up paper candle cards for ages - it's so easy and so effective.  Here's a side-shot of the candles and dimension on the card:

 

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Little Black Dress"

Die Cuts: Spellbinders "Lacy Circles"

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug "Textile"

Other: Black Diamond and Platinum stickles, sequins from stash

 

Thanks for looking!

 



Oops, guess I've ....

.... been having too many lovely days!!  Haven't had time to craft, it's been nicely busy around here. 

We went camping with the Mini Club last weekend, the weather forecast was pretty bad, but luckily, it didn't turn out so bad after all.  We got the tents up in the dry on Friday, some rain and wind on Friday night but nobody's tent leaked!  Saturday was dry, some heavy rain at about 2am, and then Sunday was a lovely day. 

I keep meaning to take a picture of just how much stuff you can pack into a Mini (or two, as we took two cars).  We had five people, two tents, airbeds, bedrolls, lots of sleeping bags, picnic table, fold up chairs for five people, stove, eating and cooking utensils, food, five pairs of wellies, coats and raingear, plus clothes and other assorted camping gear.  A miracle of organisation!

I made this card for the family of an Mini friend who died recently.  He was in his mid 80s, an absolute gentleman, who had restored a beautiful 1960s Mini and drove it like a rally car!  I've stamped a Mini on the inside of the card, but here's the outside:

I used a sketch from a few week's ago from Deconstructing sketches, and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Crafty Creations ("Shabby Chic"), Papertake Weekly ("Flower Power") and Craft your Passion ("Summer Flowers").

Here's a little close-up of the image - I distress inked the background watercolour paper first and splattered water on it, then dried it.  Then I heat-embossed the image with clear e.p. and added some more distress ink on the sides and edge.

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Hipster" and "Wisteria"

Stamp: Hero Arts "Dandelion"

Other: Distress inks, ribbon from stash, hairy string, Basic Grey button

Thanks for looking!

Had a really ....

.... lovely day today.  The sun has been shining, laundry all out on the line, the house is as clean as it's ever going to be and I had the place to myself for a few hours this morning, bliss!!  I went to hospital to visit an old neighbour from where I grew up - hadn't seen her in over 9 years.  I wasn't sure whether she'd be able for a long visit, but my goodness, she was in great form and we talked and talked.  I made up a little basket of goodies for her, and added this card:

See - I took a picture outside in the sunshine - that doesn't happen too often!!

I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday and I'll also enter this into the following challenges: Creative Inspirations ("Something Old and Something New"), ABC Challenge ("Stitching") and Papertake Weekly ("Anything Goes").

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Picadilly"

Sentiment: Computer Generated

Image Sticker: Bella Boulevard "Family Tree"

Other: Ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

A bit of a ....

.... departure into the land of clean and simple!!  When I was crafting at my friend's house a few weeks back, we were inspired to do a bit of CAS by some pictures in an American magazine (didn't get the title).  I finished it this week, as my DT sample for Sentimental Sundays - our challenge this week is called "Child's Play" and we are sponsored by Sweet n Sassy. Here's what I made:

No need for any side-shots to show dimension - there isn't any (apart from the popped-up balloon and the string!).  No need for a supply list either, since I can't remember where the stamp is from and there's no patterned paper!  The original image said something different, but I wanted this to be a thank-you for a sweet kid in school who gave me some homemade soda-bread for an end-of-year present, so I printed out the sentiment and inked, cut and stuck down over the original words.  My son commented that the little girl "looks like she's sulking at a party!", so I gave her mouth a little upturn with a black sharpie!!  I don't have any balloon stamps, so I drew one!

I'm entering this into Less is More (colour challenge - gorgeous autumnal, mustards, browns and greys) and Our Creative Corner ("Words, words, words").

Thanks for looking!

First day of ....

.... Autumn, yayyyy!!!  The heatwave ended after about 3.5 weeks, and now we've got the usual kind of summer weather - bit of rain, bit of dry, bit of rain, bit of dry, etc., etc.  I'm hoping it's not going to lash rain tonight - husband and I are going to an gig (and it's outdoors, so really, it's bound to rain!).

My daughter has just turned 19, this is the card I made for her:

I used the sketch from this week's Deconstructed Sketch and I'm also entering this into the following:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Cute Card Thursday, Creative Inspirations and Party Time Tuesdays all have "Anything Goes" challenges.

I bought some new crafty stash recently for the first time in many month, including some new paper pads.  This card is made from a new Basic Grey line "Carte Postale" - lovely colours and patterns. I made a computer-generated sentiment, embellished with some tiny Hero Arts flowers and coloured slightly with Prisma pencils.  I love the Tim Holtz filmstrip - it made a nice frame for the 19 stickers.  Here's a close up of some of the detail:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Carte Postale"

Stamp: Hero Arts "Row of Perky Flowers"

Other: Basic Grey "Mellow?" button, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Filmstrip ribbon, MM Tiny Alphas

Thanks for looking!

Completely ....

.... unseasonal post today.  It's Sunday, and I've finally caught up enough to join my teamies on this week's Sentimental Sundays on our challenge this week, which is "Christmas in July".

This week's Sponsor is:

Silly Dilly Bean Challenge Blog 

Silly Dilly Bean Store
Donating: 3 images, winners choice

I have to say, it felt particularly strange making a Christmas card with the sun blazing away outside  - now I know how our crafting friends Down Under feel!! And yes, our heatwave is still going strong, I think we're on week 3 now - impossible!!

Here's what I made:

I used this week's Deconstructed Sketch and I'm also entering this into the following challenge: Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge ("Green" - there's the colour green, also I've used recycled corrugated card and hairy string, which is more burgundy than pink in real life).  Here's a closer look at the little squares on my card with the Christmas tree and bauble made from the aforementioned card, with ink and glitter added, followed by a side shot of the dimension on the card:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Wassail" and "Figgy Pudding"

Sentiment Stamps: Fancy Pants "Happy Holidays"

Die Cut: Cheery Lynn Doily "English Tea Party"

Other: Hero Arts gems, platinum stickles, hairy string

Right, that's enough of the "C" word from me until at least October!!  I'm off to enjoy what's left of the summer, surely this weather can't go on for much longer.  I've been having such a lovely time, meeting friends for coffee, eating al fresco, have managed so far to avoid getting sunburnt which is a minor miracle!! 

Thanks for looking!

Sweltered in an Irish ....

.... heatwave!  All those reading in the USA will be laughing hysterically at our definition of a heatwave - it's been getting as far as the high 20s Centigrade for about a week now (that translates to about 80 Fahrenheit).  I know it's hitting 3 figures in the west and mid-western USA right now - well, bless all your hearts, I would just keel over and die in that!!!!  We've been opening all the windows (whilst keeping the new cat indoors - a masterpiece in organisation!), and bought an electric fan today to try and keep a bit cooler in the afternoons.  On the plus side, the garden looks amazing, my strawberries and tomatoes are giving a bumper crop, and everyone is in a super good mood because, of course, when the sun is shining there is nowhere in the world as nice as Ireland!

I went to a friend's house yesterday - she had put out a 10ft inflatable pool in the back garden for the kids, and the adults were in the garden too - crafting under the gazebo.  I enjoyed playing with her extensive collection of stamps, and got the makings of a few cards done, one which I finished today:

I used this week's Deconstructed Sketch and I'm also entering Cupcake Craft ("Anything but Square"), Papertake Weekly ("Old, New, Borrowed or Blue" - mine is the borrowed stamps) and ABC Challenge ("Q is for Quite a Few" layers).

Here's a side shot of the card - I love that crackle background stamp.  I stamped the flower on kraft a few times and cut out extra blossoms, coloured and crumpled them and stuck them down for added dimension.  I made the letters using a computer font, printed out on card, stuck down on a few more layers of card, then cut out and inked.

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Mr. Campy"

Stamps: Not sure - borrowed from Jackie - thanks, hun!

Colouring Medium: Prismacolor pencils, distress inks.

Other: Ribbon from stash.

Thanks for looking!