Simply Stampin Challenge Sketch Week

This week the Simply Stampin Challenge is a sketch.  I thought long and hard, and wasn't going to make another Christmas Card, however, my goodies from Stampin Up arrived on Tuesday so all my resolve went straight out the window!  I had a bit of a disaster on the way home from work though - as I was cycling along the handles on the Stampin Up plastic carrier bag broke, and all my stuff fell into the biggest, muddiest puddle and got wet in the process (there are holes in the plastic bags)!  Some of my card was damaged, but luckily everything else was ok phew! **Disaster area alert**  Anyway, mud and muck aside...I had such fun with the DSP last week I had a brainwave when I started playing with the Christmas Lodge stamp set and decided to use the Merry Christmas to make a background.  I did try to stamp it "freehand" but couldn't keep it straight ha! So out came pencil and ruler, I just put a very faint pencil line, the width of the ruler apart and used that as a guide to stamping the sentiment, then rubbed it off when the ink was dry.  I just love this set, the lodge and tree are so pretty, and the little bough with the birds on is really cute!  Products I used were Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla cardstock, Christmas Lodge stamp set, Festival of Papers and a strip embossing folder from my stash.  I loved making this card, and will probably make some more, hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for looking.

Simply Stampin Challenge Theme Week

 In this weeks Simply Stampin Challenge
 the task was to make your own background paper!  I had some fun with this, using the snowflake stamps with Whisper White, Night of Navy, Ballet Blue and Versamark, Heat and Stick powder and glitter.  I put this card together, but had so much trouble with the photography!  How do you get the light right when photographing glitter cards? I could get the image right, then the background glitter didn't show up, and vice versa! Any suggestions on this would be gratefully received! 

  The card is a biggy! 8" x 8" using the cut away style.  I found a Sizzix frame die in my collection that I had forgotten about and had some fun with that.  I cut two frames out, one in white and one in navy, then mixed them up which gave it an interesting look (note to self: use this again!) Guess what, the Lovely as a Tree set had to be used again!  Oh, and loads of glitter - I just love this tree stamped in white and all glittered up!! The navy paper was just stamped using the snowflakes and white ink - so I have a piece left over - what to do next?!!!

Well, in this very British year of celebration a Red White and Blue Christmas Card!!

Using the Holiday Ornaments dies and Ornament Keepsakes stamps again (I love these) Cherry Cobbler ink and ribbon, with Serene Snowflakes stamps for the background.  Very patriotic!!

Thanks for looking, I had fun, hope you did too!

Simply Stampin Challenge - colour week

This weeks Simply Stampin Challenge is a colour theme.  The colours are Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi and Very Vanilla - lovely!
As I am in Christmas mode, the Ornament Keepsakes stamps had to come out again! I find these are so versatile, and having a range of sizes allows for endless variations in what can be achieved.  After much deliberation I decided to use Rich Razzlebury as the base for the baubles and stamp using white ink.  I think it gives the baubles quite a nice frosted look.  The biggest challenge was creating the "bough", so I used the large tree and small branch from the "Lovely as a Tree" set, giving it a liberal sprinkling of glitter! Some Rich Razzleberry ribbon and flat back jewels just give it a finish!  I think I might make some more like this in different colours as I quite like the classic look...hope you do too!

Simply Stampin Challenge Sketch Week

Well ladies, I did say you'd started me off!!

I fancied making a rustic style card and your sketch gave me the perfect opportunity (or excuse ha!) to make it!  I had a bit of a problem with the placing of the greeting as I don't have an SU Christmas greeting small enough...well it's almost in the right place!!

Products used are: Crumb Cake, Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler card, Festival of Papers and Holiday Ornaments stamps and dies. Silver metallic embossing powder and string from my stash.  Hope you enjoy this one, I certainly had fun making it.Simply Stampin Challenge

Simply Stampin Challenge Sketch Week

This week's Simply Stampin Challenge is a sketch, which actually when I first saw it I thought "Brilliant" as it has so many possibilities.
I could have carried on making loads of samples as this has really inspired me, I already have another idea buzzing round the brain box!  For this card I used Elementary Elegance and Fresh Vintage stamp sets, Pool Party card, Festival of Papers, Early Espresso ink and the Embosslits Sweet Buttons die.  I'm well into the paper piercing after last week's challenge, you've started me off ladies! Thank you for setting another inspiring challenge!

Simply Stampin Challenge Faux or Sew

So, this week's Simply Stampin Challenge is Faux or Sew - wow! did I enjoy myself!!  This card is Faux, pretend stitching using a white pen to make the "cross stitch".  I also used the lovely Cherry Cobbler coredinations card which I absolutely adore!  I get so much satisfaction from embossing then sanding it back - not liking the dusty mess though!!  It gives a nice rustic feel which I like, think I will be buying some more of this card in different colours!

For this card then, it had to be Sew!  I used Night of Navy card and ink, which I love, and white thread.  I punched out the shape I wanted first using the SU Festive Paper Peircing kit, then stamped using the Holiday Ornaments stamp set.  A little jewel in each corner and one in the centre just completed the look. I had so much fun making these two cards, hope you enjoy them as much as me!

Christmas Cardmaking Has Started!!

Hello friends, well haven't blogged for a while as time just seems to be flying by!  Have had a few ideas for Christmas cards going round in my head for a while now, but have decided on this one to be mailed out to people.  With the exorbitant cost of postage, and a maximum thickness of 5mm, I wanted to make something that looked good, but wouldn't take me into the next price bracket - a tough one!  Anyway, I settled on this card, made from snowfall acetate, inked in ballet blue from SU and glittered here and there.  The holly on the front is from the new Tim Holtz die I purchased recently.  Hope everyone likes them!

 So with the posting ones out of the way, it was time to play!  I wanted to make a wreath style so the Tim Holtz holly die was perfect for this.  I used the SU  Holiday Ornaments dies and cherry cobbler  coredinations card for the baubles (still waiting for the stamps that go with the dies)!! After running the baubles through an embossing folder, then sanding them back I was aware they needed something else! Being me, it had to be glitter!, so with the help of a quickie glue pen, the baubles were transformed!! The holly leaves lacked the veins, so these were drawn on with a promarker, I think I will probably change that next time.  Edges were inked with lucky limeade. I think I will make a good few of these in various formats, I try never to make cards the same, and there is always room for improvement and different ideas!!

Simply Stampin Challenge Colour Week

Hi there, this week's Simply Stampin Challenge is a colour theme again.  I like these as it makes me think more (difficult sometimes!) I went for some paper piecing this time, as I haven't produced any for a while, but thoroughly enjoy it when I do!!  The stamp set I have used this time is SU Sweet Summer and as I hardly ever use it, decided to give it a go this time!  The design is inspired by a T Shirt I have just purchased, although the colours are not the same!  Thanks ladies for another interesting challenge!

Simply Stampin Challenge Sketch

This week's Simply Stampin Challenge is a sketch.  I am a bit late entering as I didn't think I would have any time to make a card, due to looking after my beautiful granddaughter, Eden!  However, she left early so time was found for itchy fingers!  I just love this colour combination, hope you do too!

Another Boy Card!

Another boy card! I hope this is last one for a while!  This one is for my little nephew Alex who will be 12 this weekend.  I used the masking technique for the large planes, the small ones are the same plane but stamped onto shrink plastic to get them smaller and give the card more dimension.  Hopefully he'll like it!  I need to move on now, thinking about Christmas!!  I've already made a couple of samples, but they are still work in progress as I haven't yet figured out how I want to finish them off!!  Oh well, no doubt it will come to me eventually lol !!!

Let's Hear It for the Boys

This week's Simply Stampin Challenge is the dreaded male card, the challenge name being Let's hear it for the Boys!  I made this busy card for a very busy young man - my nephew Adam!  
Adam has triumphed over adversity all his life, he suffers from Aspbergers syndrome, which is very high on the Autism spectrum.  Not that he has let this stop him, he has so many interests that I could not list them all here.  Among them are Army Training Corp, shooting and golf.  He has managed to learn to drive and has also secured a university place.  He has had many problems along the way, particularly with his education and integration into any social scenarios has been a real struggle for him.  He has come through it all with shear grit and determination and I am really proud of him.  Well done Adam, Happy 18th, you deserve it!

Simply Stampin Challenge Colour Week

This weeks Simply Stampin Challenge is a colour theme again.  Lovely combination of Whisper White, Regal Rose, Daffodil Yellow and Baja Breeze.  I never would have thought to use this colour combination, but actually quite like it as it is fresh and bright (something we all need when the weather is rotten).  I quite enjoyed making this card and hope my friend Julie enjoys receiving it!

I went to the Olympics!

It has been a lifelong ambition to attend the Olympics! I am not usually a massive sports fan, but to me, the Olympics are something special...all those athletes pushing themselves to the limit of endurance seems to spark something within me.  I only managed to get tickets for one event, the Dressage, but what an event!  The horses and riders were superb, and I wish I could perform as well as that!  Our day started early, the 5.45am coach from Basingstoke to London Victoria.  A trek across London saw us entering the Greenwich Park arena through the Blackheath gate.  When we arrived into the arena, wow, I was completely in awe!  We had a fantastic day, we were rained on, hailed on and got sunburnt!!  Everybody was having a fabulous time, even when we were tipping water from our shoes!  It was all over too soon, and we made the decision to bypass the train network and use the Thames for our trip back to Victoria.  We had a fabulous trip back by boat, with a very entertaining commentary from one of the crew, getting off at Westminster and all for just £4 - great value for money.  I was a little apprehensive about the transport network for the games as the Jubilee was a shambles, but everything was well signposted and very well operated.  Well done London!

Simply Stampin Challenge sketch week

Well, its been a long time since I posted, but have been just so busy!!  Spending most of my time either watching the olympics on tv or attending the one event I had a ticket for - amazing...see next post! 

This week's challenge was a sketch, so I got going with the masking tape!  I do love using masking tape and inking it as a background, but this one is the largest one I have undertaken at 8" x 8", and boy it was a bit of a mission!  Anyway, its for my sister in law, so she's worth it!!  

Items used were: Concorde crush and Whisper White cardstock, Splatt stamp, Fresh Vintage Stamps. Wisteria Wonder ink.  Lace Ribbon Border Punch (I decided to split the border and weave some paper through) Nesties and lots of masking tape!!!

I quite like the effect of the weaving and may well use it again, so hope you like it too!!

Well I did say there would be another one!!  This one is for Chris's mum's 80th.  You can see I am well into making pinwheels at the moment!  Will try to quell the addiction for the next card!  So, used the same papers from Papermania (Portobello Road) which I still like, but not sure I can make another card with it at this point, so the next upload will be different - honest!!

Well, you can tell I was still in Jubilee mode when I made this one!!  This is my daughter's 30th birthday card.  I used the freebie papers from papermania I got in a magazine.  They are called Portobello Road, very topical!  Anyway, I liked the papers so much I bought some more, so watch out for other "creations"

Queen's Diamond Jubilee - 3rd June 2012

Wow! What a day we had!  Went up to London on the train with Pam, we had to sit on the floor in the bicycle carriage with about 15 other people, but spirits were high so nobody minded.  We got to Waterloo and walked down to the South Bank, there were so many people already there.  Some girls from Florida managed to get a spot right on the railings, but they had been there since 3am - and it was pouring with rain.  Fair play to them, they thoroughly deserved a good place.  We were wet, we were cold, but very happy to be there - the Flotilla of over 1000 boats with the Queen at it's head, was absolutely amazing.  I am so glad we made the effort to go.  A once in a lifetime thing to do....Fantastic!

View overlooking Waterloo Bridge

This is my latest offering for the Simply Stampin Challenge this week.  At first I thought the design to be fairly simple, but no! I found it quite tricky to produce something I was happy with, within the design constraints - yes definitely a challenge for me this week!

Thanks to all at SSC for coming up with these ideas,                keeps the old brain  box ticking!! 

 And then I had this idea.....sorry ladies you've started me off now!!  So, the Rich Razzleberry and Fresh Vintage just had to come out! As I don't have any corner stamps, I used the "stamp" to create some and complete the geometric look. Hope it's ok to include this one as well!

Simply Stampin Challenge

I made this card for my friend's 50th Birthday! She has just arrived back from 5 weeks travelling in India - she must be frozen!  Anyway, I decided to enter it into this week's Simply Stampin Challenge for their colour challenge week - although I didn't have all the colours (no Island Indigo ink), so hope it's acceptable.  I used the SU French Foliage stamp set this time as I just love the splatt stamp in this set! I hope you guys (and Jill) like the card!!

 I just love this effect!  These were two of my first tissue to glass projects, and still my favourites!  Take any serviette, they are usually 3ply, remove two of the layers as you only need the top one (tricky sometimes).  Decide which part of the pattern to use, then tear into pieces that will fit your project - any size you choose, just try to keep pattern as whole as possible. Tearing gives a kind of feathered edge which does not show when stuck, don't cut as the edges show!  Adhere to underside of glass dish using Jo Sonjas glass and tile medium and a very soft paint brush. Carefully work out any bubbles, from the centre outwards (the wet tissue is very fragile!).  Allow to dry, then paint the back if required.   You can use any paint for this, I used acrylic but emulsion works just as well!  Then sit back and enjoy your creation!

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With the current Jubilee and Olympic fever, comes the whole red, white and blue thing!  This card is my slant on that using lots of SU products, Fresh Vintage, French Foliage (word background and splatt) Nature Walk (the Bee) and Rose Red ink pad.  These colours are a bit alien to me, being a pink and purple sort of a girl, so hopefully they capture the spirit of the season, without being too twee!

Well folks, here is one we all dread making...The Man's Card!!  However, having purchased this lovely Stampin Up set from the USA catalogue, I thought I had better make use of it! 

Using Fresh Vintage SU set, I had a ball making this very girly card for my lovely school friend Barbara!  I had a great time at her 60th birthday party last night, Union Gap were the entertainment and still superb after all these years!! For anyone not old enough to remember the 60's ....you soooo missed out!!!

Christmas Cards!

I just love making Christmas Cards!! Yes, yes, I know it's a bit early for the "C" word, but I admit to thinking about my makes already....saddo!  This is one of my 2011 designs (I make more than one design) usually I only make between 6 and 10 of the same design, then I get the urge to design something else!  Family get "one offs" which I hope they like!  I started making far too late last time, so getting the planning out of the way now, so I can crack on in September.  Mind you, with the postage rise, I may just have to thin down my list a bit!

More of my Makes!

I loved making these for my new Granddaughter, Eden, she is a very special little baby girl...so loved and a pleasure to cuddle!

 A few of my card makes! More to follow when I can figure out how to upload them from the ipad!!