Kool Kitty Musings

52 Cards challenge - Week 22

Morning everyone!

Hope you had a lovely weekend - at last the summer weather stuck around in these parts. Almost forgot what it was like to sit out in the garden with a good book. :)

For this week's challenge we are going for a monochromatic look - so sticking to one colour palette and using as many or as few shades and hues of that colour together on one card.

I went for white:

Bling: Prima
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Die: PTI
Other: Glitter card, 3D foam

I know this is a more simple affair than my usual cards, but I was so disappointed in the range of Holy Communion cards on offer in the local card shops, M&S didn't have any nor did Paperchase and well, I thought I could make something despite having no stash that automatically fit the bill.

Hopefully it'll fit in ok with the others this particular recipient receives. :D

Happy creating!

52 Cards challenge - Week 21

Morning everyone!

Loved seeing the different takes on last week's Rainbow challenge.

This week our challenge is technique-driven.

I want to see you make a card featuring a recent technique you have learned or admired.

For my technique I have used cupcake cases to create a rosette/flower element. I tried my hand at this for the first time over the weekend and liked it so much I thought I'd do another one, but with a slightly different look:

Cardstock: PTI
Die: PTI
Stamps: PTI
Impression folder: Darice
Brad: Crate Paper
Other: 3D foam, cupcake cases

I'm looking forward to seeing what techniques you share - and picking up something new to try. ;)

Happy creating!

52 Cards challenge - Week 20

Morning everyone!

This week's challenge is all on the theme of the....

Rainbow

And here are some pretty pics from Pinterest to get you in the mood. :)

Source: labeletterose.blogspot.fr via Natalia on Pinterest

 

Source: dailymail.co.uk via Natalia on Pinterest

 

Source: bellemaison23.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

Source: tumblr.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

Source: my.opera.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

Source: design-fetish.blogspot.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

Source: iil.around.at via Natalia on Pinterest

 

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Sarah on Pinterest

 

Here's the card I made to fit this prompt:

Paper: American Crafts, My Little Shoebox, PTI
Dies: MFT, Spellbinders, PTI
Stamp: PTI
Other: Sewing machine, 3D foam

I have a bit of a soft spot for rainbow colours - stamped, cut out, used to make an actual rainbow. They are really fun and cheery so I hope you'll enjoy playing along and taking inspiration from the colours of the rainbow. :oD

52 Cards challenge - Week 19

Sorry for the delay getting today's prompt up - Typepad wasn't working for me yesterday when I was free to get my post drafted.

But here we are with this week's challenge:

Some rather nice elements, for the "garden" aspect I imagine you can interpret this any way you want. A gardening theme, "garden" in the greeting, growing/growth, items that grow in a garden.... I'll be intrigued to see what you go for. :)

Here's my example:

Paper: MME
Label: MME
Stamp: PTI
Die: PTI
Brads, Basic Grey
Other: Foam pads, Corner Chomper

That injected a bit of colour into my Monday morning. :) UK girls - enjoy your Bank Holiday Monday!

Two challenges with one card

So I never did quite manage to catch up with the prompt for this week's 52 Cards challenge, instead I have sneakily combined it with this week's colour challenge from the DCM blog. :)

Here's the palette we are using this month chosen by Keilly:

I belatedly realised that these colours were an exact match for the Noteworthy stash I have from Making Memories... shame I didn't remember that sooner!

Instead I have played with some newer bits and pieces:

Paper: MME, Crate Paper
Stamps: WMS, PTI
Dies: Spellbinders, PTI, Cuttlebug
Ribbon and trim: The Ribbon Girl
Chipboard and resin flower: Crate Paper
Other: Mulberry rose, glassine envelope, sewing machine

I had a little play with my new Prima chalk inks at the weekend and I think I have found my favourite turquoise ink - as used on the tiny tag. :D

And for the eagle-eyed - behold the glassine envelope for this week's 52 Cards prompt!

52 Cards challenge - Week 18

Welcome to another week and another prompt - time is certainly flying by at the moment!

I have been away for a scrappy weekend and unfortunately don't yet have a card ready to share for our prompt this week.

But... our theme this week is to use something translucent or transparent on your project. :)

So materials such as acetate, vellum or glassine envelopes...or anything else that comes to mind!

I'll definitely be getting my thinking cap on, but I have a pretty good idea which of the above I'll be playing with. :D

In the meantime here are a couple of projects I spotted on Pinterest that caught my eye:

Embossed acetate tag:

Source: Pinterest

Floating acetate card:

Source: Pinterest

Vellum flowers:

Source: Pinterest

DIY vellum envelopes:

Source: Pinterest

Heat embossing on vellum:

Source: Pinterest

DIY glassine favour packets:

Source: Pinterest

DIY glassine envelopes:

Source: Pinterest

52 Cards challenge - Week 17

Welcome to this week's prompt. :)

We're returning to the prompt jar this week for inspiration, and here are our three elements:

And here's the card I made with these elements:

Paper: MME
Stamps: WMS, PTI
Dies: PTI
Ribbon and twine: The Ribbon Girl
Button: Pebbles Inc
Pearls: Kaisercraft

So from the colours you might have an idea what this card is about, it's for a lovely friend and her hubby who have just announced they are expecting, and I couldn't be happier for them. :D That WMS stamp really does say it all!

Hope you have fun playing along. :)

52 Cards challenge - Week 16

Good morning!

Welcome to this week's prompt - it's time for another colour challenge and this week's combination is all about fresh green, aqua blue and white.

Here's some photo inspiration to get you started:

Source: brabournefarm.blogspot.com via Natalia on Pinterest

Source: chiccheapnursery.com via Natalia on Pinterest

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Natalia on Pinterest

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Melissa on Pinterest

 

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via speckless on Pinterest

 

And now for the card I made. :)

Paper: Pink Paislee
Stamps: WMS
Chipboard sticker: Pink Paislee
Ribbon: The Ribbon Girl
Dies: MFT, PTI
Brads: KI Memories
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Punch: Martha Stewart

So I had a little chance to play with my new stash over the weekend after getting work out of the way. The papers and chipboard stickers are from the Spring Jubilee line by Pink Paislee.

Hope you enjoy playing along. :D

52 Cards challenge - Week 15

Happy Easter Monday everyone!

I hope you've had a lovely extended weekend so far. :)

This week's prompt is a little different, it's a word prompt!

I want to see you make a card inspired by the word...

Happy

Now you can look at this in loads of different ways:

• Include the word happy on your card as part of a greeting
• Use colours that represent happiness
• Include images or a theme that will make the recipient happy
• Make something that makes you feel happy
• Feature items that make you happy

I went with a combination of using the word "happy" in my greeting and items that make me feel happy:

Paper and label: Pink Paislee
Stamp: WMS
Velvet ribbon: Making Memories
Twill: The Ribbon Girl
Heart bling: Prima
Other: Sewing machine, heart doily, buttons, cotton thread, 3D foam, distresser

I love the look of this black label from the Pink Paislee elements for London Market as it's got that chalkboard effect which is really popular now - especially twinned with the lovely font used in this set of greetings from Waltzing Mouse Stamps. :D

52 Cards challenge - Week 14

Hope you all had a lovely sunny weekend.

Wow, it's hard to believe we're already into month 4 of this challenge. :)

This week it's the return of the sketch prompt, and here's what we've got to play with:

This is what I made:

Papers: MME, Pink Paislee
Stamps: JustRite
Dies: Sizzix, Spellbinders
Trim, twine, seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Button: Pebbles Inc
Pearls: Prima
Other: Felt, sewing machine, Glossy Accents

Unfortunately it's a bit difficult to see the pale pink and grey stamped text in the pics but I'm definitely getting through that new set of stamps, one greeting at a time! LOL

52 Cards challenge - Week 13

Morning everyone!

I hope you are getting used to the start of British Summer Time, afraid it's going to take a bit of adjusting for me. ;)

Anyway, this week's challenge is to feature either lace or doilies on your card, or both. :D

Any type of lace will do: lace trim, lace tape, lace paper, doilies in paper form, die-cut form, or printed form... the possibilities are endless. :D

For mine I went with some paper that features lace doilies.

Paper: MME, Crate Paper
Stamp: Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Dies: MFT, Magnolia
Twill: The Ribbon Girl
Other: Distress Stickles

I seriously love this twill ribbon, I have quite a few of the colours to hand as it is a lovely finishing touch to projects. In fact I have a dedicated jar for this Twill ribbon on my shelf. hehe

Happy creating!

52 Cards challenge - Week 12

Morning everyone!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Well, since Mother's Day has just been and gone in the UK, I thought it was a good time to start thinking towards Easter and Spring-themed cards so I bet you can guess what this week's prompt will be.

Oh yes indeed, I want to see you making a card to celebrate Easter or Spring.

If these aren't the type of cards you usually make or send, then no problem, take inspiration from this prompt by using pastel colours, yellows, spring blossoms and blooms, cute bunnies or well... chocolate at a push!

There are lots of things to inspire. Like some of these pins:

Source: decor8blog.com via Sheena on Pinterest

 

Source: etsy.com via Shannon on Pinterest

Source: hostessblog.com via Megan on Pinterest

Source: thedecoratedcookie.com via Noelle on Pinterest

 

As for my card, this is what I made:

Paper: MME
Sticker: MME
Stamp: WMS
Dies: MFT, Sizzix, PTI
Rose: Wild Orchid Crafts
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Crackle Accents, 3D foam

I just love this combination of colours together, and it was an excuse to use one of my new Waltzing Mouse greetings stamps.

Plus I used up the companion sticker to the one I used on a card I made that features in the current issue of Papercraft Inspirations (#98) as part of the Beautiful Blogs article. It was lovely to see it in print alongside all those gorgeous card projects. :D

Happy creating!

52 Cards challenge - Week 11

Morning everyone! Hope you had a lovely sunny weekend. :D

This week's inspiration comes courtesy of the prompt jar.

We have three elements to work with:

Here's what I came up with:

Paper: MME
Dies: MFT, PTI
Stamps: My Cute Stamps, MFT
Seam binding: The Ribbon Reel
Flowers: Prima
Resin flower: 3Djean
Pearls: Kaiser craft
Other: Distress Stickles, 3D foam, sewing machine

It was nice to play with my new MME papers for this challenge. :D

Hope you have fun joining in!

52 Cards challenge - Week 10

This week's prompt hasn't really been set by me... in fact I had a very special request from my mum and since it was such a challenge I thought it would make a perfect prompt for this week. :oD

Basically I needed to make a flat card to post overseas as any cards I've made in the past for this very special recipient have always gone missing and we think it's because they aren't flat enough. :o(

So your challenge is to make a flat card - you can't use 3D foam tape or tabs, dimensional accents, lumpy and bumpy bits - nope.... just plain old paper and card and any flat embellishments of your choice! :oD

Here's hoping this one finally makes it through - it's a birthday card for my grandma in Poland. :o)

Paper: MME
Dies: PTI, Sizzix, MFT, Spellbinders
Stamps: PTI

I also thought I'd get using my new Howdy Doody 6x6 pad to make this card, the colours are just lovely for spring birthdays - plus I am still very much in love with anything with a pinking edge.

52 Cards challenge - Week 9

Hi everyone!

I hope you had fun with last week's "easy" prompt. :)

This week I thought we'd try a proactive approach to using our stash...

It's definitely time that we address the "scraps" pile many of us have accumulated over the years. I'm really bad at throwing away left-overs from paper I've cut into - if I know I can fit it onto a card "some day" I just cannot part with it - just too wasteful. The problem is there are too many other days that arrive before "some day" and these scraps rarely make it onto a card any time soon.

A great way to make use of these scraps is to use them for punched accents or die cut with them.

Even thin strips of left-over paper and card can be put to good use with decorative edging.

So with all that in mind we're going to make a card that features:

• At least 2 decorative edges
• Scraps/leftover paper from your stash

If you manage to make a card where you've not cut into any "new" sheets of paper or card, well I think you'll be deserving some extra gold stars!

Here's what I made for this week:

Paper: Crate Paper, Cosmo Cricket
Dies: PTI, Memory Box, Magnolia
Stamps: PTI
Pearl: Prima
Other: Glossy Accents, chalk ink for edging

A really simple card, yet it's all made from scraps and left-over pieces that were just too big to chuck out.

I'm not sure if you can pick up in the photos but I applied Glossy Accents to the label around the greeting. It gives it extra pop against the background paper. :)

Anyway, I hope you have fun rummaging through your stockpile of scraps!

52 Cards challenge - Week 8

Morning everyone!

This week's challenge is quite a simple one. Create a card using just one design of patterned paper.

If you have time you could use up the entire sheet of paper to make some coordinating cards. ;o)

But this week we're keeping it as simple as it needs to be. :)

Here's what I made:

Paper: Basic Grey
Butterfly stickers: Basic Grey
Dies: PTI, MFT
Stamp: MFT
Seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Rose: Wild Orchid Crafts

Happy creating!

52 Cards challenge - Week 7

This week's prompt for the 52 Cards challenge is a colour prompt.

Here's your inspiration for our colour combo:

Cool pastels and off-white greys.

For my card I tried a technique I have been wanting to try for a while, and that's sewn dimensional hearts:

Paper: PTI, October Afternoon, Crate Paper
Stamp: Hero Arts
Other: Vellum, string, sewing machine

The little dotty paper is from PTI and coordinates with their cardstock. The grey spotty paper is from October Afternoon, and the background is from Crate's recent Christmas line - a very nice off white that doesn't scream Christmas. Also I wanted to use grey ink for the greeting to keep with the colour theme. :)

Hope you have fun playing with these colours!

52 Cards challenge - Week 6

Welcome to another week and another prompt!

Well, this week our inspiration comes from three random elements drawn from the prompt jar:

Focussing on hot pink I knew immediately that I could kill two birds with one stone this week. I've had a scrap of Cosmo Cricket paper left over since last year, too large to chuck out, and just the right size for a card...

So get your shades on, because this card is BRIGHT!

Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Stamp: MFT
Dies: MFT
Felt: PTI
Bling: Kaisercraft
Punches: Martha Stewart
Other: White gel pen, 3D foam

Now, if hot pink isn't really your thing, you don't need to use it quite on the scale I did. Just one little accent that is hot pink is all you need. Or what about hot pink stitching?

Hope you have a lovely creative week! :D

52 Cards challenge - Week 5

Welcome to another week on the 52 cards challenge - hard to believe we are reaching the end of January!

Well done to everyone who has been playing along! :)

For this week's prompt there is one main theme.

Make a card featuring some sort of aperture.

Here's what I made:

Paper: My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon
Dies: PTI, MFT, Stampin' Up
Stamps: PTI, Hero Arts
Felt: PTI
Kraft pocket: Joann's
Other: Promarkers

To make my aperture detail I used a small kraft paper bag. I bought a pack of these in Florida a while ago and they are similar to coin envelopes that you can get over here.

I first masked the inside of the flap at the back with a post-it note so that I could stamp the woodgrain background on just the front.

I then die cut the pinked circle from felt and cut a smaller circle inside the pinked felt piece. I cut the same sized circle from the kraft paper bag and attached the felt border round the circle.

I created a tag to go inside and when it's pulled out you can see the yellow arrow paper that I stuck to the back of the kraft baggie to cover the die-cut hole on that side:

Also when making this card I wanted to use up the 2 sheets of 6x6 paper from my MME pad entirely, I managed that by using the left-over bits to make the yellow details and the cloud tag. Always nice when you can use up a whole sheet of something. I just love MME 6x6 pads as their double-sided papers are really versatile.

Anyway, I hope you have fun coming up with some aperture ideas. :D

52 Cards challenge - Week 4

Happy Monday everyone!

This week's prompt is a sketch created by my own fair hand, hence it is rather simple!

Here's the card I made based on this design:

Paper: MME
Dies: My Favorite Things, PTI
Stamps: Hero Arts, Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: 3D foam

I managed a play with my new doily die from My Favorite Things, I rather like how you can use it to full up white space without totally overwhelming the background. :D

And on a similar theme, I made a second card but mixed up the sketch a little:

Paper: Crate Paper
Dies: My Favorite Things, Spellbinders
Stamps: My Favorite Things
Sticker: Crate Paper
Brad: Crate Paper
Other: Distressing tool, sander

So you see, you can create a card that follows the sketch exactly, turn the sketch design on its side, or mix the elements around a little. I look forward to seeing how you interpret it! :)

Happy creating!

52 Cards challenge - Week 3

Morning everyone!

This week's inspiration is tied together by a common theme and is brought to you with the aid of Pinterest. :D

The theme for this prompt is bunting, banners, pennants and flags.

Now before I show the photo inspiration don't worry too much, remember you can take any aspect of these photos as your inspiration. I would love you to try to incorporate bunting, banners, pennants and flags in any shape or form in your project, but if you really can't manage it focus on another area of inspiration from these photos.

We have some lovely bunting combining stripes, and dots, and my favourite combo of red and aqua:

Source: hostessblog.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

We have banners that are tied at either end:

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

We have little flags on sticks:

Source: frolic-blog.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

We have DIY banners and pennants that use a neat technique:

Source: danielleflanders.blogspot.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

If you have a Fiskars scallop border punch check out this wonderful idea by Danielle Flanders.

We have pennants of all shapes and sizes:

Source: littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

In fact, you can do just about anything:

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com via Natalia on Pinterest

 

The possibilities are endless!

Here's what I came up with using my new Paperheart collection from Crate. :D

Paper: Crate
Stickers: Crate
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Dies: Spellbinders, PTI
Stamp: PTI
Other: Sewing machine, chalk ink, distresser

I ended up cutting the banner with the pennant die from Nestabilities, a nice and quick way to get even, uniform pennants. Stuck them down where I wanted them with a touch of repositionable Herma and ran the card through the sewing machine. :D

52 Cards challenge - Week 2

Wow, what a fab start to the challenge we had last week! So many people joining in and getting creative! :oD

This week our prompt comes from the trusted prompt jar:

Remember you can interpret the prompts in any way!

Here's the card I made to congratulate a friend on the lovely news that she and her hubby are expecting a baby boy:

Paper: MME
Die-cuts: MME
Stickers: American Crafts, KI Memories
Die: Sizzix
Other: Corner Chomper, 3D foam

So red-yellow-blue as my primary colours inspiration, the handmade embellishment is the rosette made with the aid of a die and altered slightly, and the journalling spot was used for my greeting.

Happy creating!

52 Cards challenge - Week 1

Happy New Year everyone!

So here we are in a new year and back at week 1 and if you're new to the 52 Cards challenge, here's the info I posted on UK Scrappers about how this works. :)

What is it?
A no-stress challenge aimed at getting you to make a card a week in 2012.
Each week I will post prompts here on my blog - these will either be:

• 3 prompts randomly picked from the prompt jar
• Photo inspiration from Pinterest, etc. (that you can interpret in any way that you like: colours, layout, design elements, product - it's up to you!)
• Design elements or themes
• An existing card design that you can use as a sketch to create your own interpretation

All you need to do is use the prompts as inspiration to create a card - if you can't include all the elements of a prompt, don't worry - there are no rules, the aim is simply to get creating!

Where are the prompts?
All prompts past and present can be found here on my blog or by clicking on the 52-card challenge tag over there on the left.

When are they posted?
The prompts go live every Monday morning at around 8.30 a.m. Due to work hours I schedule the blog post for challenge prompts so it's available at the same time and same place each week. And time permitting I will include a card with my own interpretation of the prompt. :)

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

So on with the show, this week's prompt is a design elements and theme prompt:

1. Theme = New (new beginnings, baby, home or simply using new stash - the choice is yours!)
2. Circles
3. Scallops

Here's what I came up with:

Cardblank: DCWV
Paper: My Mind's Eye
Dies: Sizzix, Spellbinders
Stamp: PTI
Other: Glitter cardstock, twine, button, pattern wheel, distresser, chalk ink, 3D foam

So the new element of this card, is using my new Sizzix edger die for the zigzag and scallop borders. And I am sure the other scallops and circle are easy to spot. :D

I hope you have time to join in - happy creating!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 52

Well I hope everyone has managed to survive the Christmas weekend, if you are looking for an excuse to play with your new crafty presents, then look no further.

Here's the last prompt for this year's 52 Cards Challenge:

And here is the card I managed to make for it just before Christmas Eve - clean and simple for obvious reasons! LOL

Paper: MME
Stamp: PTI
Die: PTI
Brad: Crate Paper
Other: Chalk ink, old music paper

Thanks to everyone who has played along with this challenge over the year, and I'd especially like to thank Ang (paper&ribbons) for originally starting off this challenge. :o)

Don't worry, the 52 Cards challenge will return for 2012 with a prompt or two in week 1, see you next year! ;o)

52 Cards Challenge: Week 51

The end is almost nigh for this year's card challenge.

The good news is that weekly card prompts will continue next year and will be inspired by both the prompt jar (for random prompts), my Papercrafts 365 cards book... and well, perhaps the odd pinterest pin!

But on with this week's prompt:

So I wasn't quite done making Christmas cards, I had detached some sticky chipboard from the sheet last week and never ended up using it, so this was a good excuse to get it stuck down to something other than random objects on my desk!

Paper: Crate Paper
Chipboard: MME
Dies: PTI
Stamps: PTI
Twine: The Ribbon Reel

So there goes my homage to the Sound of Music, not quite a brown paper package tied up with string... but the I couldn't help humming the rest of the tune while I was making this!

Anyway, see you next week for the last prompt of the year - I shall be working on my card in advance as I somehow think it'll be a tad busy this time next Monday. ;o)

52 Cards challenge: Week 50

Things have been rather hectic here to say the least so I wasn't sure I'd manage to get a prompt AND card up today... but I had some time spare Friday evening and got the paper and glue out to just have some creative me time. :)

So on with the prompt:

Here's what I made to fit the brief (and for plaid I think anything with checks/gingham fits that bill!):

Paper and chipboard: Crate Paper
Stamps: Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Dies: Memory Box Dies, PTI, Marianne
Other: Felt, ribbon, 3D foam, Distress Stickles, circle punch

Now this particular card is an homage to the Austrian Tirol and will be going to my friends Kelly and Andreas since I am pretty sure they wish they were in Austria this Christmas again, but hopefully it'll bring back some happy Tirol memories. :)

Happy creating!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 49

Hi everyone!

The weeks seem to be flying by right now, so here we are with another prompt to get stuck into. :)

This is what I came up with during a cardmaking session at the weekend:

Paper: Crate Paper
Chipboard: Crate Paper
Dies: Marianne, PTI
Stamps: PTI
Other: Felt, Distress Stickles

And another card on the same theme:

Paper: Crate Paper
Chipboard: Crate Paper
Dies: Marianne
Stamps: Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Other: Felt, Distress Stickles, button twine, corner chomper

Happy crafting!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 48

Welcome to the last prompt of the month.

This week's elements are:

Rub-ons: If you are like me there will be a whole stack of these in the bottom of a box somewhere dating back quite a few years! I've not used rub-ons in ages, so a good excuse to check through the stash pile.

Pearls: My favourite little addition to card projects. Especially the teeny tiny ones from kaisercraft.

Vintage: Well you can go with any interpretation for this. Old era papers, ephemera, printables, or just plain old distressing.

And yep, it's another Christmas offering from me!

I made two cards to fit this challenge, but wasn't so happy with how the first one turned out:

Paper: Basic Grey
Sticker: Basic Grey
Label: Basic Grey
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Glitter rub-on: Making Memories
Other: Stickles, 3D foam, chalk ink

The reason I'm not so happy with how it turned out is the way the glitter rub-on appears in most light, it doesn't photograph that well and looks rather blurry and not so glittery...  Bit of a shame...

As for the second card, well the Distress Stickles were still drying when I had to take the photos as I was almost out of daylight, so the glittery border will look a lot better once it dries:

Paper: Basic Grey
Chipboard: Basic Grey
Rub-ons: Luxe designs (stitches)
Felt: PTI
Stamp: Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Dies: Spellbinders
Pearl: Kaisercraft

The Stickles are Shabby Shutters so should be a nice compliment to the moss green ink of the greeting once dry and flat. :)

Happy creating!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 47

I cannot believe how quickly the 52 week mark is almost upon us! Scary right!?

Well, I am happy to report that the prompts for this week are at least slightly on track with the time of year. :)

• Foam pads - such an essential item in my stash, that this element is always a nice one to see
• Christmas - if you don't celebrate it or don't need to make anything Christmas-themed, you can always go with Winter or another seasonal idea
• Red - ahhh a very apt colour at the moment. I don't think I use it enough!

Here's the card sample I made for this week:

Cardblank: DCWV
Paper: Echo Park
Dies: Spellbinders, PTI
Stickers: Echo Park
Rub-ons: Crate Paper
Stamp: PTI
Snowman: Basic Grey
Other: 3D foam, string, glitter paper, cardstock

I seriously love that little felt snowman.

I am a bit bummed at the moment that none of my cards are coming out anywhere near what I planned. I wonder if my mojo is needing a little recharging. I just don't feel I am doing justice to my stash, or indeed managing to "use" the really nice stash I have. Time and time again I have reached for my nordic WMS stamps only to end up changing my mind and making something else. :o\

Oh well, there is always next week, right?

In the meantime I hope my creative mojo makes a reappearance as I really could do with making nice cards again! hehe

52 Cards Challenge: Week 46

Welcome to another Monday morning prompt, this week's elements are:

I am really wanting to concentrate on my Christmas cards now, so I may not manage to get all the elements on my cards for upcoming prompts, but I think I've ticked all the boxes this week. Including glitter galore for the glitz and glam aspect.

Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Stamps: PTI
Dies: Spellbinders, PTI
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Chalk ink, Distress Stickles, Stickles, glitter paper, 3D foam, satin ribbon

It's been a while since I used this stamp set, and I forgot how nice the branch and leaves work together. No doubt will be using it more in the upcoming weeks!

Have a creative week!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 45

Welcome to a rather frosty Monday morning prompt for this weekly challenge. It is rather frightening how close we are getting to week 50! Never mind 52!

This week's elements are:

I made a rather simple Christmas card for my offering that looks a lot nicer in real life than it photos:

Stamps: PTI
Other: Stickles, Prima grey chalk inks, Versamagic white chalk ink, Versacolor pigment inks

I am really liking how the Prima chalk inks stamp on kraft and on that white ink - very lush, I had to order the rest!

Happy crafting!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 44

Welcome to another prompt on this spooky Monday!

This week's elements are:

I felt this called for a festive number... ;o)

Paper and die cuts: My Mind's Eye
Other: 3D foam pads, Corner Chomper

A really simple one just using elements from the collection pack, oh and my nice new 5x7 Papermania kraft card blanks. Finally in stock at The Range!

Happy crafting!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 43

Welcome to another prompt on this rather dark Monday morning!

This week's elements are...

And here's what I went with (excuse the garish photo - how I miss daylight for taking pics).

Paper: Crate Paper
Stamps: Waltzing Mouse
Dies: Spellbinders, Dienamics, PTI
Twine: The Ribbon Reel
Brad: Basic Grey
Other: Stickles, Distress Stickles, Copics, Distress Inks

Happy crafting!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 42

Welcome on this dreary and breezy Monday morning to another prompt for the 52 cards challenge.

 

And here's my card:

Paper: MME
Dies: Stampin' Up, Sizzix, PTI
Stickers: Doodlebug
Stamps: Banana Frog
Pearl: Kaisercraft
Scallop: Bazzill edge
Other: Stickles, sewing machine, sander

Hope you have a creative week!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 41

Welcome to another Monday and another prompt - I am not liking these dark and cool morning starts...

This week we're playing with the following three elements:

 

And for my take on these I had to go with something Christmas-themed:

 

Paper: Crate Paper
Chipboard: Crate Paper
Stamp: PTI
Ribbon: East of India
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Stickles, buttons, embroidery thread

 

A nice mix of vintage buttons, ribbon and style with those Peppermint Collection papers and chipboard from Crate Paper, a little chipboard house Stickled to the max and home in the greeting, and yummy grey gingham ribbon. :)

52 Card Challenge: Week 40

Hello Monday!

And welcome to another new prompt. At last I have managed to be organised enough to have something to share, but first let's see what the elements are this week. :)

 

Here's what I came up with, back to non-summertime photography I'm afraid:

 

Papers: October Afternoon
Dies: Dienamics (MFT), PTI
Stamps: Dienamics (MFT)
Other: 3D foam, button, thread, Corner Chomper

 

For the dress form, I cut a piece of doily paper in red with the same die to give it a bit more of a fashiony look than just using the stamped image.

And now I have another card to add to my card basket, I finally sorted a pile of 3 months worth of cards into cellophane baggies with matching envelopes yesterday and so the card basket is looking a lot healthier. :)

52 Cards Challenge: Week 39

Hello Monday, and hello a new prompt:

 

This should be an interesting combo... which I'm going to have to try out at a later date! No card from me today (weekend ran away from me) but I'll be playing catch-up as soon as I can...

Happy creating everyone!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 38

Welcome to another Monday!

This week's prompt looks a little something like this...

 

Hm, a good job I bought some of those Lime Twist MME papers, perfect for the lime aspect. And what do you know, I've actually managed to make a card for this prompt. Just need to find the time to catch up with weeks 36 and 37 at some point:

 

Papers: MME
Journaling card: MME
Punch: EK Success
Dies: Sizzix, PTI
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Twine: The Ribbon Girl
Other: Distress ink, 3D foam, sander, Pattern tracing wheel

 

No catch-up for me tonight, it's the start of my new photography class plus it's going to be a rather busy week!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 37

Morning!

Welcome to another week and another prompt.

I'm woefully behind, still not managed a card for last week's prompt and now no card yet for this week's prompt, I have some catching up to do.

But here's hoping I can come up with something to fit the bill:

 

Happy creating!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 36

Another week, another month... I am still clinging onto any shred of summer we are still experiencing. So not ready for cooler days and dark nights!

This week's prompt is here:

 

I do believe we've had felt before, so feel free to interpret this as any fabric if felt is a bit of a stretch. :)

For trim this can be any sort of unusual ribbon/lace/brocade etc.

I've not managed to get a card made yet for this prompt, but hope to update this post soon with an example. I still have to try out some more of my lovely new Die-namics stamp and die sets, so good excuse to get crafting!

52 Card Challenge: Week 35

I hope everyone who's going a Bank Holiday weekend is enjoying theirs.

Unfortunately with my current work project I have spent all weekend working so far with little chance for anything else.

But today's a day off that's for sure! :o)

If you're feeling crafty, check out this week's prompt:

 

Amazingly enough I have managed to make a card for it using some new stash:

 

Cardstock: American Crafts, PTI, Stampin' Up
Dies: My Favorite Things, Papertrey Ink
Stamps: Waltzing Mouse Stamps, Papertrey Ink
Pearls: Prima
Other: 3D foam pads, Corner Chomper

 

So I've interpreted squares as a square card base, sweet as cute and well, there's always a bit of 3D foam knocking about on my cards! hehe

Happy creating!

52 Card Challenge: Week 34

Happy Monday!

Here's this week's prompt - one that looks nice and friendly:

 

And guess what? Shock, horror... I've actually made a card... well a little notelet:

 

Cardstock: PTI
Paper: Echo Park
Stamps: PTI and Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Die: PTI
Punch: Martha Stewart
Bling: Prima

 

For my choice of... I went with stamping to try out my "new" WMS banner stamps for the background to the greeting - very handy indeed. :)

A little creative catch-up

Managed to get a card made for the 52 Card Challenge prompt that called for kraft, autumn and twine.

 

Papers: October Afternoon
Dies: Sizzix, Spellbinders, PTI
Stamp: PTI
Button: PTI
Twine: The Ribbon Girl
Other: Corner Chomper

 

Hopefully those OA Weathervane papers are sufficiently autumnal for August! ;o)

Right, I'd best get some other things sorted ready for the coming week. Managed to tick off a few creative things today before it's back to the grind tomorrow.

52 Cards Challenge: Week 33

Morning all!

I feel rather guilty about posting this week's prompt given that yesterday was the sunniest day I've seen in a while and I feel like I've returned to summer mode after all the cold rain...

 

I'm thinking a couple of autumnal shades ought to do it, but it doesn't have to be a full on autumn affair!

Not sure when I'll get my card made as I am currently eating through any spare hours in the day around work engrossed in French Relations and then onto re-reading Well Groomed... I will soon shut up about these books - promise! But I just love it when you can truly get engrossed in a good read. ;o)

ETA: Here's the card for this prompt finally made:

 

The details are here. :)

52 Cards Challenge: Week 32

Welcome to another Monday and another prompt!

 

This week's prompt must have been meant to be for my cardmaking needs as I needed to make a baby card for a little girl. :)

Anyway, here's what I came up with using some papers from my little Echo Park Victoria Gardens set.

 

Papers: MME, Echo Park
Stamps: PTI
Dies: PTI, Spellbinders
Ribbon: Pebbles Inc
Seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Lace: The Ribbon Reel
Buttons: PTI
Twine: The Ribbon Girl
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Sewing machine, distress sander, 3D foam

 

It's difficult to see the inking in the photos, but I sanded back the main background paper and used cream ink all around to age it a bit before sewing a border round.

Anyway, happy creating!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 31

Welcome to a new month and another Monday!

The prompt this weeks looks nice and friendly:

 

So friendly in fact, I've already made a sample to go with it. ;o)

 

Papers: My Mind's Eye
Die: Spellbinders
Stamp: Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Seam binding and twine: The Ribbon Girl
Lace: The Ribbon Reel
Button: PTI
Rose: Wild Orchid Crafts
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Distress sander, sewing machine, 3D foam, Distress Ink, Crackle Accents, Distress Stickles

 

A lot of the stitching I did got covered up, but I tried the tricot stitch to stitch the seam binding on and quite liked that. Unfortunately the Memento ink I used for the stamp ran a bit when I applied the crackle glaze, but it doesn't look too bad. I don't really want to use Staz-on on my clear stamps, but is that the only ink that works OK with Crackle Accents?

52 Cards Challenge: Week 30

I'm not sure how we managed to get to week 30 already, but here's the prompt we have to inspire us:

 

Hm, why is it that "simple" is usually anything but for me when making cards? LOL

I will be interested to see just how simple my card is when I come to make it later on. ;o)

Until then, happy creating!

Well, what do you know? I managed to catch up with this prompt and last week's. This one is for last week's prompt to use buttons, jewels and a frame:

 

I posted all the details here, but the jewels are around the rose, the film strip acts as a frame and you can see that lovely Crate button.

And as for this week's prompt, here's my "simple" card:

 

Paper: My Mind's Eye
Dies: Papertrey Ink
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: 3D foam

 

Until next week!

A quick catch-up

Here's the card I made for week 28's prompt in the 52 Cards Challenge. It called for yellow, cream, and brads...

 

Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket
Stamps: Waltzing Mouse, PTI
Dies: Spellbinders
Seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Brad: Doodlebug
Other: 3D foam, sanding file, distress ink, Corner Chomper

 

In other news, weather continues to be less than wonderful. I've read a few more books and am debating between waiting to re-read...

 

The Devil in Winter from the library or just getting the Kindle version!

I really want to re-read it before I read...

 

A Scandal in Spring which is the next book in the Wallflower series. After reading...

 

It Happened One Autumn yesterday I realise how much I have missed Lisa Kleypas' writing... The new Friday Harbour series cannot come some enough! But in the meantime I have at least a couple of her books to enjoy. ;o)

52 Cards Challenge: Week 29

I'm a bit late to the party this week, I've not even made my card for week 28 yet, but as I have just started my Staycation I think I'll be able to do some catching up soon - especially if the rain continues!

In the meantime here's our prompt for week 29:

 

For the jewel aspect this could be bling or jewel colours/tones. Or any other interpretation that comes to mind. ;o)

I will hopefully be back soon with some actual card examples!

Only a week late, but here's the card I made:

 

Papers: Crate Paper
Dies: Spellbinders, Papertrey Ink
Ribbon: The Ribbon Girl
Stickers and die cuts: Crate Paper
Rose: Wild Orchid Crafts
Button: Crate Paper
Pearls and bling: Prima
Stick pin: Nunn designs
Other: Distress ink, 3D foam, distressing file

 

52 Cards Challenge: Week 28

Welcome to another Monday and another prompt!

Here's what we have to play with this week. :o)

 

Two colour accents this week which will be interesting, and brads - hm... the cogs are already whirring in my brain. ;o)

I'll be back with a card once I come up with something - who knows it might be later this evening?

ETA: so it has taken me almost two weeks to make it, but here's my card:

 

Go here for the deets. :)

Happy creating!