Kool Kitty Musings

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 36

Well it's just under an hour until tonight's no-doubt less sensational episode of The Great British Bake-Off, so the perfect opportunity to share my Christmas card for this week's sketch prompt.

Here's a reminder of the sketch:

{Pinterest pin}

I decided to reach for some festive stamps this week and the perfect set was the lovely Heartfelt Holidays stamps and dies from WPlus9's 2013 Christmas release.

Paper: Crate Paper, Pebbles, MME
Stamps: WPlus9
Dies: WPlus9, MFT, Sizzix
Button: October Afternoon
Other: hemp twine, Stickles, 3D foam

I love that leafy wreath-like border stamp, and I've always liked the banner in this set. I dusted the top of it and inside the frame with dots of Frosted Lace Stickles to look like snow. The snowman is stamped on cream cardstock with Versacolor Cement pigment ink. It creates the illusion of a nice vintagey-white - perfect for snowmen!

Crate Paper - Love Notes - Checked Out paper	Pebbles - Front Porch - Breezy paper	My Mind's Eye - Find Your Wings & Fly - Sky's the Limit - Layered Ephemera paper	WPlus9 - Heartfelt Holiday stamps
WPlus9 - Heartfelt Holiday dies	Sizzix - Tim Holtz - Alterations - Mini Scallop & Pinking edge die	MFT - Die-namics Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX	October Afternoon - Farmhouse buttons
Memento dye ink - Tuxedo Black	Distress Ink pad - Festive Berries	Adirondack dye ink - Meadow	Adirondack dye ink - Salmon
PTI - Aqua Mist ink cube	Hemptique natural hemp cord

InLinkz.com

Well I've got to get my desk cleared off here, and then I might finally get a moment to play with these lovely new Lawn Fawn goodies.

I really need to get ahead with craftiness this week as it's going to be a very busy weekend!

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 36

Morning everyone!

There were a few gremlins in the works when I originally typed up this post last night, basically all my text after "Morning everyone!" disappeared and I had to start again. Grrrr...

But hopefully we can move onto the main topic of today's post on the second attempt! Our prompt for week 36 comes in the form of this great sketch from Retro Sketches that popped up on my Pinterest feed this week - I think I'll have to keep an eye out for more lovely sketches from Retro Sketches!

{Pinterest pin}

I wanted to stick really close to the sketch layout for my card this week as I was really taken with the aperture in the banner layer and just wanted to replicate the whole thing:

Paper: Crate Paper, Shimelle
Dies: MFT, Spellbinders, Paper Smooches
Layered stickers: Crate Paper
Enamel dots: MME
Other: Stickles, 3D foam

So I really went to town with those papers and layered stickers from Crate Paper's Oh Darling line, in fact there are no less than 2 layered stickers on there, plus extra glitter for the bow as I couldn't resist getting the Platinum Stickles out. A great blend of gold and silver. :D

Also the top layer called for a good neutral design - plain white/cream card was too plain and boring and any other pattern would have been too fussy, but this cream grid paper which is a B-side from Shimelle's new collection for American Crafts really hit the spot! :)

I'll be back later this week to share my festive number, I look forward to seeing the interpretations for this week's sketch!

Happy crafting!

Crate Paper - Oh Darling - What a Doll paper	Crate Paper - Oh Darling - Dainty Darling paper	Crate Paper - Oh Darling - Treasured paper	American Crafts - Shimelle - Crane paper
Crate Paper - Oh Darling - Standouts Layered Stickers	My Mind's Eye - Kate & Co - Cambridge Court - Enamel Dots	Paper Smooches - Birthday Words dies	MFT - Die-namics Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX
Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Standard circles large	Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Standard circles small	PTI - Vintage Touch: Tea Dye Duo Ink

InLinkz.com

 

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 35

Evening folks!

Not long until tonight's instalment of The Great British Bake-Off, and it apparently promises to be a lively one!

So I'm trying quickly to get a few things completed before settling down in front of the telly for the evening, and one of those is sharing my festive number for this week's "Jaunty angle" theme. :)

Paper: Crate Paper
Stamp: PTI
Dies: Lil' Inker Designs, Lawn Fawn
Journaling card: Crate Paper
Enamel dots: MME
Other: Stickles, 3D foam

So I employed some of my favourite things with this card - out came the journaling card die from Lawn Fawn to trim the edges of that 3x4 Crate Paper ready-made journaling card - I just can't resist that stitched border! And once again I just had to use my current favourite little Christmas tree and I Stickled that red heart no end!

The jaunty angle is provided by this very handy PTI stamped greeting, which is already at an angle and there are even some diagonal stripes in the background of the journaling card too. My brand new enamel dots finished everything off quite nicely even if I say so myself! :D Have to say the enamel dots from the new Jubilee "Mint Julep" Beautiful line have to be the perfect set for Christmas cards - online pictures don't do them justice, but there's a lovely green, red, aqua, gold, and pink. Definitely my Christmas shades!

Crate Paper - Bundled Up - Noel paper	Crate Paper - Bundled Up - Journaling Cards	PTI - Happiest of Holidays stamp set	Lawn Fawn - Hearts dies
Lawn Fawn - Stitched journaling card	Lil' Inker Designs - Holly Jolly dies	My Mind's Eye - Jubilee - Mint Julep 'Beautiful' Enamel Dots

InLinkz.com

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 35

I'm back from my summer break and ready to get back to some regular cardmaking again. :D

This week's theme is...

A jaunty angle

So you can tilt the background papers you use or your card sentiment, or even just go full out diagonal on your design!

Here's my card:

Paper: Crate Paper
Dies: WPlus9, Lil' Inker Designs, MFT, Avery Elle
Stamp: WPlus9
Enamel dot: MME
Other: 3D foam

So this was the perfect excuse to play with some new word dies and greetings from the latest WPlus9 release - I do love these Handwritten style words. Also I have expanded my enamel dot collection recently with the lovely set in My Mind's Eye Just Sayin' line, which includes hearts, triangles and lovely gold glitter dots.

Crate Paper - Maggie Holmes Flea Market 6x6 paper pad	Crate Paper - Maggie Holmes Flea Market - Treasure paper	WPlus9 - Hand Lettered Thanks stamps	Avery Elle - Custom Panels Elle-ments dies
Lil' Inker Designs - Instant Camera die	WPlus9 - Hand Lettered Thanks dies	MFT - Die-namics Fishtail Flags STAX dies	My Mind's Eye - Just Sayin' - Enamel Dots

InLinkz.com

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 34 - prompt

Well ordinarily we'd be returning to the prompt jar for inspiration this week, but alas I didn't get chance to pick three elements and take a photo.

{Pinterest pin}

So instead I have found a photo and I want you to use the following three elements from it:

1. A ribbon or bow
2. Polka dots
3. Something furry or woolly (a creature, fabric, felt, etc.)

Hm, I bet that's got you thinking! :D

Happy crafting!

 

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 33 - prompt

Hello again!

This week's prompt comes in the form of an inspiration photo - so you basically have free creative reign to interpret any aspect of it as you wish!

{Pinterest pin}

This week's photo inspiration is a bit like a game of eye spy.

Do not be put off by the summer tones when it comes to your Christmas card - there are so many elements that can easily cross-over to a festive theme, such as:

• A landscape scene
• Signage (Santa stop here/do not open until Christmas, etc.)
• A sweet treat (gingerbread, hot chocolate, candy canes)
• Festive flora
• Winter wildlife
• Transportation - how about Santa's sleigh?
• A door or home
• Love, family, friendship

No doubt you will see your own creative cues... I'd love to see what you take from this collection of images. :)

Happy crafting!

 

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 32 - prompt

While I'm taking a break this summer I'll still be posting prompts every Monday, however I've not had chance to make cards in advance - something about not enough hours in the day and all that!

But here's this week's prompt - it's time again for a colour prompt:

{Pinterest pin}

Some lovely shades there - mellow tones of aqua, mustard, coral, grey, and peacock.

I'm sure these will work well together or you can focus on a few of the shades in the photo.

I think they'll look lovely on a Christmas card too - just imagine a wreath with berries or boughs of foliage with blue/silver bells... so many possibilities.

Happy crafting!

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 31

Well I'm just popping in for a break from my packing to share this week's Christmas interpretation of this sketch:

{Pinterest pin}

I had a little play with my recent Lil' Inker purchases and came up with this:

Paper: Crate Paper, Pebbles, Simple Stories
Dies: PTI, Lil' Inker Designs, Marianne, MFT
Stamp: PTI
Other: 3D foam, Stickles

I love the Jolly die from Lil Inkers - die-cut in red and then Red Stickles applied, it's so nice and glittery in real life. :) And how cute is the little sprig of holly?

Well it's back to the sorting and packing I go!

Supplies used in this post:

Crate Paper - Love Notes - Checked Out paper	Pebbles - Front Porch - Breezy paper	Pebbles - Front Porch - Bare Foot paper	Simple Stories - Sn@p! Color Vibe - Grey Dot/Stripe paper
PTI - Double-ended banners dies	MFT - Die-namics Fishtail Flags STAX dies	MFT - Die-namics Fishtail Flags Layers STAX dies	PTI - Wonderful Words: Holiday stamp set
Marianne Design - Creatables - Snowflake LR0185 die	Lil' Inker Desings - Jolly word die	Lil' Inker Designs - Holly Jolly dies

InLinkz.com

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 31

Morning everyone!

Well it's time for another sketch prompt and this week's comes from Mama Elephant:

{Pinterest pin}

I wanted to do a very simple card, but it definitely hasn't turned out quite as I'd hoped...

Paper: MME, Simple Stories, Pebbles
Dies: Cheery Lynn, Paper Smooches, MFT
Bling: Prima

Can't go wrong with yellow and grey - so I thought! I really love the yellow zigzag paper, it's such a lovely buttery shade in real life and although that "Cheers" die is in a birthday set by Paper Smooches, I think we can get away with using it for a thank you card in the UK!

Have fun working with this sketch, I'll be back with my Christmas interpretation soon!

Supplies used:

Pebbles - Front Porch - Bare Foot paper	My Mind's Eye - Find your Wings & Fly - Sky's the Limit - Tiled paper	My Mind's Eye - The Sweetest Thing - Lavender - The Best - Impression paper	Simple Stories - Sn@p! Color Vibe - Grey Dot/Stripe paper
Cheery Lynn - French Pastry Doily die	MFT - Die-namics Fishtail Flags Layers STAX dies	MFT - Die-namics Fishtail Flags STAX dies	Paper Smooches - Birthday Words dies
Prima - Say It In Crystals - Hearts

InLinkz.com

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 30

Well it's hard to imagine considering the heatwave we had yesterday, but in just 6 months time Christmas will be behind us! Gulp!

I've been a bit under the weather this weekend so have spent it mainly indoors in the cool, and that gave me the opportunity to catch-up on this week's 52 Cards challenge focussing on negative die-cuts.

Paper: Crate Paper
Dies: MFT, Lil' Inker Designs, Spellbinders
Stamp: PTI
Other: 3D foam

I finally had chance to try out my lovely new Lil' Inker stitched snowflakes and the jolly holly dies. :) I think I'll be using them a lot in the next 6 months!

Right, best get my tea on.... Back tomorrow with the next prompt!

Crate Paper - Bundled Up - 6x6 paper pad	PTI - Holiday Tree Stamp Set	Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Standard circles small	Lil' Inker Designs - Snowflake dies
Lil' Inker Designs - Holly Jolly dies	My Favorite Things - Die-namics - Sentiment strips 2 dies

InLinkz.com

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 30

Hello everyone!

This week's prompt is a technique-based one.

It's all about achieving the look of negative die-cutting.

I love this look and you can achieve something very unique and striking in just a few steps.

Think about the dies in your collection - which ones would work well used as the negative? Basic shapes like hearts, stars, squares, circles are all good starting points, but what about your word dies?

If you don't have any dies, what about punches or hand-cutting something? I'm sure you could achieve the look on a Silhouette too.

Here's my first card for this week - I decided to go with hearts for mine:

Paper: Basic Grey, MME
Dies: Lawn Fawn, MFT
Stamp: PTI
Other: 3D foam

As always 3D foam tape is my good friend for this technique, it really makes the contrast between the negative cut-out and the background pop! I wanted to add a bit more detail to the heart cut-out, so a teeny heart cut from the same paper in this line from Basic Grey, scored and slightly folded makes it stand out. :)

I look forward to seeing the shapes you select for this week! :D

Happy crafting!

Supplies used for this post:

Basic Grey - True Love - Giddy paper	Basic Grey - True Love - Smitten paper	My Mind's Eye - Find Your Wings & Fly - Sky's the Limit - Zig Zag paper	PTI - Mat Stack 4 Collection stamp set
My Favorite Things - Die-namics - Sentiment strips 2 dies

InLinkz.com

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 29

It's an early start for me - working from home today and lots to get done.

But before I get started I wanted to pop in and share my Christmas Cracker card for this week's prompt jar elements, which were:

• Scallop
• Grey
• Bows

I do love a bit of bold colour on a Christmas mantelpiece and this card certainly delivers some of that! :)

Paper: Studio Calico, Crate Paper
Dies: WPlus9, Lil' Inker Designs, Spellbinders, Mama Elephant, Sizzix
Sticker: Crate Paper
Other: 3D foam

This lovely stitched frame die is just perfect for cardmaking and a great border around aperture cards. It's a bit hard to tell but I cut a square in the top layer with my Spellbinders nestability die so that you can see through the background layer and the little tree all wrapped up with a pretty red bow. :)

Well, time to get down to some work - I'll be back with some craftiness later this week. :D

Studio Calico - Magical - Underwraps paper	Studio Calico - Wonderland - Toboggan paper	October Afternoon - Make It Merry - Make a Stocking paper	Crate Paper - Peppermint collection kit
Crate Paper - Bundled Up - Stickers	Sizzix - Tim Holtz - Alterations - Scallops edge die	Lil' Inker Designs - Instant Camera die	Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Classic squares large
Mama Elephant - Dainty bow die	WPlus9 - Pretty Patches: Tree dies

InLinkz.com

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 29

Morning folks!

This week's challenge comes from the prompt jar. :)

You need to incorporate the following three elements on your project in some way:

Well, for my first card this week I rummaged around in the paper scraps I cling onto in hopes they will fit the bill for a new project one day!

Thankfully I came up with a handy little piece of spotty grey paper and recycled a design I've used a few times this year. :)

Paper: Echo Park, MME
Stamps: WPlus9, Avery Elle
Dies: WPlus9, Spellbinders, MFT, Mama Elephant
Enamel dot: Teresa Collins
Other: 3D foam

I cut a scallop circle from some light grey cardstock as I thought cream or white would be a bit too harsh. The stamped flowers are from Coming Up Roses and the leafy elements from Spring Blooms - both by WPlus9. I quite like the look of these together, definitely lots of possibilities. :D

I hope you have fun playing with this week's elements - happy crafting!

My Mind's Eye - Find your Wings & Fly - Up & Away - Dreams paper	Echo Parl - Seltzer Grey Small Dot paper	Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Standard circles large	Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Classic scalloped circles large
Avery Elle - Simply Said: Hello stamps	WPlus9 - Coming Up Roses stamps	WPlus9 - Coming Up Roses dies	WPlus9 - Spring Blooms stamps
WPlus9 - Spring Blooms dies	Mama Elephant - Dainty bow die	MFT - Die-namics Fishtail Flags Layers STAX dies	Teresa Collins - Family Stories enamel dots
Adirondack dye ink - Salmon	Adirondack dye ink - Peach Bellini	Adirondack dye ink - Mountain Rose	Adirondack dye ink - Pebble
Adirondack dye ink - Meadow	Memento dye ink - Tuxedo Black

InLinkz.com

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 28

Better late than never, I have this week's Christmas Cracker finally photographed and ready to share. :D

Now, as you might remember this week's prompt comes in the form of this inspiration pic:

{Pinterest pin}

In the list of possible interpretations I mentioned the door... well that got me to thinking about a festive door decorated with a Christmas wreath, and so I went full steam ahead with that idea and ended up with this:

Paper: MME, Crate Paper
Stamps: WPlus9
Dies: WPlus9, PTI, Mama Elephant
Enamel dot: Studio Calico
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Distress Stickles, Stickles, 3D foam

Well I definitely didn't have anything door-like in my die collection, so I cut a panel of paper and on the reverse marked up the panels for a door and scored them with an embossing stylus. I flipped the paper over and used Distress Ink to bring out the embossed lines. I needed a handle for my door, so used one of the woodgrain enamel dots in my vast collection!

I wanted to incorporate the greeting on the wreath so it hopefully looks like a ribbon festooning the wreath and not something funeral! I rolled the banner around a pencil to shape it so it looks a bit more ribbon like. Plenty of Stickles on the red berries of the wreath, then Rock Candy Distress Stickles to accent the bow and give it a festive look. :)

My Mind's Eye - The Sweetest Thing - Lavender - The Best - Impression paper	Crate Paper - DIY Shop 12x12 pad	WPlus9 - Woodland Wreaths stamps	WPlus9 - Woodland Wreaths dies
WPlus - Pretty Patches: Tree stamps	Mama Elephant - Dainty bow die	PTI - Double-ended banners dies	Kaisercraft - Pearls - Red
Studio Calico - Essentials - Woodgrain enamel dots

InLinkz.com

And on a completely unrelated note to Christmas cards it's back to summer and a few examples of test shots with my new little Lumix.

It stood up quite well to very bright sun in the park at the weekend:

Not bad on the old zoom for people shots:

After the rain yesterday, the sun finally prevailed when I was round at my mum and dad's - this shot was a full zoom in from a good few meters away - in the full pic you can even see the detail on the wings:

I managed to snap this little fellow on his rounds looking for slugs:

And on full zoom right at the back of the garden - this blackbird was captured trying to collect as much food to go with those worms as it could shove in its beak:

I had a play trying to capture the detail on the roses, and love how the raindrop glistens in this pic:

There ends the camera testing. The only thing I wish was on the quick menu is the set button for white balance - all the other white balance settings are there, but the set option would have been an ideal one to access directly and not via the menu. But apart from that, I'm happy with the pics so far. :)

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 28

Hello everyone, it's hard to believe but we've reached the half-way point in this year's 52 cards challenge! Crikey....

This week's prompt comes in the form of an inspiration photo to get you kick-started. :)

{Pinterest pin}

Lots of lovely features in this set of images that can be translated onto a card:

• Fancy frames
• Mini pegs/bunting
• Pompom embellishments (dimensional flowers, tissue paper, resin flowers)
• Monograms
• Focus on a quote/word art
• Cute animals like the dog and owl in the photos
• A house/door
• Black as a striking colour element
• Any of the colours: soft celery green, aqua, blush, white, hot pink, black, bold orange

...those are just a few to get you thinking.

Well, this week's card is also the first one taken with my new little point and shoot camera. My Lumix DMC-TZ5 has served me well for almost 6 years but for the past few months it hasn't been able to zoom in on the first go and I've been having to use the "Food" scene setting to take project photos so that the exposure could be tweaked without loosing too much detail.

At the weekend, after a lot of consideration and trying out various point and shoots under the £200 mark, I finally managed to get a Lumix DMC-TZ35 at Argos. I did like the DMC-TZ40 but couldn't bring myself to pay almost £100 more just for the WiFi capability (which is reportedly quite patchy anyway) - I did really like the image stabilization display on the TZ40, the TZ35 still has the grid display for helping you shoot straight (I need a lot of help with that!) but the spirit-level style guide on the TZ40 would have been a welcome addition. I've managed to familiarise myself with most things on my new little camera, and am hoping for better project shots now that don't require much correcting in PSE afterwards. :) Plus I'm hoping to put it through its paces this summer when in Poland. I love my Sony DSLR and the photos I get with it, but you don't want to be lugging a heavy camera with you in your handbag everyday.

Anyway, enough about that and onto my card:

Paper: MME, Crate Paper
Stamps: PTI, Waltzing Mouse
Dies: PTI
Bling: Prima
Other: vellum, 3D foam, sewing machine, Stickles

So my elements were the fancy black oval frame, a monogram, and blush pink for the heart rhinestones. I wanted to soften up the background a bit so stitched a strip of vellum on, the frame is also blinged up with black Stickles dotted right around the inside frame. I cut the B from cream cardstock and stamped it with the corresponding stamp using PTI Aqua Mist ink - you can just make out the cream line still on the inside of the letter. I spent a while trying to find the perfect greeting that would fit the style of the rest of the card, and once again the Big Day Today set from Waltzing Mouse Stamps came out to play - I love the font for the Big Day sets. :D

So that's it for this card, now I need to think about what I'll feature on my Christmas card... perhaps a door with a wreath on it? Who knows! :)

My Mind's Eye - Find your Wings & Fly - Up & Away - Mixed Media paper	Crate Paper - Love Notes - Crush paper	PTI - Simply Jane stamp set	PTI - Simply Jane die collection (set of 5)
Waltzing Mouse - Big Day Today stamps	PTI - Headline alphabet stamp set	PTI - Headline alphabet dies	Prima - Say It In Crystals - Hearts
PTI - Aqua Mist ink cube	Versafine ink pad - Onyx black

InLinkz.com

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 27

So here I am back with this week's Christmas offering. :)

Here's a reminder of the colour palette:

{Pinterest pin}

Pretty and zingy colours, so I decided to go with the hot pink and red combo plus a little light blue thrown in for good measure and some festive green. :)

Paper: Echo Park
Dies: Spellbinders, Lil' Inker Designs, MFT
Stamp: PTI
Enamel dots: Studio Calico
Other: 3D foam

I already had that Christmas tree cut from last week and ready to use on a card so was determined to get it on a card before it started gathering dust in my little odds and ends dish on my desk. Once again a bit of 3D foam does all the work of making this card pop to complement the zinging colours from these Echo Park papers. :)

I've put the Christmas stash away again for another week - now to think about next week's prompt.... hm...

Echo Park - Everybody Loves Christmas - Ornaments paper	Echo Park - Everybody Loves Christmas - Christmas Bells paper	PTI - Stylish Sentiments: Holiday Stamp Set	Lil' Inker Designs - Holly Jolly dies
Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Standard circles large	MFT - First Place Award Ribbon dies	Studio Calico - Essentials - Green enamel dots

InLinkz.com

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 27

Morning everyone!

We're back to a colour prompt for our inspiration this week and I rather liked the look of this image and all the possible colour options it offers:

{Pinterest pin}

Now, I'm not expecting anyone to use every single colour in the palette on their card, no, no, no... Simply select the colours that work for you and go from there! :)

Here's my card:

Paper: Basic Grey, Pink Paislee
Stamps: WPlus9
Dies: Lil' Inker Designs, WPlus9, MFT
Embossing Folder: Crate Paper
Enamel dot: Basic Grey
Other: 3D foam, vellum

I focussed on the pink blossom spectrum of the colour palette with a good dose of green! I die-cut the Lil' Inkers Instant Camera Frame die from Pink Paislee London Market paper and also cut the same die from cream cardstock to strengthen it as I wanted to put it all on 3D foam, but I didn't want a plain aperture, so I embossed some vellum and stuck that to the back of the frame before mounting it on the card front. Easy peasy. :)

Now I just need to decide what colours to use for this week's Christmas card. ;)

Basic Grey - LilyKate - Queen Ann paper	Pink Paislee - London Market - Notting Hill paper	Crate Paper - Maggie Holmes Styleboard - Embossing folder	WPlus9 - Coming Up Roses stamps
WPlus9 - Coming Up Roses dies	WPlus9 - Fresh Cut Florals stamps	Lil' Inker Designs - Instant Camera die	MFT - First Place Award Ribbon dies
Basic Grey - Candy Buttons - Yellow/pink enamel dots	Distress Ink pad - Festive Berries	Adirondack dye ink - Lettuce	Distress Ink pad - Worn Lipstick
Distress Ink pad - Spun Sugar	Prima Chalk Ink Edger - Pastel Blue	Prima Chalk Ink Edger - Blossom Tree	Versafine ink pad - Onyx black

InLinkz.com

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 26

Well here I am back with my Christmas card for this week, which is based on the design of the card I shared on Monday.

Paper: Basic Grey, Studio Calico
Dies: Lil' Inkers, PTI, WPlus9, Sizzix
Stamps: WPlus9
Pearls: Prima
Other: 3D foam, sewing machine, vellum

So nice to finally get my new little Christmas tree die from Lil' Inkers out for its first cardmaking session. Ever since I saw this technique done with this particular tree die I have wanted it, and many, many months on I finally have it! Needless to say I'll be using it like this over and over again! ;)

Basic Grey - Aspen Frost - Oh What Fun paper	Studio Calico - Wonderland - Toboggan paper	Papertrey Ink - Damask Snowflakes Die Collection (set of 2)	WPlus9 - Heartfelt Holiday dies
WPlus9 - Heartfelt Holiday stamps	Lil' Inker Designs - Holly Jolly dies	Sizzix - Tim Holtz - Alterations - Scallops edge die	PTI - Pinking Shears border die
Prima - E Line - #300517 pearls and crystals

InLinkz.com

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 26

Morning everyone!

Well, when this post goes live I should be somewhere on the road back from Cornwall after celebrating a very special family wedding with the Harandons of the Wild West. :D

This week's prompt is a sketch prompt but I don't have a drawn sketch for you to follow, instead I have a card design for you to use as a jumping off point for the layout of your card. :)

It seemed only fitting for it to be the card I made for the bride and groom!

Paper: Fancy Pants, MME
Stamps: WMS, WPlus9
Dies: Spellbinders, WPlus9, PTI, Cheery Lynn
Heat embellishment: Crate Paper
Bling: Prima
Rub-ons for the date: Doodlebug
Other: 3D foam, sewing machine

I thought this colour palette would be lovely for a midsummer coastal wedding. And I love these silhouette stamps from Waltzing Mouse - I didn't have space or a small enough font to add a monogram of Natalie and John's initials but I added the date using (would you believe it...) a set of very versatile Christmas stamps by WPlus9 and some very old Doodlebug mini alpha rub-ons.

The inside is also decorated with a PL journaling card:

I used some PTI wedding stamps plus Lawn Fawn's Milo's ABCs to personalise the card. :)

Well, I'd best leave you to it! Happy crafting! :D

Fancy Pants - Collecting Moments - Potpourri paper	My Mind's Eye - Find Your Wings & Fly - Sky's the Limit - Layered Ephemera paper	Crate Paper - Close Knit - Layered stickers	Waltzing Mouse - Big Day Additions stamps
Waltzing Mouse - Cameo Maker/Cameo Creations stamps	WPlus9 - Heartfelt Holiday stamps	PTI - Pinking Shears border die	WPlus9 - Heartfelt Holiday dies
Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Classic ovals large	Cheery Lynn - French Pastry Doily die	Prima - Say It In Crystals - Hearts	Prima - E Line - #300517 pearls and crystals
PTI - Heart-2-Heart #9 mini stamp set	Lawn Fawn - Milo's ABCs stamps	Project Life - Love themed cards

InLinkz.com

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 25

Well here I am back with my Christmas card for this week's "Whatever the weather" prompt. :)

In my recent Sarah's Cards order there was also some Christmas stash - including some snowflake paper from Simple Stories. So I decided this was the perfect opportunity to cut into it!

Paper: Simple Stories, Crate Paper
Dies: PTI, Memory Box, Mama Elephant
Stamps: PTI
Stickers: Crate Paper
Enamel dots: Studio Calico
Other: 3D foam

Naturally for added "snow" the Memory Box Country Landscape came out to play again. :) And you can't beat a bit of festive red against those creams, greys and black. :D

Simple Stories - Sn@p! Color Vibe - Grey Dot/Stripe paper	Simple Stories - December Documented - Chalkboard Snowflake/Chevron paper	Crate Paper - Bundled Up - 6x6 paper pad	Crate Paper - Bundled Up - Stickers
Studio Calico - Essentials - Woodgrain enamel dots	Memory Box - Country Landscape border die	Mama Elephant - Landscape Trio stitched border dies	PTI - Wonderful Words: Holiday Die Collection
PTI - Wonderful Words: Holiday stamp set

InLinkz.com

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 25

Morning everyone!

I hope you've had a lovely weekend. Mine was spent busily getting ahead with crafty tasks as it's going to be a very busy next few days. :)

This week's theme is called:

"Whatever the weather!"

{Pinterest pin}

That's right, any form of weather needs to feature on your card, you can go all cheery with rainbows and sunshines, feature cute puffy clouds, include an inspirational quote about silver linings and the like, and for winter you know what particular type of weather will work - snow! :D

I was very much inspired by my recent purchase of the 6x6 Hello Sunshine pad by Pink Paislee - it's very cheery and a great partner to my sunny Lawn Fawn dies and stamps. :)

Paper: Pink Paislee
Stamp: Lawn Fawn
Dies: Lawn Fawn, PTI
Enamel dots: Basic Grey
Other: 3D foam

I really liked the chalkboard paper in the pad and created a little card from it with my trusty Lawn Fawn stitched journaling card die - I also cut an aperture for the greeting to go behind but I wonder if I should have embossed it in white instead...

And my new supply of 3D foam tape was great for cutting thin slivers of the foam tape to adhere the word. I can never get them thin enough when cutting foam pads and this stuff really keeps those die-cut words in place. :)

I've also been a little naughty this weekend and snapped up some much coveted Christmas items from Make the Day Special - looking forward to using those on upcoming Christmas Cracker cards once they arrive!

I'll be popping back with this week's Christmas creation later on - until then, happy crafting!

Pink Paislee - Hello Sunshine - 6x6 Paper Pad	Lawn Fawn - Hello Sunshine stamp set	Lawn Fawn - Scripty hello die	Lawn Fawn - Stitched journaling card
Lawn Fawn - Spring showers dies	PTI - Angled Labels Die Collection (set of 5)	Basic Grey - Candy Buttons - Red/pink enamel dots

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52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 24

I had a night in last night so decided to get this week's Christmas card out of the way, only thing is I just wasn't in the mood...

So a lot of to-ing and fro-ing in but finally I committed to something and stuck it all down!

All the elements are there:

• Chevrons
• Sparkle or should that be bliiiing?!
• Numbers

Paper: Basic Grey, MME
Dies: PTI
Stamp: PTI
Stickers: Crate Paper
Journaling card: PTI
Other: bling, 3D foam, button, twine, Corner Chomper

I love the way these number dies look on Christmas cards - they're so universal, but if ever I fancy including a number on a card, they are my first port of call (if they'll fit!).

Well, I hopefully got an injection of mojo inspiration in the post today - my shopping spree in the sale over at Sarah's Cards. Off to stroke those nice purchases now before putting them away in their new home ready for playtime!

PTI - Happiest of Holidays stamp set	PTI - By the numbers die collection (set of 9)	BasicGrey - Aspen Frost - Woolen Mittens paper	My Mind's Eye - 12 Days of Christmas - Collection kit
Crate Paper - Peppermint - Border stickers	October Afternoon - Holiday Style buttons

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52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 24

Morning folks!

This week it's time to feature 3 specific elements on your card, and they are:

• Zigzags/chevrons
• Sparkle
• A number

Here's my interpretation of these three elements:

Paper: MME
Dies: MFT, Lawn Fawn
Stamps: Lawn Fawn, PTI
Other: 3D foam, Stickles

Another first birthday card came to the top of my cardmaking list, so I used the elements for this week's prompt and went through my collection of old MME papers in hopes of finding something that worked for this project. And of course following on from last week's prolific use of the Spring Showers dies by Lawn Fawn, they came out to play again. Definitely getting my money's worth from that purchase! :)

My Mind's Eye - Tickled Pink - Fine and Dandy - Engaging paper	My Mind's Eye - The Sweetest Thing - Tangerine - Hello - Wishes paper	PTI - Big birthday wishes stamp set	PTI - Stylish sentiments: Birthday stamp set
Lawn Fawn - Milo's ABCs stamps	Lawn Fawn - Stitched journaling card	Lawn Fawn - Spring showers dies	PTI - By the numbers die collection (set of 9)
My Favorite Things - Die-namics - Sentiment strips 2 dies

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52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 23

Just in the nick of time!

Here's my Christmas card in response to this week's photo inspiration prompt:

{Pinterest pin}

For this card I used the colours as inspiration plus the aspect of friendship and comfort I'd mentioned in the original post for this week's prompt. :)

Paper: Crate Paper
Stamps and dies: PTI
Enamel dots: Studio Calico

I tried out that word border technique again, but it wasn't as easy with this particular die due to the letters being at different heights, but I'm still pleased with how it turned out. :)

Crate Paper - Sleigh Ride - Deck the Halls paper	Crate Paper - Sleigh Ride - Winter Wonderland paper	Papertrey Ink - Wonderful Words: Holiday Die Collection	Papertrey Ink - Stylish Sentiments: Holiday Stamp Set
Studio Calico - Essentials - Enamel Dots - Yellow/Orange

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52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 23

Hello! Hello!

This week our inspiration comes in photo form - direct from Pinterest as usual. :)

{Pinterest pin}

So what inspiration does this photo provide? Well I see...

• Aqua and yellow colour scheme
• Whimsical background pattern/fabric style background
• A tea party theme or vintage theme
• Tea and other beverages
• Greetings of comfort or friendship - I'm sure there's even a quote that can be used for hands
• Little birdies
• Gilded frames or gold accents

So plenty to jump start your thinking! :o) I've not yet managed to get a Christmas card made for this week, but I'm already thinking along the lines of "Comfort and Joy", "Christmas cheer", winter beverages like Cocoa, or perhaps finding a whimsical pattern like the fabric of that dress. When this card will get made is anybody's guess! But hopefully it'll be this week. ;o)

Well, as you may have read the other day, my weekend has been mainly spent making cards for two big events. I used the 52 cards prompt for this week as my jumping off point for making the batch of baby congratulations cards for my auntie, uncle and grandma in Poland.

As my inspiration I wanted to feature yellow and aqua prominently and somehow bring in the little blue birds. For an easier life (when it came to stamping the greetings in Polish!) I went with a similar design for all three - also they are as flat as I could make them for posting (I really had to hide the 3D foam tape so there was no temptation to use even a smidge!).

The first one for the new grandma:

Paper: Crate Paper, PTI, MME
Stamps: Lawn Fawn
Dies: Lawn Fawn
Enamel dot: Teresa Collins
Other: Promarkers

Next up for the new great grandma:

Paper: Crate Paper, PTI, MME
Stamps: Lawn Fawn
Dies: Lawn Fawn
Other: Promarkers

And finally for the new granddad:

Paper: Crate Paper, PTI, MME
Stamps: Lawn Fawn
Dies: Lawn Fawn
Other: Promarkers

All the background papers are from the 6x6 pad of Crate Paper Little Bo Peep I picked up in TK Maxx last year. A very handy purchase as it turns out. :D

I really went to town with my Lawn Fawn purchases - I have to say it is going to be a while until I fall out of love with any of those stitched dies! Once again the journaling card die makes an appearance and my favourite stamp alpha to use - Milo's ABCs...

I just love that the alpha stamps by Lawn Fawn are all cut so well making stamping full words super easy as there are no unnecessary spaces between the letters due to how the stamp has been cut during manufacturing. I have had so many clear alpha sets where you ended up having to stamp the letters one at a time due to them not fitting on the block so closely. I will definitely be looking out for new Lawn Fawn alphas that appeal to my font-loving self. :D

I'll be back to share my card for the new parents soon. :)

In the meantime, happy crafting!

Crate Paper - Little Bo Peep 6x6 pad	PTI - Bitty dot basics patterned paper	My Mind's Eye - Good Day Sunshine Girl - Uptown paper	Lawn Fawn - Milo's ABCs stamps
Lawn Fawn - A birdie told me stamps	Lawn Fawn - A birdie told me dies	Lawn Fawn - Spring showers dies	Lawn Fawn - Stitched scalloped borders
Lawn Fawn - Grassy border	Lawn Fawn - Stitched journaling card	Teresa Collins - Family Stories enamel dots

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52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 22

I'm back to share my Christmas card for this week's "50 Shades of Green" prompt.

Here's the inspiration pic again:

{Pinterest pin}

So, I was going through my various Christmas papers looking for something that was mostly green, and I struck gold with this lovely tree paper from Crate Paper's Bundled Up collection:

Paper: Crate Paper
Journaling card: Crate Paper
Snowman: Crate Paper
Die: Lawn Fawn
Other: 3D foam

Naturally the perfect green companion to that paper was another journaling card from the same collection. I used my Lawn Fawn die again to cut the stitched detail and rounded edges. :) Then of course I needed something to add that finishing touch - enter Mr Frosty there.

Crate Paper - Bundled Up - Christmas Trees

Crate Paper - Bundled Up - Journaling Cards

Crate paper - Bundled Up - Ephemera

Lawn Fawn - Stitched journaling card

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52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 22

Welcome to week 22 and a new colour prompt!

I like to call this week's prompt...

50 shades of green!

Because that's what we're focussing on - thanks to this lovely pic I found:

{Pinterest pin}

The overriding colour on your card needs to be green - of any shade.

I still had some scraps of paper out from last week's prompt so I decided to finish off the lovely green paper - which has to be my favourite from Crate Paper's DIY shop collection - for this card and try and accessorise it with other items in my stash.

Here's the end result:

Paper: Crate Paper
Journaling card: Crate Paper
Stamp: WPlus9
Banner die: Lawn Fawn
Chipboard: Simple Stories
Resin flower: Webster's Pages
Enamel dots: MME
Other: 3D foam, sewing machine

I managed to find a good match for the green in this lovely journaling card from the Storyboard collection, and after a little experimentation found that good old Impress dye ink was the best for stamping on the slightly shiny surface. Versafine didn't dry and I didn't want to use Staz-on on my nice clear stamps. So good to know that Impress Jet Black dye ink is going to get used for something other than stamping for Copics, etc.

I look forward to seeing which end of the green spectrum you go with your cards. :D

Crate Paper - DIY Shop 12x12 pad	Crate Paper - Oh Darling - Happy Day	Daily Grind chipboard stickers	Crate Paper - Maggie Holmes Styleboard - Journalling Cards
My Mind's Eye - Kate & Co - Cambridge Court - Enamel Dots	WPlus9 - Valentine Wishes	Lawn Fawn - Stitched journaling card

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52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 21

Well here I am back to share my Christmas cracker for this week's sketch prompt which can be found here.

I have to say this one did come together a bit easier than Monday's card - thank heavens:

Paper: Crate paper
Border sticker: Crate Paper
Dies and stamp: PTI
Other: 3D glitter paint, Glossy Accents

I went rather retro with my paper choices - still a good few sheets of this old winter collection from Crate Paper to use up. I don't know if I'll ever manage it as I'm beginning to fall out of love with it sadly. The my favourite pattern from the collection is long gone (diagonal teal on aqua stripes naturally) and my second favourite pattern was this snowman paper....

I'm not sure how easy it is to see in the pic, but every dot of white "snow" I've gone over with a little blob of dimensional glitter paint - it doesn't dry flat like Stickles, so is quite a nice contrasting texture. Also the Glossy Accents came out to give that side sentiment bit a bit more oomf. :)

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 21

Hello folks!

It's Monday morning and time again for a new prompt. :)

This week we return to the sketch prompt, and I have chosen this sketch from PTI for us to work with:

{Pinterest pin}

I thought it all looked very simple at first - a nice bit of patterned paper and a vertical sentiment, how hard could it be?

Well that was until I got making my card and realised that with the route I'd gone, it would be easier to flip the sketch so my sentiment came down the other side instead:

Paper: Crate Paper
Dies: MFT
Stamp: Avery Elle
Enamel dots: MME

In hindsight, I should have cut more hexagons from the green paper and less from the stripy one, but never mind, I have plenty of little hexagons left over to use on another card - one day! Also a nice discovery that I had some MME enamel dots that perfectly complemented that jade green. :)

I hope you find this sketch an easier one than it turned out to be for me. ;) I hope my Christmas number will be less laborious! hehe

52 Christmas Crackers 2014 - Week 20

Where has this week gone?

Eek! Despite making my card at the weekend, I've not yet managed to share my very simple contribution to this week's Show and Tell prompt! :)

So, what particular item do I have to show you that can be used on Christmas cards, well it's something I'm a bit of a sucker for - landscape border dies!

These borders from Mama elephant (Landscape trio) look so unassuming at first glance, but I love the stitched edge - there is one for clouds or fluffiness, and two for hilly features. I also think you could make a great ombre background alternating the hilly dies.

But anyway, those hilly dies are great for snow on Christmas cards and you just know what else they'll go with! The good old Memory Box winter die. :D

So very simple, but very wintry:

Paper: MME
Dies: Memory Box, Mama Elephant
Stamp: PTI
Pearls: Kaisercraft

There's really not much else that needed adding to this one. :)

52 Cards challenge 2014 - Week 20

Morning folks!

This week's theme is based on a very popular tradition that my crafty friends enjoy every time we meet up at a crop or for cake and coffee, etc.

It's the tradition of...

Show and Tell

That's right, if you've got something new in your crafty arsenal you are duty-bound to bring it along and share with the class!

So, this week I want you to make a card that shows something recently added to your craft department, it can be in the form of:

• Stash like paper, embellishments, etc.
• Tools (as I like to classify them as they are non-consumables and therefore exempt from the "stash" budget) like stamps, dies, and gadgets
• Or perhaps techniques that are newly discovered and ready to try out

So true to my words, here's a card with stamps and dies from my latest WPlus9 splurge via Make the Day Special:

Paper: MME
Stamps: WPlus9, Avery Elle
Dies: WPlus9
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: 3D foam

Here's the shiny new stash I used:

Looking forward to seeing what your show and tell items will be! :D