Waltzingmouse Blog Party ....

.... and the theme this month is NEW BEGINNINGS!  New Beginnings covers all sorts of events, such as the arrival of a new baby or a wedding, but me the choice is obvious - a new home in a new country!!!  Details here.

I actually managed to combine four challenges in the making of this card:

• Waltzingmouse Blog Party - New Beginnings theme
• Retro Sketches - RS#7 (I've been wanting to join in with this challenge for a while)
• Less is More - LIM63 - the challenge is to doodle or include some handwriting
• Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC127 - lovely bright colours

Oops!!!  My card has some layers and having re-read the LIM challenge, I realise that my card doesn't fit with this week's challenge.  I've included some doodling and a handwritten sentiment, but I've got layers and Chrissie and Mandi want a one layer card!!  Should really read the instructions properly!!  I'll have another play with LIM later.

I've used the small chicken wire WM stamp to make the background panels, sort of reminds me of a fence around a house!  I stamped and embossed the row of houses and then coloured them in.  I added some string and a pretty flower and finished off with the handwritten sentiment.  This card is for us!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Chicken Wire; Heidi Grace - Patterns 2

Inks:  Stampin' Up! Pens - Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black

Accessories:  Fiskars punch; String; Card from stash

I've got some exciting news to share too!!  This morning I heard from the shipping company - our sea container arrived in Detroit last Friday and they phoned to arrange delivery of our goods on Thursday and Friday this week!!  I'm so excited - it's going to be very, very busy, but it will be so nice to have all our furniture, books, craft stash (happy sigh) and the rest of our clothes and other stuff with us.

That's all for now, I'm going to spend some time visiting the rest of the Blog Party!  

Peace, winter, joy ....

... that's what is says on my second card for this week's Less is More - LIM45 challenge.  The challenge is to make a one layer card with the theme let it snow!  My dark blue card (here) didn't quite turn out as I planned.  So I had another go.  And I'm much happier with this one.

I used a flourish template to make a faint pattern to follow as I stamped the snowflakes.  I started off by stamping the text stamp and the scalloped snowflake, and then masked them off.  Then I stamped a selection of smaller snowflakes following the flourish pattern. 

Stamps:  Fiskars - Winter Wonderland
Inks:  Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze
Accessories: Flourish template and card from stash

I really like the shades of blue and turquoise in the card - looks so cool, but I think I may add some glitter to give it a really frosty feel too!  I'll add a picture of that later.

I had a busy evening doing more on my craft inventory.  If you've got a craft room of any size - you will have a quite an inventory of crafting goodies.  I suspect that you have more than you think - I have!  I've been collecting my craft stash for about 10 years and I have wildly underestimated how much it would cost to replace.  So, if you haven't got your craft room listed separately on your insurance, check it out - it's more than you think. 

That's all for now.  Lots to do today - post Kathryn's passport application, do a bit more Christmas shopping and start writing my Christmas cards!!  I'm running late and those that have to go to the US are already late! 

We've got snow .....

WARNING - PHOTO HEAVY!!!

.... we woke up this morning to snow - about 2" of the stuff covering the rooftops, the cars, the sidewalks and verges; but the roads were reasonably clear!  And, boy, was it cold!!!  Temperatures of 32F (0C) but taking into account the wind chill factor it felt more like 26F (-3C).  Having spent most of yesterday in our room, I decided that we would go for a walk this morning.  A beautiful dry, sunny, clear, crisp and cold winter morning - just fabulous.  Kathryn was wrapped up nice and warm, in my scarf, and had fun playing in the snow.  She was going to make a snow angel, but settled on running in the snow and throwing snowballs at me!!

After our walk Kathryn decided that she wanted to go to the pool, so it was back to the hotel and to the pool.  Kath had such fun - I enjoyed watching her!!!

And now I have another card to share with you - I've made another for this week's Less is More - LIM43 where Mandi and Chrissie would like us to Bling it up!!!  Obviously, I don't have much in the way of crafting goodies here with me, but I was able to play with my new stash and I've made a Christmas card for this year's collection. 

I stamped the two large circles onto some scrap white card and carefully cut them out (wish I'd had my punches here) and attached them to the card with dimensional tape.  Then I stamped a few more snowflakes onto the card base.  I coloured a couple of the stamped images and added chunky glitter to others.  I got these lovely turquoise jewel flourishes in Jo-Ann (I may have to go back and get some more) and added some behind the sentiment stamp.  A simple Christmas card.  I took a close-up of the stamped images so that you can see the sparkle from the glitter!

Stamps:  Fiskars - Winter Wonderland
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Memento Pens - Summer Sky, Bahama Blue
Accessories:  Heidi Grace - Aqua Rhinestone Stickers; Martha Stewart - Crystal (coarse glitter), white card

Kathryn and I are going to have a quiet afternoon, may be try to nap, as this evening we're all going into Downtown Detroit to see the hockey match.  Detroit Red Wings are playing Tampa Bay Lightening at Joe Louis Stadium.  Now, we have watched some ice-hockey matches in Deeside, but I think this is going to be rather different :)))))  We're really looking forward to it.

Before I go, I must say hello and welcome to Arielle Gordon who has become my latest follower - so pleased that you've decided to join me.  And that's all for now.  Do drop by tomorrow for the start of the new St Luke's Charity Card Challenge - it's a goodie!!  See you.