Great Lakes Mega Meet ....

...  It's been a really fun day here in Northville.  Today is the first day of the Great Lake Mega Meet in Novi and I was out early as those of us who pre-register can get in at 9.00am.  I think that a lot more people registered early this year as there was quite a crowd waiting for the gates to open!!

I had several things that I wanted to get today - the new Distress pads in both colours, some more Copic markers and the new Hero Arts ombre pads.  I was really pleased as I manged most of that - sadly only managed to get the Fossilised Amber though.  Here's a photo of my haul:

I'm delighted with my new goodies.  Here are close ups of the various items:

Love these crazy bird stamps.  A few Christmas stamps from Dylusions and then these wonderful sets by Brett Weldele - love the zombie!!

There was a special on this stand - buy three Lawn Fawn items and get the fourth free - well, it was a bargain!!

I found the Hero Art ombre inks - I think they're fab.  The bottles are Color Burst from Ken Oliver Crafts.  They contain mircofine highly pigmented water colour pigments for watercolour backgrounds.  They are bright and easy to use.  Check out this video here.

I got some super new Spellbinder dies - basic shapes and some really fun geometric designs.

And finally - the lovely Fosillised Amber and the Grey Slate Dylusions spray. 

I didn't both to take a photo of the Copic markers - they are already in use!!  I bought a copy of Sandy Allnock's wonderful Hex Chart at the weekend and I spent yesterday morning colouring in the hexagons that I have.  I added the ones I bought today and you can see that I've still got quite a few to get!! 

If you haven't got this chart yet, it is well worth getting.  You really can see the way the colours relate to each, and you can also see the ones that are very similar!  Anyway, that's all for now.  It's time for me to get dinner sorted out.  See you tomorrow!

You make me happy ....

.... when skies are grey!  And they are certainly grey here today!  However, the upside is that while it's grey and wet, it is very much warmer than it has been, a good reason to be happy.  This card has been made with a couple of challenges in mind:

• Time Out Challenge - TOC#1
• Fusion Card Challenge - FUSION#6

Stamps: PTI - Scattered Showers; Stampin' Up! - See Ya Later
Inks: Memento - Cottage Ivy, Pear Tart, New Sprout
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Lg (S4-126) #7, Squares Sm (S4-128) #7
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Green Mirri Card

My inspiration of the words "Dancing in the Rain", the theme at the new challenge Time Out Challenges, immediately reminded me of the movie Singin' in the Rain, one of our all time favourites and it always makes me happy.  So when I saw the stamp in See Ya Later, I had to combine the two.  I used the sketch and repeated stamping from Fusion.

I stamped the umbrella around the edge in two shades of green and added the handle in another green.  I die cut a mat of dark green mirri card and on the white panel stamped the sentiment and added another brolly.  On the inside I cut a mat of mirri card and on the white card I randomly stamped some raindrops and another sentiment.  I put the sentiment off to one side to allow plenty of room for me to write a message.

I mentioned the rain we are having and the warmer temperatures  - it's great, the snow is finally melting away and this is the view from my craft room window:

The grass is looking a little sad, but with some sunshine it'll soon green up!  We had 77 days continuous days with more than an inch of snow here in Northville.  I've never experienced a winter like this before!!!  That's all for now.  I'd better get on with some housework stuff!! 

Vintage St Paddy ....

...  It's time for the March Waltzingmouse Pajama Party!!!  Yea!  A couple of weeks ago Claire gave us three challenges that we could get ready for today.  They are:

1. To die for - where Claire wants us to use the Waltzingmouse dies on our project - check back later today for that one!
2. St Patrick's Day Charm - to make a vintage project with a nod to St Patrick.
3. What would Mother do? - here Claire wants us to make something in the style that your mother might have made.  She also provided a picture of an egg her Mother had made for her as inspiration.  I'm afraid I didn't get around to this one!

If you want to see what I made for challenge No 1, drop by later when my Addicted to Stamps and More! post goes live.  I have made a card for St Patrick's Day Charm.  It might not be as vintage as some, but I'm pleased with it.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Digi Image - St Patrick's Day (Freebie)
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 5 (S4-229) # 5; Lil Inkers - Stitched Squares #6
Accessories: White Lustre Card, Papermania DP - Bookprint; Promarkers

I used the love St Patrick's Day digi image that Claire released a few years ago.  I simply coloured it in with Promarkers and cut it out with the matching Spellbinder die.  I cut a layer of newsprint paper with my stitched square die and adhered it to the card base.  This was really quick and easy to make.  I've kept it quite flat so that it can go in the post easily.  I used the colours from this week's Colour Q - cQc#232 challenge - they are just perfect.

Now, I'm off to get a cup of coffee and then I'm going to check out what everyone has made for Claire's challenges.  See you soon.

You make me happy ....

...  Hello!  This morning I have a clean, simple and bright card to share with you.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Petal Parade, See Ya Later
Inks: SU - Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade
Dies: Spellbinders - Lotus (S4-269); SU - Word Bubble Framelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Lucky Limeade

This week at Less is More - LIM#161 they have a colour challenge to use GREEN and YELLOW, such bright, fresh, springlike colours.  I'm also submitting this card to MUSE - MUSE#57 where Vicki Dutcher is the Muse.  I stamped the leaves directly on the card, and stamped the flower and sentiment onto some scrap white card.  I die cut the Lotus doily and the sentiment.  I cut the flower out by hand.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of lime card and stamped some flowers on the white panel. 

I'm not entirely happy with this card - I really should have stamped another row of leaves above the one on the card.  But by the time I realised that I'd already attached the doily, sentiment and flower, so it'll just have to do!  That's all for now. 

Resting my eyes ....

...  Hello again!  I've another masculine themed retirement card for you today.  I had the stamps on my desk after making my earlier DT card for The Male Room challenge - theme Retirement, and decided to make a fun one this time!

Stamps: Papermania - It's a Man's World Couch Potato
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Lg (S4-126) #6, Squares Sm (S4-128) #6
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Papermania DP - It's A Man's World; Clear Embossing Powder; Copics

I really like the image of the guy asleep in his armchair, and it reminded me a bit of my grandfather after he'd retired.  He'd always tell us that he wasn't asleep at all, "just resting my eyes!" he'd say.  He is very much missed.

I stamped the image onto white card, marked the die position and then cut out the feet, so that they would hang off the edge of the square.  I stamped the image again onto striped paper for the chair, blue paper for the trousers and white card for the man's body and also the newspaper, and fussy cut the layers.  I used Copics to colour the man and add a touch of colour to the paper.  I added shading around the image and then layered it onto a backing square.  I stamped a few sentiments randomly over the background.  On the inside I cut a mat layer to match the armchair and on the white panel I stamped a bit of the man asleep and a simple sentiment.

I'm submitting this to this week's Less is More challenge - LIM#159 where the theme is masculine cards.  I'm not sure whether there is enough white space for Chrissie and Jen, but it is quite clean and simple!  I'm off to watch the Olympics - it's the Ladies short programme in the ice skating - should be very interesting too!  Bye for now.

52CCT - Colours ...

....  Hi!  It's time for our colour challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and Jacqueline has picked some wonderful colours.  There are five colours, you must use at least three of them and the yellow is gold!  I managed to use all the colours, here:

Stamps: My Favourite Things - Seasonal Sentiments, Sheet Music BG
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Picot Edge Circles (S4-345) #3, Squares Lg (S4-126) #7; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Layers Stax # 3 & 4, Fishtail Flags STAX #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; DPs: K-ology - Addison (Blue), Kaisercraft - Holly Bright (Green), Remember Me (Red); Gold and Clear Embossing Powder; Basic Grey - Candy Dots

I used the sketch from this week's My Favourite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge - MFTWSC#162.  I like the layered look of the card and decided to let the design paper be the main focus.  I made the base from black card and on the white panel stamped the large sheet music background and embossed it in gold (that took rather longer than it should have!!!).  I cut a square in black and then made flags in red, blue and green.  I finished the front with a very simple sentiment in black and embossed with clear powder, adding a tiny enamel dot.  I attached the circle with dimensional tape.  Inside I made multiple layers with the design papers and a bold, simple greeting in black.

For more inspiration with our colours, check out the cards from the rest of the team, as always, they are just lovely!  Looking forward to seeing your creations.  Bye for now.

Purple Christmas V2 .....

.....  Hi!!  Back again, with a variation of my earlier card.  I was thinking about the card while out at lunch and realised that it would probably work really well using purple card and white embossing powder.  Here it is:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - 2011 Holiday Ornaments; Stampin' Up! - Sassy Sentiments, More Merry Messages
Inks: SU - Concord Crush; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - 2011 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-334) #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Concord Crush; Avec Thread; White Embossing Powder

This is for the following challenges:

• CASology - CAS#80 - cue word "PURPLE"
• Keep it Simple - KIS#32 - square
• Festive Friday - FFC#24 - photo inspiration

I made the card from Concord Crush (so sad that this was discontinued).  I made the panel by cutting it an inch smaller than the card, stamping the sentiment in Versamark and heat embossing with white powder.  Then I die cut the ornament shape.  I stamped the ornament onto the card base, embossed it and added some thread.  The inside is the same as the previous card here.  I'm not sure which is my favourite; what do you think?

That really is all now - I'm going to be spending most of the rest of the day in my craft room.  There is very little on TV tonight - all usual programming has been changed as it's the Super Bowl this evening.  I might find time to watch the adverts though!!  See you all soon.

Purple Christmas ....

... Afternoon everyone!  Just a quick post with a card for a few challenges:

• CASology - CAS#80 - cue word "PURPLE"
• Keep it Simple - KIS#32 - square
• Merry Monday - MM#93 - Christmas Ornaments
• Festive Friday - FFC#24 - Photo inspiration

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - 2011 Holiday Ornaments; Stampin' Up! - Sassy Sentiments, More Merry Messages
Inks: SU - Concord Crush
Dies: Spellbinders - 2011 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-334) #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Concord Crush; Avec Thread

I know that a lot of people have been saying that Purple is not their favourite colour, but it most definitely is one of my favourites.  I kept this really clean and simple.  I cut a white panel an inch smaller than the card base, stamped the sentiment in the corner and then cut the ornament shape, going slightly off the edge.  Using my stamp-a-ma-jig, I positioned the ornament image and stamped it in purple.  I attached some thread to the bauble and wrapped some around the top layer, then adhered it with dimensional tape.  The inside has a mat layer in purple and on the white panel I stamped another ornament along with a sweet sentiment.

I'm really pleased that I've managed to combine so many challenges - the card is square (KIS), purple (sadly now discontinued - CASology), and Christmas ornaments (MM and FFC).  That's all for now, see you soon.

52CCT - Sketch ....

.... Hello everyone!  It's February!!  Oh my goodness, I can't quite believe how quickly we got through January, but if you've been playing along with us each week you already have four Christmas cards in your stash ready for the end of the year.  Jacqueline is our host this month at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown, and our first challenge each month is a sketch and here's my take:

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Wonderful Washi Christmas; Stampin' Up! - Ornament Keepsakes; Waltzingmouse - Seasonal Flourish, Alpine Christmas
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black; SU - Crumb Cake; Memento - Grey Flannel
Dies: SU - Ornament Keepsakes; Spellbinders - Mega Scalloped Ovals Lg (S5-024) #3 &4, Mega Ovals (S5-023) #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Black, Gold and Silver Card; Vellum; Basic Grey - Candy Buttons; Gold and Silver Tinsel Embossing Powder; Ribbon

The theme at this week's Merry Monday - MM#93 is Christmas Ornaments, and as I love them on cards just as much as on trees, I decided to go with them for my card.  I made my own washi tape by stamping onto vellum and embossing with both gold and silver; I kept the gold and silver theme for the ornament which I cut out with the matching die.  I made the gold and silver mat layer from four bits of scrap.  I added gold and silver enamel dots, a big silver bow and finished with a simple sentiment.  Inside I cut a mat layer in black and on the white panel stamped a lovely sentiment and some snowflakes!

For more inspiration with our sketch do check out the cards from the rest of our Design Team - as always they are just stunning.  You will notice that we have new members of the team - please welcome Fabiola, Asha and Gill.  That's all for now.  I've a fun day lined up - we're off out to a photo shoot.  I've put a few of my photos up under the "Non Crafty Photos" tab is you fancy checking them out!  See you soon.

52CCT - Technique challenge ...

.... Good morning everyone, can you believe it's already the last challenge of January!  Where has the time gone?  This week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown we have a technique for you.  Mynnette would like to see double embossing on our cards - you know, both dry embossing and heat embossing.  Here's my take:

Stamps: My Favourite Things - Seasonal Sentiments; Trio of Hanging Ornaments (don't have the name of the company)
Inks: Versamark; Distress - Squeezed Lemonade, Shaded Lilac, Peacock Feathers; Stampin' Up! - Bermuda Bay, Wild Wisteria; Memento - London Fog
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 10 (S5-022) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Core'dinations Black Magic; SU Card - Wild Wisteria; Cuttlebug EF - Christmas Countdown; Black Embossing Powder; Lakeland - Metallic Banner

I'm surrounded by so much snow here that my initial thought was to make a card featuring snowflakes, but I decided enough!  I embossed some core'dination card with the Christmas Countdown folder and sanded back to reveal the lilac core.  I cut a mat of lilac card for the embossed layer and adhered to the card base.  I stamped the ornaments (sadly I don't know what company made this one) in Versamark and heat embossed with black powder.  I added colour to the image by sponging on distress inks.  I finsished the front with a simple metallic sentiment banner.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of lilac card and on the white panel stamped a bold Christmas sentiment and finished by adding some of those snowflakes!!

I have to say that I really enjoyed the monochromatic cards you made for last week's challenge - it's going to be tough to pick a winner!  I hope you have fun with this week's technique and don't forget to check out the blog to see inspiration cards from the rest of the team.  See you soon.