Christmas, Copics and Birthdays

Summer is definitely on the way.  After a few mid-week tasters of the summer heat to come, the weekends have been really lovely and great for getting out in the garden.  Unfortunately it is the end of the school holidays, so back to thinking about school lunches and before we know it, it will be Christmas.  Hence the onslaught of Christmas cards.

I took inspiration for the Festive Friday challenge from the wreath here, and a card from the DT (Ardyth I think) for the panelled background.

The wreath is cut from vellum coloured with a few green Copic markers - they were all over my desk as I am in the middle of the Online Card Classes Copic class!  More on that later.  The sentiment is stamped on the inside of the card.

I think using SU Chocolate Chip DSP might qualify me for the latest CAS-ology challenge

What you need
Cardstock - PTI white, vellum
DSP - SU Woodland Walk
Stamps - Wplus9 Silver Bells (sentiment),  Winter Wishes
Ink - SU Real Red
Various Copic markers
Die - MFT wreath
Twine
Gems - Kaisercraft

Yep, here is another one!  I couldn't decide on spots or stripes so went with both.  

Again, the idea of die cut outs but I wanted a border this time.  Note to self, always cut the BIGGER shape first!

What you need
Cardstock - PTI white, red, ripe avocado
Patterned paper - ?? Authentique
Stamps - Wplus9 Silver Bells (and die)
Ink - SU Old Olive, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler; Versamark;  HA Silver
Embossing powder - Zing! Silver
Spellbinders circle dies

Just a quick aside - this was a birthday card I did for one of my daughter's good friends whose birthday celebration was yesterday (and a bit today).  It is a combination of a few different things that Jennifer McGuire has done over the past year and just haven't got around to.  The flowers are stamped in Memento Luxe ink (Jennifer stamped on Kraft card which I hope to get to soon),  and using translucent embossing paste to adhere glitter.

What you need
Cardstock - SU white, Coastal Cabana
Stamps - MFT Tropical Sensatons,  Birthday Sentiments
Ink - Memento Luxe Pear Tart, Rose Bud, Morocco, Love Letter, Dandelion, Angel Pink;  HA Tide Pool;  Versafine Onyx Black
Wendy Vecchi Translucent Embossing paste
Glitter Ritz Ocean Spray
Viva Pearl Pen - Red

Now this is what I have been spending my time on.  I have learnt so much and been challenged to try new colour combinations.  

Some work, some don't - particularly like the purple and green balloon combination.  And it was good to try a few pink and green palettes, they are my favourites together.

Hair was less successful.  I tried Kristina' s technique (middle top), but struggled with the feathering on the fringe.  Really liked the ideas shown for black,  particularly the way Kelly Marie Alvarez tackles the challenge.

For the flower, I followed Sandy Allnock  in colouring the top  2 flowers.  I have always struggled with reds but  it seems to be working now.  I had never had a go at shadowed white flowers but love the was it turned out.

I was trying to get a combination that would work with the new SU Blackberry Bliss in colour - it took a few goes but got there in the end.  Bottom left was my attempt at a pink to white flower, that bright fluoro pink I have trouble with.

Now this was my favourite and I coloured it several times.  I hadn't used the combination for the leaves before but I think it is my new favourite.  I used Jennifer's red trio and Kristina's purply colours.  Then I had another attempt at shaded white then some blues.

Phew,  that's more homework than i probably ever did - and enjoyed!

JAI #82 - something from the stash

First of all, I would like to say a  big thank you to the Just Add Ink team, I have had to look through some sadly forgotten boxes for this challenge and have found some wonderful bits and pieces.  I did have my eye on a strip of patterned paper I made for a  children's birthday card last year, but when I came to use it, it had vanished from my desk (the cat probably got it, a love for shiny things).

I then discovered these gorgeous diecuts I think my mother bought for me a few years ago at a craft show.

The sentiment is a little hard to see but I didn't think the decorative corners could handle too much more embellishment, so opted for something a little more restrained (HA! glittery gold embossing powder, very restrained).

Anyway, better keep this short as it looks like we are in for our third late winter thunderstorm for today.  

What you need

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics olive

Diecuts - 5 kids and a dog

Stamp -  Stamp It

Ink - Versamark

Embossing Powder - Zing! gold glitter

Lots of embossing

Beautiful colours with the added challenge of embossed flowers.

Another new challenge to me, this one with dry embossing.  So, this card has 2 embossing techniques, something I've not done before.

Here is a close up of the flowers, love the effect. I found the diecut in a long forgotten box at the back of the shelf and thought the colour was pretty close to Kraft.  Really should have a rummage more often, it's amazing what you find.

What you need

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Olive, Red;  SU white

Stamps - SU Growing Green;  PTI Damask Designs (sentiment)

Ink - SU Real Red, Old Olive;  Versamark

Embossing Powder - Coloriser clear

Die cut - Five Kids and a Dog

Embossing Folder - Sizzix Swiss Dots

This must be a record ...

3 challenges with 1 card - don't think I have attempted that before.  I originally coloured these tulips for the recent Sweet Stop challenge, but would have had to cut it down to fit on the card, which wasn't going to happen.  So when I saw the colours for Play Date Cafe, I was delighted I would be able to use it.

There maybe afew more posts today as it is a dreary old Sunday in Brisbane - perfect for cardmaking.

What you need
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Navy; PTI New Leaf;  SU white;  X-press-It Blending Card
Stamps - PTI Friendship Jar Spring Fillers;  Wplus9 Backgrounds 2, Filligreed Frames
Ink - SU Night of Navy;  Versacolor Fresh Green;  Versamark
Copics - YG11, 13, 17;  RV29, 32, 55
Embossing Powder - Superior Filigree white
Ribbon - SU Pretty in Pink satin
Brads - SU

Girly and Gutsy Tuesday Trigger

Made it with a minute (literally) to spare!

I thought I had another 24 hours for this Card Patterns sketch but it doesn't help to time convert incorrectly.  Love the colours and the sketch and I have been wanting to use black embossing powder on  black cardstock for a while so here was my chance.

What you need
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Petalsoft;  SU Basic Black, white;  Franchville yellow/green
Stamps - Verve Framed Wishes, Artful Elegance
Ink - Versamark; Versafine Onyx Black
Embossing Powder - Zing! Opaque Black
Die - PTI Turning a New Leaf
Flower and Gem Swirl - Prima
Pearls - Kaisercraft

PTI June Blog Hop

And now for something completely different ...... PTI-wise that is. Inspiration from a photo is abit new for this challenge, but a very welcome one.  I have had some SEI papers for awhile with this kind of graduated colour, so was delighted to be able to use them (I think it can be seen in the photo).

Whilst waiting for my daughter to finish ballet last night, I saw a gorgeous card at the newsagent, in rich tangerine colours with embossed swirls on it and gems in several colours, just beautiful, but I don't buy cards anymore...

What you need
Cardstock - American Crafts white;  PTI black, scarlet jewel,
Patterned Paper - SEI Mimosa (guava, key lime)
Stamps - PTI Fancy Flourishes, Butterfly Dreams
Ink - Versamark;  SU Purely Pomegranate
Die - PTI Limitless Labels
Embossing Powder - gold glitter
Gemstones - Kaisercraft
Gold Beading Wire

Colour Q #85 meets WMS Challenge #48

 

This is my second post for today, scroll down for my take on the latest One Layer Wednesday challenge.

I realised this morning I was running out of time for the latest Colour Q challenge and really wanted to have a crack at it.  As I discovered I don't have Basic Grey ink I have used London Fog, probably not quite as dark but worked well.

I am not entirely sure about the sentiment but couldn't see where else to put it.  Anyway better get off and do some jobs now, we were planning to go to the Brookfield show today but I don't think the weather will be kind to us and it has rained alot overnight.  Sounds like the rest of the family are preparing for a trip to the movies to see 'Pirates of the Caribbean' , see what eventuates.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Choc Chip,  Sahara Sand, white

Vellum - PTI

Patterned Paper - SU DSP 6 x 6 pad

Stamps - WMS Say it Loud, Large Doily

Ink - Versamark;  Memento London Fog; SU Chocolate Chip

Brads - SU Pewter

Embossing Powder - JudiKins Chocolate Twinkle

Less is More - Week 15

Theme  -  Embossing

I know it's nowhere near Christmas time but you can never start on the cards too early.  I bought a "mystery" box from Darkroom Door afew months back and in this amazing box (it included papers, tons of stamps amongst other things), were lots of their beautiful photo chips.  This one is from their Prague collection and just reminded me of Europe at Christmas time - nothing like here.

Very happy with the results, thought maybe not very CAS (not sure I will be able to part with it when the time comes).

What you need
Cardstock - PTI black, pure poppy, white
Stamps - PTI Fancy Flourishes;  Verve Glad Tidings (sentiment)
Ink - Versamark;  Memento Tuxedo Black
Embossing Powder - Zing! Glitter Silver
Ribbon - SU  Real Red grosgrain
Photo - Darkroom Door "Prague Collection)

Make it Monday 7

Subject:  Heat Embossing

I have also incorporated the latest CR84FN and Card Patterns challenges

I haven't done alot of embossing lately, possibly due to the fact that the weather has been alittle warm, but thank goodness we are heading into autumn now.

Now for the card......

It is hard to see but there is clear embossing on the vanilla card base and the flower is embossed as well.  Well it's Easter school holidays here so I am off to get my daughter to try on last winters clothes.  Don't hold out alot of hope that much will fit as she has grown 6-7 cm in the last 6-8 months!

What you need
Cardstock - SU Very Vanilla, Black, Blush Blossom
Stamps - PTI Fancy Flourishes, Tag-its #2
Ink - Versamark; Memento Tuxedo Black
Embossing Powder - SU, Coloriser
Die - Spellbinders Blossom
Ribbon - PTI black satin
Gemstones - Kaisercraft
Black Kindy Glitz

PPA77 and CTD #125

NOTE:  This is my second post for today, and the sketch is just not playing ball.



Layered cards like this don't come easily to me (framing far more my comfort zone), but I have had alittle practice while using Niki Estes as my inspiration.  Nor is this very pastel colour palette.  I don't have Blushing Bride so used PIT Sweet Blush.  I thought later this would have looked good on Shimmer Pink cardstock.  Next time.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Sweet Blush, Kraft;  SU Pear Pizzazz

Patterned Paper - Cristina Re gingham;  PTI Pink Patterns

Embossing Folder - SU Manhattan Flower

Die - SU Little Leaves Sizzlits

Flower - Prima

Ribbon - ? Maya Road

Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa

Stamp - PTI Damask Designs

Gemstones - Kaisercraft

Finally ... some sunshine

It's a beautiful morning in Brisbane, after the awful weather of the past few weeks.  While this city cleans up (thanks to the thousands of volunteers who have helped those affected), floods have spread to Victoria where my family is from, we could really do with a dry-out.

This card is for a combined challenge that I was abit slow getting around to but really wanted to have a go.

I took a bit of licence with the CAS #124 layout, I may have another go at it because it is a lovely sketch.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft;  SU white, Early Espresso
Patterned paper - Doodlebut Ladybug Serenade
Embossing Folder - Provocraft Houndstooth
Die and Stamps - MFT Textile Rectangles
Ink - SU Real Red, Early Espresso
Ribbon - PTI Dark Chocolate
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

PTI November Blog Hop

The brief this month was Christmas tags, which have featured heavily in the past few PTI releases.  Not something I normally do, as I am flat out just getting Christmas cards out.  So here is my take on a tag, if I did them. I really wanted to use the wide striped SU ribbon but was unsure how tidy the corners would look and 2 bows on a card could look odd. So I imitated it by using double sided tape and embossing powder (no red glitter !! and I call myself a card maker).  The other embellishment I have been wanting to do are the sparkly snowflakes - don't have spray adhesive so I punched them from double sided adhesive sheets.  Came out quite well I think.

Still love that wreath.

What you need

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Red, PTI white
Stamps - PTI Signature Christmas, Wreath for All Seasons
Ink - SU Real Red, Old Olive
Dies - Bigz Scallop Rectangle; PTI Mat Stack 1, Beautiful Blooms #1
Felt - PTI Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream
Embossing Powder - Judi Kins Rocking Red
Crafty Sparkles - Cosmo Crystal
Gemstones and pearl - Kaisercraft
Ribbon - SU
White Button

JAI #43

Just Add Christmas and very loosely based on last week's sketch (wanted to do it but didn't get to it).  I haven't used Snow Swirled at all this year as it was my Christmas card feature last year.  I also wanted to make a really lush purple card, a bit over the top but so what.  It was a great way to use up scraps - paper, jewels etc.

What you need

Cardstock -  Bazzill Basics Velvet;  SU white

Stamps - SU Snow Swirled;  PTI Polka Dot Basics II

Ink - Versamark;  PTI Fresh Snow

Filigree Embossing Powder

Paper Flowers - Kaisercraft

Gemstone Brads -  Kaisercraft, SU

Gem Swirls - Zva Creative

Just Add Ink #39 (or Just Add Blue)

Blue for Depression Awareness, something we take a while to recognise. 

I got this SU impression plate last week with my other goodies and thought this was a perfect opportunity to use it.  The idea for colours came from another gorgeous photo at Moxie Fab World as part of a challenge I couldn't participate in.  We were having a lovely couple of days up the coast at Noosa.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise

Stamps - SU Style Beautiful

Ink - SU Early Espresso

Embossing Folder - SU Elegant Bouquet

Gemstones - Kaisercraft; Zva Creative

One Layer Wednesday #20

"3 plus 1 - 3 images and 1 sentiment"

This isn't a terribly inventive take on this challenge, butterflies would have been my other option but it serves the purpose of having some more Christmas cards to sell.

When I do this again I will layer black cardstock instead of a line (a dicey undertaking for me).  Apologies for the poor lighting in the photo but it was a very grey day on Sunday.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Whisper White
Stamps - PTI Christmas Friends, Signature Christmas
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  Versacolor Magenta;  Versamark
Embossing Powder - Fantasy Gold
Gemstones - Kaisercraft
Fine black marker

OLW #16

This past week, I have enjoyed being 'inspired' by cards in magazines particularly Papercrafts magazine.  Two of them have been far more embellished than is really my style but have had fun doing them and quite pleased with the results.  This has been to the detriment of the challenges I like to follow, so I finally settle down to doing them late Sunday afternoon (fading light and all). 

Telling a story - hmmm.  Most of the stamps I have in that catogory are trees, no surprise there (flourishes don't tell stories sadly).  This is a lovely PTI set not used nearly enough by me, but now the trees have been 'christened', will hopefully see the ink pad more often.  The birds are gold embossed but it was very hard to get them to twinkle in the afternoon light.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Basic Black
Stamps - PTI Through the Trees
Ink - Versamark;  PTI Fresh Show
Embossing powder - Celebrations of Australia (fantasy gold)

CAS #100

This challenge had me stumped for a while.  While a friend was going through my stamps (not just a cursory glance but pulling out and puting in a need-to-borrow pile) I came across my SU scallop set (another one I had to have about this time last year, and yes, not used much).  So for the scallop detail, instead of it being punched I have embossed it.  Not too keen on tying organza too often but any other ribbon looked heavy.

I think my Mum wiil like it - CAS style suits her well. Another job to cross off my list and using up long forgotten supplies.

What you need

Cardstock - Metallic Grey/Black (? Canson)
Stamps - SU All Scallops; PTI Damask Designs
Ink - Versamark
Embossing Powder - Celebrations of Australia (white)
Pearls - Kaisercraft
Organza Ribbon - Kaisercraft

OLW #14

Having missed the previous challenge due to technical issues I wasn't going to miss this one (if I remember I might put my Christmas card in at the end).  This one was a square card with an outline stamp, coloured or not.  I haven't had a chance to use this stamp set much so what a perfect opportunity with one of my favourite flowers.

What you need

Cardstock - My Memories - Metallic White Gold
Stamps - PTI Year of Flowers:  Roses
Ink - PTI - Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado:  Memento Rich Cocoa
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

This was for OLW #13 - Christmas cards.  I love the sparkly little dove.  Might use this one as the mass produced design.








What you need

Cardstock - Artstamps Textured card
Stamp - Inkadinkado
Ink - Versamark
Embossing powder - Fantasy Gold
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

Well, my daughter should be home soon from her second birthday party this weekend.  Yesterdays was a sleepover, though I don't think much sleep happened.  Consequently all the girls who  then fronted up for todays sports party, are VERY tired.  Early to bed methinks.

Just Add Ink #26 - Embossing

This card is a variation on our Christmas cards for 2009 and a batch I made for a work colleague.  I love this SU tree and have done it in many different colour, embossed and not.

What you need

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Grape, White
Stamps - SU Snow Swirled
Ink - Versacolor Grape, Versamark
Clear Embossing Powder - Coloriser
Gemstones - Kaisercraft