Sweet smiles...

Hey,

Happy Monday!

Only 5 more days until I go on holiday - whoop whoop!

Can you believe it is the last day of August - where has this year gone!

Today I thought I'd share a card I made for a friend's son for his birthday.

The stamp and die set is Sweet Smiles by Lawn Fawn - I love their stuff, its cute and fun.

This set, comes with all these little face stamps that you can add to the Gumballs - clever.

I actually coloured the whole thing using an aquabrush and Distress Inks, its one of my fave methods of colouring. I love using Promarkers and used to feel a bit guilty if I didn't use them to colour, but I have realised that I really enjoy using different techniques and I shouldn't beat myself up about these things..

The 2 tone lettering came about because I ran out of the red letters..so I improvised and I am pretty pleased with it.

Cx

Return of the SnazzyMoose...

Hey,

Happy Friday to you all.

Can you believe it is September next week?!

Hubby and I are most excited to be back together again, after my 10 days in London, we are going to be spending some QT this weekend, with each other and friends AND our desks :)

We are off to Mexico in just over a week - can't wait!

Whilst I was in London JT and I told a friend about the origins of a SnazzyMoose and how it has become a theme for random gifts for each other. The story is way too long for a blog post, but needless to say telling the story re-ignited the need for a SnazzyMoose gift.

So I made today's card for the friend who had to endure the 30 minute drunken telling of the story.

He is a Sizzix die and I cut him out of chipboard and then inked him up with embossing ink and covered him with x2 kinds of Ranger embossing powder - Liquid Platinum and Enchanted Gold.

He is absolutely gorgeous in person, all sparkly and pewtery thanks to the powders.

Here is a close-up to try and show you how gorgeous he is..

He will be going in the post this weekend, I hope our friend loves him and appreciates the joke and the rebirth of the SnazzyMoose.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Cx

Shaker Anniversary..

Hey,

Hope you are all well.

Today I am showing you a card I made for our friend's first wedding anniversary.

They are the ones that just moved to Philly. 

We went back to the UK last year for their wedding and it was a gorgeous day.

I wanted to make them a shaker card - not sure why, I think it might have been the gorgeous custom sequins by Martha Stewart that came with the Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit.

They are so beautiful, they are just crying out for a shaker card!.

So how about this for a bit of thrifty card making. See the stitched aperture? Well the stitched circle on Monday's card is the aperture offcut - sweet!

It was easier that most shakers to put together, I used adhesive foam and cut a slightly bigger circle in it..I am really tempted by a Fuse..making shakers easy!

I stamped hearts in 2 sizes in 2 colours all over the front of my card and I didn't re-ink that often, for a softer, slightly broken feel.

The fantastic sentiment is Dear Lizzy by American Crafts - its a great set.

Here is a close-up - 

I love making shaker cards, but they are so labour intense. This one was moderately easy, so made it even better..

Cx

Retro Rubber #21...Back to school...Still time to play...

Hey,

There is still time for you to join in the latest challenge from the Retro Rubber team.

Show us your Back to school makes, but first go over to Retro Rubber  and see the fun makes by my talented teammates.

Don't forget to use a stamp older than a year (and tell us about it, that's part of the fun). Challenge runs until August 28th.

Cx

Charming Mama Elephant..

Hey,

So I am back at my desk here in NYC.

Good to be home and be with Hubby - Mexico next - whoop whoop!

I bought a great new stamp set Charmed by Mama Elephant from the Inkpad before I went away.

I made today's card using the set and a Simon Says Stamp stitched circle die. I colored the stamps using Distress Inks and an aquabrush.

I didn't buy the dies, so I hand cut out the owl and the banner.

I stamped and coloured the owl onto the circle, so you would get a little shadow when I fussy cut another owl and popped him on top. Here's a close up for you - 

The banner and the sentiment are also from the set. I kept it all very simple and mounted it all onto a American Crafts card blank..I am loving patterned card blanks right now.

Cute stamps.

I am working on a little project with another Mama Elephant set, so watch this space....

Cx

Roar!!

Hey,

So I am heading home to NYC tonight.

Looking forward to seeing Hubby, but it has been awesome to be in London.

I made today's card before I left, it is actually for a friend in Australia's Son. His birthday is today.

I love the Paper Smooches dinos and I was happy with the die cut grass.

Out came the Neat and Tangled everyday label stamps again...

Next time though I will make the background lighter.

See you in NYC tomorrow!

Cx

Twin babies...yay!

Hey,

Happy Friday.

Today is my last day in the London office until next month.

I fly home on Sunday.

It has been fun, busy and a bit of a whirlwind..now for some quiet time with my parents before I head home to Hubby.

I made today's card ages ago...but forgot to post about it.

Friends of ours had twins!! This fabulous event collided with a Bugaboo Stamps sale, so I just had to buy this cute stamp, perfect for my twin baby needs.

As you can see I added a slightly wonky s to boy..

I coloured the stamp with Promarkers and all the other stamps used are by Simon Says Stamp.

Have a great weekend, see you in NYC next week.

Cx

Simon Says Stamp..own brand playtime...

Hey,

So tonight is Poker night here in London :)

Lets hope I don't lose all my money like I did last month!

Today I thought I would show you a couple of cards made using Simon Says Stamp exclusive stamps.

I recently got a few of the Simon Says Stamp own brand stamps in a sale they had. I took one set (Abbys Spring Showers) to the UK with me and I have played with it a lot.

The main card is Abby from the set..I love it, such a great stamp to colour. This time I used Distress Inks and an aquabrush.

The card below uses another SSS own brand stamp set - Lila's heart - I combined it with another set that I got on sale because I preferred the balloons.

Can you spot the error....

Did you spot the error? Lila has no skin colour...I didn't even notice until I was writing this post..so I'll need to fix that when I get home.

I love Simon Says Stamp - no idea how I will cope when we finally return to the UK..

Cx

Freebie Funtime...

Hey,

Sorry, just realised that the title of my post might be mis-leading.... no freebies,just me playing with freebies :)

In the UK our craft magazines come with a freebie every month, stamps, dies, papers, etc.

Generally it is a great way to increase the variety in your stash and not spend a great deal of money.

On my last trip home, I went craft magazine crazy, as all the freebies were so great. JT and I had the same idea - she bought me the magazine that had these stamps on -

But I had already bought it LOL, so Ma got a gift to bolster her fledgling craft kit.

The main card today uses the peacock from this set and I actually stamped and coloured this in JT's craft room when I was snooping staying at her house.

It is the first time I have tried adding a thin colour halo around a stamped image and I love the result. The whole thing was coloured with Distress Inks and an aqua brush.

Next up is a card made using a fan stamp from this set -

I decided it would be fun to use the fan to make a background. I really like the end result.

Once again coloured using Distress Inks and an aquabrush. Big fan of this technique.

I love freebies..especially when the stamps are as gorgeous as these ones.

Cx

Retro Rubber #21...Back to school...

Hey,

It's time for another awesome challenge from the Retro Rubber team.

Back to school!! This was a bit tricky for me - partly because I am English and we don't do the whole back to school cards / gifts thing and also I don't have kids..

Fortunately the Retro Rubber ladies came to my rescue with oodles of great tips.

I decided to make a card for a teenager or a teacher returning to school (infact it has gone to a teacher friend of mine).

I kept my card pretty simple, I love the American Crafts paper I used for the background, it felt very back to school. The globe blueprint is by Tim Holtz and I have a whole set of them that I have had for 2 years.

I added Tim Holtz stickers and a SSS die cut banner with the word School added to it using big sparkly alpha stickers.

I love how the whole thing came together..not bad considering my initial wobble!

Now it is your turn to show us your fab projects, but first go to Retro Rubber  and see the fun makes by my talented teammates.

Don't forget to use a stamp older than a year (and tell us about it, that's part of the fun). Challenge runs until August 28th.

Cx

Friends with techniques...

 Hey,

So I loved class at the Inkpad a few weeks ago, I really wanted to try out some of the techniques Cheiron taught us and I also felt that the Gelli plate needed an outing.

I also wanted to use my new Mama Elephant stamps and die (bought at the Inkpad), to make a few cards for some of my friends.

Here are the four cards that I made -

They were a lot of fun to make.

Card 1 - Technique used - ink onto a stencil (Stampin' Up), spritz with water, flip over onto your paper - EEK!! 

Card 2 - I used a gelli plate here - first time - love the result. Stencil is by 

Card 3 - Technique used - apply stain through a stencil (Hero Arts) and then spritz with water and dry.

Card 4 - Technique used - apply white distress paint through a stencil (Simon says stamp), using a dabber. When dry blend ink over the paint for a resist.

I used a lot of  things, as you can probably tell... Ranger distress inks, stains and paints. Bling by Simon says stamp and papermania. Card blanks by American Crafts. MFT stitched oval and rectangle dies.

So much fun to make and a really great first outing for my new Mama Elephant stamps and die.

Cx

Leaving on a jet plane...

Hey,

Happy Friday

So I am off to London tonight for 10 days.

All of my posts will be scheduled for next week, as work is going to be super hectic..

My card today was made for a friend's birthday, she has a love of polka dots, so I always try and incorporate them into her birthday cards.

I created the background by using distress ink (Picked Raspberry) through a stencil and then spritzing it with water before quickly drying it. I love this technique, you get such different results, depending on the stencil and the colours you use.

The flower dies are new and I bought them on sale at SSS - I have been coveting them forever..I did not buy the stamps that coordinate, instead I used a different SSS stamp set which I think worked out well.

I die cut all the flower elements from white cardstock and then used distress stains to colour them.

Final touch was the sentiment - my fave Neat and Tangled everyday label stamps. So versatile.

Have a great weekend, I will be with my parents mostly - sweet.

Cx

More tissue paper backgrounds..

Hey,

So yesterday I showed you some of the fun I had over the weekend, playing with tissue paper and water.

I wanted to show you the last few cards I made using the backgrounds.

These cards are all essentially the same, but in different colours.

I used the MFT stitched rectangle dies (constant over use of these dies..) for the background and solid colour pieces. 

Then I die cut the Tim Holtz birthday die in white and adhered it to the background at a jaunty angle.

After a seriously long search for a happy stamp in the font I had in my head, I opted to mask off part of an SSS stamp and use that!

I'm super pleased with these cards, they feel super modern and perfect for men/boys.

Here are photos of all 3 cards..

Cx

Tissue paper backgrounds..

Hey,

Recently, I saw this great idea for kids on Pinterest, it looked easy and fun, so I thought I'd give it a go.

I must point out though that they do point out the ink from the tissue paper will stain your fingers, so wear gloves. They are right. I did not listen, I have had inky fingers since Sunday...

Make sure you use bleeding tissue paper - not regular gift wrap tissue paper. I got mine from a cheapo store in London ages ago, but they sell it in most dollar stores.

The main photo today shows the hexagons I used for some of the backgrounds and a few of the backgrounds.

I did a few different things with the backgrounds.

I decided to cut an aperture in the background for these cards, I used a SSS stitched circle die, then I cut the SSS Smile die - which fits the aperture perfectly.

Both the backgrounds were cut out with a MFT stitched rectangle die.

I created a fun sentiment for the cards, but using a SSS stamp that worked with smile..

This card used the offcut from the cards above. This is an anniversary card for a special friend and her husband.. So I went to town a bit. I stacked punched hearts to add a bit of dimension. Because I did not have glittery purple card I decided to colour one of the hearts and then added embossing ink and sparkly Judikins embossing powder.

Love the faux glitter paper effect.

Final card for today is also an anniversary card. I love the giant Happy - the die is part of a trio by WPlus9.

I have some more cards to show you tomorrow using this technique.

Such an easy technique that gives such different results. I am looking forward to using different punches.

Cx

Retro Rubber #20 By the numbers...there is still time...

Hey,

There is still time for you to join in the current challenge from the Retro Rubber team.

By the numbers... Use numbers on your project..any way you like...as long as you use a stamp that is over a year old.

The challenge ends August the 14th.

Cx

60th Birthday..

Hey,

Hope you had a good weekend.

I had a lot of fun hanging with Hubby and playing at my desk..last big session before I go home.

As Ma's birthday has been and gone and she now has her card, I can show it to you.

I wanted it to be fancier than normal..so I broke out the Silhouette.

I opted to use a Lori Whitlock A2 flip card file - it came with a 60th cut out, so it was perfect for my needs.

I chose American Crafts papers that I thought Ma would like.

I'm pleased with the end result, despite how fiddly it was to put together.

Cx

Balloon-a-versary..

Hey,

Hope you are having a great weekend.

I am heading to my desk, before brunching with Hubby...

As I promised yesterday, here is another one of the blank cards that I repurposed.

This one is for friend's 1st wedding anniversary and their amazing, emotional and beautiful wedding was themed red, black and white, so this felt perfect for them.

As a family they love to travel and so the balloon seemed appropriate.

Lots of fave things used here - Bo Bunny distressed chevron stamp, SSS mini star stamps, Teresa Collins balloon stamp and Hero Arts sentiment stamp. And of course the MFT stitched rectangle die..never getting sick of these dies.

All inks are Memento Dewdrops (Lady Bug & Tuxedo Black)

Cx

Updating blank cards...

Hey,

Happy Friday!

I recently made a whole batch of blank cards for a friend.

The ones that she didn't take, came in handy for me, as there was a huge amount of Aug birthdays / anniversaries that with my travels I was ill prepared for!

So I decided that I would add the sentiments to these essentially ready to go cards - sweet!

The main card is one of my faves, I love the effect you get when you spritz distress inks and then dry them. The sentiment stamps are by SSS and I bought them on sale when I was at the airport heading to London the last time..literally I was running down the tunnel whilst my purchase went through :)

This card is a another fave, I love using the SSS All boy stamp set - it was in one of my first ever cardkits and I totally over use it!

I decided the Neat and Tangled everyday labels worked well here - adds to the modern feel.

Both of these cards went to men, so it was nice to see that I had made some things that suited men - so difficult to make for!

I'll show you another updated card tomorrow :)

Have a great weekend, I'll be at my desk, as I am leaving for London in a week, so cramming in as much crafty time as I can.

Cx

Simon Says Stamp - August Card Kit...

Hey,

Following on from the fun class last Friday, I thought I'd try a couple of the techniques alongside my SSS Aug cardkit.

I am super pleased with the end result.

It was also very easy to make.

I started by die-cutting a piece of Ranger watercolour card, using a MFT stitched rectangle die.

I used clear embossing powder to heat emboss Summer onto my die-cut piece. This formed the anchor for all the other items.

I used the blending technique that Cheiron taught me on Friday and coloured the panel using 3 colours of distress ink - Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Peacock Feathers. It actually turned out well..I still need practice..

To finish off the card, I stamped Hello and used the sunshine die, both of which came in the cardkit. I also stamped a sun (see him peeking in) using a weird thank you stamp I have...

I wanted the inked panel to be the hero, so kept the backing paper simple, but with enough detail for the inked panel to pop.

I am looking forward to more playing with this fun kit.

Cx

Inky, painty tag making fun...

Hey,

Hope you are all well.

It's been such a busy week already.

Hubby and I spend the weekend just outside Philly to visit some good friends that have just moved there from the UK - it was a surprise for him, as he didn't know where we were going.

I also did another card class at The Inkpad on Friday - with Cheiron as our teacher, she is so awesome! It was also great to connect with a few people I had met before (Lisette you know I am talking about you!)

We managed to make a whopping ten tags!! Using all different Ranger items and techniques. We used stains, paints, inks, markers, sprays, stencils, stamps and pastes.

The main photo shows two of the ten tags - on the left it is a new technique for me, ink up the stencil, spritz with water and then flip it onto your tag - eek! It works and is stunning. The one on the right is a translucent paste resist which I have done before.

Here photos of the rest of my tags..

These tags, all used Distress Paint Marbling - I've done this before and its fun, put the colours onto your craft sheet, spritz and then smoosh your tag through the colours..awesome and easy and look at the varied results.

These were fun and new to me - aging a piece of metallic card stock, clever. The green tag was made using sprays, blending them and using different colours to create an aged look.

These 3 are so colourful. The first one uses texture paste thru a stencil with spray inks over the top - cool and easy. The second tag, used a spray ink for the background and then stains for the edges and the stamping..stamping with stains BLEW MY MIND. The third one uses white distress paint thru a stencil, which when dry, resists the ink, see the letters showing thru?! Amazing.. This is also where Cheiron taught me how to actually blend...so easy, but I need practice.

Final tags!! I love the second one way more than the first one, but that is because I didn't listen... The second one uses rub-ons and then the smooshing technique to add colour. The lady is stamped on after. LOVE this, need more rub-ons now, normally I dislike them.

Fun times. I love doing classes at the Inkpad. If you are based in NYC you have to do a class there. You should also check out Cheiron's blog, she is so super talented.

Cx

Retro Rubber #20...By the numbers...

Hey,

It's time for another awesome challenge from the Retro Rubber team.

I love this theme..

Use numbers on your project..any way you like...as long as you use a stamp that is over a year old.

I decided to make a 40th birthday card for a friend.

The oldest stamp is the main sentiment, by Woodware and I have had it about 4 years.. I use it so much. I heat embossed it in purple metallic powder onto vellum. I affixed it to the background I created using mini staples.

The background I created using a mixture of Stampin' Up, Simon Says Stamp and Papermania stamps in 3 different colours of ink. Obviously I used one of my fave MFT stitched rectangle dies.

The whole thing got mounted onto a purple card base.

A fun card, for a fun person.

So over to you now, show us your makes..but first pop over to Retro Rubber and view the fantastic creations by my talented teammates..

The challenge ends August the 14th (when I next fly home..) so you have lots of time to join in the fun.

Cx

Happy 60th Birthday Momma Bear...

Hey,

So today my Ma is 60!!

Sad that I can't be with her to celebrate, but glad that I got to spend oodles of time with her when I was home in July. More to come later this month..

My Ma is a very special person. She is one of my best friends, as well as my Ma. She is the BEST person to go to for advice and she is an absolute hoot.

Ma and I in NYC watching the Superbowl 2007

The fact that she can also drink any living human being under the table, whilst remaining reasonably sober is quite something!

Ma and I looking crazy on the Ferry NYC 2007

Ma is one of the main reasons that I am who I am, she is such a talented clever person, she shared so much of that with me and many of my likes, hobbies and dislikes are because of her tutelage.

Ma + Hubby on our Wedding Day

One of the things from my childhood that has informed my love of travel is that Ma used to take me on random train outings to all different places on the South Coast of England. We had some really fun times and when I was home in July, we were reminiscing about some of them.

Ma and I on my Wedding Day

I miss the weekend outings I used to do as an adult (shopping + food) with Ma, but with modern technology we 'see' each other every week and so it doesn't feel quite so bad.

Ma and I in Devon 2010..she doesn't look very happy LOL

Ma was one of the main supporters of us moving to NYC..no matter how hard it was for her personally, she put that to one side and helped us move (by packing, giving us money, shouting at us, etc).

Ma + Hubby + Me in Atlantic City 2015

Essentially she is and will always be 'Lion' as Jamaicans say.

Love you Momma Bear, have a superb 60th Birthday.

Cx