CASE: Shark Birthday...

Happy Friday!!!

Obviously I am SUPER happy today, as it is the first day of my Summer vacation!

Hubby and I arrive in Tampa later on today and our bestie / wife joins us from London on Monday for the rest of the week. We have rented a house with a pool, so cue mucho lounging, pool party action.

What better way to celebrate vacay than with a Shark card?

I love the Avery Elle Sea-Prise set and CASE'd one of the DT cards that they made to signal the new release a few months back -

I die-cut my aperture using a MFT stitched oval die. I coloured and die-cut my shark and recreated the 'sea' by using corrugated card.

I love the 'Hope your birthday is swell' sentiment, but as this card was going to a little boy in the UK, I didn't think he would be familiar with it, so played it safe with Happy Birthday.

The banner die is by Simon Says Stamp and I have had it forever and it's the only banner die I own surprisingly!

Fun CASE, I love it, I'm gonna make a few more I think.

Have a great weekend..if you need me I'll be by my pool!

Cx

Retro Rubber #94..Anything Goes

Hey,

Welcome to another excellent Retro Rubber challenge.

Hubby and I leave for Tampa on Friday - WHOOP WHOOP!!! Summer vacay here I come!

This time it's everyone's fave Anything Goes.

Way back in July, I needed a second 'interactive' card for my friend's twin son's - I had one already, but you know twins right..you can't send one a fancy card and the other one a regular card!

I decided that one of my all time fave Gerda Steiner 'Alien Invasion' set (from 2016) had not seen the light of day in FOREVER, so I thought it would work well here and the other card for the other twin is all 'space / alien' themed.

I stamped the sentiment by Clearly Besotted onto my white panel and then masked it off, so I could stamp the stars (Stars of Worn by Unity from 2016/early 2017).

I stamped, coloured and cut my monsters and alien ship (I added an alien to the ship) and popped them up on foam tape to the outside of my card. Saving the Alien ship for inside..

How fun is that?! I used a MFT pop-up die, super fun, super easy to use and added a small wobbler to the strip, so my Alien ship wobbles when opened, but he still folds flat.

I added planets and stars to the inside back panel, so my ship had a background.

I wasn't sure about the MFT pop-up die, but man is it handy and easy to use!

Looking forward to your Anything Goes makes, dig through your stash and find a neglected stamp or stamps, it's fun! and pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends Sept 7th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Random Desk Pile: Thank you..

Hey,

Happy Monday!

I had a lovely weekend...

My Saturday AM gym session was amazing and terrifying all at once. I am now having to acknowledge how strong I am and that nothing is impossible...terrifying.

I also managed to get started on Christmas and was super productive, I cracked out 25 cards yesterday afternoon.

I also got a Cut Above mention for last week's Paper Players challenge, which was really nice, as I loved that card!

Today's cards are a few more from the random desk pile makes from a couple of week's ago.

This time, I had the flower / bouquet coloured and die-cut and the tags and papers were in a pile within a pile (honestly..)

So I stamped the sentiment onto the tags and die-cut the papers using a fun scalloped die that I bought second-hand and I am currently over-using.

The flower stamp / die is by Clearly Besotted and the sentiment stamps are by Hero Arts.

I love these cards, they make a wonderfully cheery set - here is a solo shot of one of the cards for you.

Cx

Catch The Bug: Saturday Colour Challenge..

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you!

And welcome to my first post as a permanent part of the Catch The Bug team.

They asked me to stay after my GDT stint for their Saturday challenge and I was overjoyed and said yes!

This week we have a great colour challenge for you -

Bug Monsters 4 Block is a new set from Bugaboo Stamps and I love it. I mean how awesome is it that with my love of monsters my first permanent DT card uses a monster stamp - kismet.

I love the Bugaboo block stamp sets and I think I now have them all.

I used Tombow dual brush pens to colour the stamp.

Hope you will be playing along too. Can't wait to see which image you choose to use.

Upload your makes at the Catch The Bug blog and check out the rest of the DT makes.

Cx

Sketch Saturday #528...Little Miss Muffet Stamps..

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you and welcome to the latest sketch for the Sketch Saturday challenge.

Our sponsor this week is Little Miss Muffet Stamps and they are offering a prize of a $6 gift certificate to their store.

Here's the sketch..which just happens to be by me :)

If you know me, you know I LOVE Monster stamps, I have tons of them and I am lucky enough to have great friends who just randomly send me Monster stamps in the post..

So I was delighted when I found 'Monster Urm', he is a perfect fit for the sketch and I love him!

As always I tried to keep it simple and let my Monster be the main attraction! I coloured him and die-cut the white panel using a SSS stitched circle die.

Both of the papers I used are scraps and the sentiment is by Your Next Stamp.

I added some Nuvo crystal drops for some shimmer.

I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch, but first check out what the rest of the DT have made over at Sketch Saturday.

Challenge ends August 31 7pm GMT / 2pm EST

Cx

ICAD2018 Continued....

Hey,

Happy Friday!!

I have had a bit of a rough week, busy at work and food poisoning earlier this week..

I am feeling more me now!

I loved this year's ICAD and because I bought an album to put all my cards in, it had quite a few extra pages. So I decided to play ICAD2018 Plus Plus - it is my continuation, so I can fill the album.

I have essentially created my own weekly prompts.

The first week was Sea themed.

I had a LOT of fun creating these cards.

Main photo shows you all of them, but here are some shots of my fave ones..

All a bit different.

The mermaid one, a friend commented that she loved it, so I made a card version of it for her!

Have a great weekend, I am going to be hanging with Lisette later on today and then at the gym and watching Pre-season NFL and playing at my desk for the rest of the weekend..this time next week I'll be in Tampa - whoop!

Cx

Sweetness..

Hey,

I love the digital stamp on my card today.

I saw it all over instagram and various blogs and finally decided I had to have it :)

It is by Graciellie Design and it's called Sweetness -

I love all the sentiments that came with it and it was so lovely to colour.

I used Tombow Dual Brush markers to colour it and I was so pleased with how it turned out, that I entered it into Kathy Rac's Daily Marker colouring contest.

Being on the Sketch Saturday team and my GDT stint on the Catch The Bug team has really re-invigorated my love of digital stamps, it's such a great inexpensive way to get new shiny things..kind of!

Cx

The Paper Players: You're So Berry Sweet...

Hey,

I love The Paper Players challenges.

And this week's one spoke to me immediately as it would mean I could use x2 pieces of NBUS - yay!

So I know Cherries are not strictly berries, but I think I artistic licence is allowed ;)

The large Cherry stamp and die are from Michael's and I got them a couple of months ago on super bargain sale. The sentiment is by Studio Calico and is a bit shameful as I have had it since Black Friday 2017 and haven't used it...

It is discontinued now, so here is a photo of the set -

As the theme asks for CAS cards, this was super easy to put together, I stamped, coloured and die-cut the Cherries (Mrs Cherry has a touch of Spectrum Noir sparkle pen on..).

I used this as a guide for where my sentiment should go and I stamped parts of it using red ink.

Super easy, super fun for a Monday night card.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #93..Tic Tac Toe - Still time to play...

Hey,

There is still time for you to play along with the current Retro Rubber challenge.

This time we have a great tic-tac-toe board for you to choose from.

Show us what you make with your chosen row and pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends August 24th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Random Desk Pile: Dogs and Cats...

Hey,

Happy Monday,

As per my post yesterday it was a slow weekend.

I did manage to get to my desk on Sunday, but there needs to be much more desk action this week, as the Christmas card making needs to start. I am about 3 weeks out of my normal start date, but I don't feel too bad about it as I have 20 cards already made from random challenges throughout the year.

Today's card is super simple and is a great stamp by Studio Katia 'Best Friends'.

Another one from the random desk pile...I had stamped and coloured it as soon as I got it a few months ago, but hadn't done anything with it.

I kept the card simple, no sentiment. It's going to my bestie, just because I think she will like it.

Cx

CAS(E) This Sketch 285: Have a Monster Birthday...

Hey,

Happy Sunday.

Because of my epic night out on Friday yesterday was a bit of a nothing day!

Today I am back at my desk, but still a teeny bit slow.

I needed inspiration and went looking for a challenge and I liked the sketch over at CAS(E) this sketch this week -

Nice and straightforward for my slow brain today.

I decided to break out a set of stitched rounded rectangle dies for the shapes - I don't use these as much as I used to, as I lost the most useful size of the die between my desk and the expedit and trust me that is WAY too much work to recover that..

I stamped the Monster from the Neat & Tangled 'Little Monster' set onto white card and die-cut it out. I decided I didn't want to hide him completely and so used vellum for the central panel.

I heat embossed half of the sentiment onto the vellum panel (by Snarky Stamps).

I love the giant 'monster' word stamp and die from the set - I totally overuse it..

I am super pleased at how my card came out and I LOL when I showed it to my Hubby he said 'obviously the first thing you make is a Monster card..'

My love of Monsters is renowned..

Cx

Random Desk Pile: Pineapple Thank You...

Hey!

Happy Friday to you!

I can't believe how quickly this week has gone..not long now until its time for my Summer vacay.

Today's card is another one using the random pile on my desk.

I had used a diffuser plate with a pineapple embossing folder to create this background. When I first got the diffuser plates, I made tons and tons of backgrounds. I am a big fan of the smooth centre so you can use a big sentiment stamp.

The stamp I used here is super old by Woodware and I also have the big birthday set too, these are the most overused things in my craft room.

This is a perfect card for a friend who gave me a Pineapple bracelet whilst I was in London last week..

Have a great weekend, I am going drinking tonight with a friend, shopping with Lisette tomorrow and hanging with Mr G the rest of the weekend.

Cx

Random Desk Pile: Dinoversary...

Hey,

As promised, this week I am showing you all the cards I made from the random pile on my desk :)

Today's cuties are so much fun.

I had printed out Le Petite Market Dino stamps into various backgrounds - backgrounds are by Pink Petticoat.

They had all been coloured and matched with a card blank, but I hadn't adhered them or added sentiments.

As these stamps are called Valentine Dino's, there are lots of hearts on the Dino's, so I decided to make them all anniversary cards.

The sentiment banner is by Mama Elephant from their Occasional Labels set - love these little banners.

A fun set of cards, handy as I have a lot of people with September anniversaries.

Cx

Random Desk Pile: Daisy Birthday...

Hey,

Today I am showing you card no 2 that I made from the random desk pile.

I got the Unity Stamp Co. 'Daisy Girl' before I left for London and I coloured her using TomBow dual brush markers..

I bought the July TomBow VIP box, which is awesome and came with an awesome storage box for my pens.. LOVE a storage box..

The background paper die-cut, the striped washi tape and the sentiment rub-ons - yes rub-ons, were all in the pile too!

Another quick assembly job and the addition of the clear droplets and voila! another finished card.

Cx

Retro Rubber #93.. Tic Tac Toe..

Hey,

Welcome to another awesome Retro Rubber challenge.

I got back from London late on Friday, I am very happy to be back home with my Hubby and Boscat..only 2 weeks until our Summer vacay - yay!!

This time we have one of my faves - Tic-Tac-Toe and the grid was created by our very own Jan.

I really was torn with this one, I wanted to make all the rows LOL. I finally settled on the first vertical row - die-cut or punch / stripes / birds.

I got a twofer with my die choice as it is also stripey - WIN!! The die is by MFT and was part of their May 2017 release. I smooshed a bit of paper in 2 colours of distress ink and then die-cut it. I love the patchy watercoloured feel you get when you do this.

I thought that one of my fave Bird stamps (Kinda Sorta Miss You - I have had it since it's release in 2016) would work really well here, it's by Unity Stamp Co and I liked the idea of blending a bright colour to show through the circle and just stamping my birdie onto that.

The sentiment is from the same set as the bird and is one of my faves.

Can't wait to see which row you choose to play with and pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends August 24th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Random Desk Pile: Whale Hey Cutie!...

Hey,

Happy Monday to you!

I am back home in NYC, it was great to be in London for so long, but always lovely to be home with Hubby and Boscat. My weekend has been all about rest and reuniting with Hubby and my desk.

I hit my desk early on Sunday morning and realised it was a bit of a mess and noticed a big random pile of stuff..

Looking through it, I realised I could probably make a bunch of cards without too much effort, which is perfect when I'm a bit tired and have been away from my desk for a while.

Here is a photo of the 12 cards I made -

Amazing right?!

I added ribbon, sentiments and gems to what was already on my desk.

I'll be showing you all the cards individually over the next week, as I want to ease back into blogging before my vacay at the end of the month.

Today's main card is a fun one.

I found the tag and the stamped, die-cut Whale in the pile and I added the sentiment and made it into this fun card.

I love the sentiment, I was going for 'Whale Hello There!' but the 'Hey Cutie' stamp by Mama Elephant was perfect. The Whale is by MFT, from their 'Ocean Pals' set

A great way to return to my desk.

Cx

Sketch Saturday #526... LeAnn's World 101

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you and welcome to the latest sketch for the Sketch Saturday challenge.

I have just got back from a 12 day trip home to London (personal and work related). It was super fun to be back in the office for a week or so and to see my parents - especially my Dad, who I hadn't seen since December!

Our sponsor this week is LeAnn's World 101 - check the Sketch Saturday blog for Prize details.

Here's the sketch...

Kel, our leader really taxed me with this sketch, but my image choice made it so much easier. I loved LeAnn's range of teapot stamps and the one I used is 'Hummingbird Teapot'.

I actually got a bit technical with this card. I measured the die I planned on using, so I could print the teapots at the right size. I coloured them using a Pink Mittens and Blue Grey Promarker.

I die-cut a piece of ancient foiled paper that I thought toned well with the teapots. Then I arranged the little die-cuts onto the paper.

I added a simple sentiment banner and a clear droplet to finish my card.

I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch, but first check out what the rest of the DT have made over at Sketch Saturday.

Challenge ends August 17th 7pm GMT / 2pm EST

Cx

Elephant Frenzy!...

Hey,

Remember when Tiffany (part of the Craftgang) had a baby shower earlier this year and I got the days wrong? And then her baby Sophia was born the next day?

I made her this card and I posted it on Instagram.. Since then I have made approx 50 of them for people that have reached out and asked me if I will make them one?!

It is lovely, but I am still a bit baffled by it's popularity.

Today's version is for a good friend, whose wife recently had a baby girl. I love making these cards, the mixing of the patterns is so fun and a bit different for me.

Making these cards is also a great way to use my patterned paper stash.

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #92...Summer Summer Time...still time to play

Hey,

There is still time for you to play along with the current Retro Rubber challenge.

In keeping with the time of year we have an awesome Summer theme for you.

Show us your summery cards and pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends August 10th.

Don't forget to tell us the age of your stamp, that is part of the fun of our challenge and please only enter 10 challenges including Retro Rubber.

Cx

Hippo Birthday To You...

Hey,

Happy Monday to you from London..

I had a great weekend, I caught up with my Hubby's side of the family and got to see my Niece and Nephew.

I FINALLY handed over the giant NYC colouring poster that I transported from NYC to London and have carried across London several times.

We obviously had to start colouring it straightaway! It's going to keep them busy for MONTHS!!

My card today is a quick make I made before leaving for London. I weirdly didn't think any of my ready to go birthday cards worked for this particular friend!

So I used a new set by Ellen Hutson / Julie Ebersole 'Wish Big' - I have so many ideas for this set, I am itching to get home and use it more.

But for this card I kept it simple and just used the Hippo, Birthday sentiment string and a balloon from the set. I decided to colour my Hippo bright pink, for no reason other than the fact that I can!

I die-cut the balloon out of yellow gingham paper and stamped the outline for a bit of extra colour.

Super simple and easy make.

Cx

Splattery Birthday...

Hey,

Happy Friday!

It is a glorious day here in London!

I am sharing a quick card I made for a friend before I left NYC.

The Studio Calico 'Large Sentiments' set is a fave of mine, I bought it for JT and I in their Black Friday sale last year and it was a great buy.

I stamped and coloured it using Tombow Brush Markers and added some inky splatter and some dots to the letters (comes with the stamp).

Mounted onto a fun card blank for a super easy and quick make.

Have a great weekend, I will be with JT and my colleagues in the pub tonight and off to see The Grantham family tomorrow.

Cx

Bouquet Anniversary...

Hey,

Happy Thursday from London!!

I had a great day out with my parents yesterday celebrating my Mum's birthday. We went to Runnymede and had a picnic by the river, did some plane spotting, listened to the cricket and fed the ducks, it was a very English day out.

I made today's card a while ago - literally the minute after the amazing Bouquet of Hearts stamp by Pink Fresh Studio turned up.

I watercoloured the stamp and had it sitting on my desk for a while, until I decided to use it as an Anniversary card.

The sentiment banner stamp is by Mama Elephant.

I love stamps like this that you can use for a variety of occasions.

Cx

Happy Birthday Momma Bear!

Hey,

So I landed in London yesterday and today I have the day off, so I can spend it with my parents and celebrate Momma's birthday with her.

I always make her a completely elaborate card, as she appreciates them.

I found a great Silhouette cut-file for her card this year. I die-cut it using white cardstock, as I wanted to blend the top portion (as seen above).

Below is a little video that shows you what it looked like before the blending and the additional papers.

I love how it looks all finished.

Also because I had Ben with me and had to race around a bit, I completely forgot to add a 'Happy Birthday' sentiment, but I think she'll forgive me, as my suitcase was HALF full with all her gifts :)

Cx