Retro Rubber Blog Challenge - #194 - Colour Challenge - booyah! It's the 90's...

Hey,

Welcome to another fun Retro Rubber challenge.

We have colour challenge for you this time.

I love these colours together, they work so well.

I used an old layering stamp from The Works in the UK, I have had it since 2017. I stamped the bigger flower in yellow and the x2 center pieces in orange and brown. The little strip is by Taylored Expressions and I trimmed it down so it was a bit smaller, as I thought that worked better here. I added a red heart and some twine to finish it off.

I felt it was missing something, so repeat stamped happy birthday and that made me happy!

I can't wait to see how you use the colours, don't forget to pop over to Retro Rubber and get inspired by the things the DT have made.

Challenge ends November 4th.

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

Catch The Bug GDT: Bugaboo Bingo...

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you!

I had a great week off with my Ma, back to reality sadly on Monday.

I'm still with the Catch The Bug team for their Saturday challenge. 

This week we have bingo for you..I love a bingo challenge.

I chose to use the last vertical row - Button / Bugaboo Image / Sentiment.

I love the new Beach Duck image - not available until the 22nd of June, so this is a sneak peek for you :)

As usual, I coloured the image, using Promarkers and I used a spectrum noir sparkle pen for the darker blue stripes, so IRL you can see some shimmer.

I used a scrap of yellow paper that I thought co-ordinated well here and for some extra sparkle I added a glittery blue strip.

The button is from my VAST button collection..

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

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

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #61.. Button It..Still Time to Play..

Hey,

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

Our theme is Button it! - use buttons on your card.

 Go over to Retro Rubber and see what the DT have made and have a look at the gallery too.

Challenge ends on May 5th, don't forget to use a stamp a year or older and tell us all about it, that's the fun part right. Also, please limit your challenge entries to 10 including ours.

Thanks

Cx

Retro Rubber Challenge #61 Button It...

Hey,

Time for another fun challenge with the Retro Rubber team.

This time we have a theme for you..

I love buttons and have a huge button stash, part of my stash belonged to my Grandmother.

This card was made using a mix of old and new stash items. The newer items (Enamel Accents and embossing folder are from JT).

The sentiment and the die are from 2015 and are by Mama Elephant 'Friend Indeed' set, I love this set, the sentiments are very handy.

I dug through my button stash to find a button that coordinated with my card blank. I added little dots of enamel accents to make the right-hand side of the card a bit more interesting.

I love how the friend die-cut pops against both the embossed panel and the card blank.

I sent this card to a friend a while ago and recently when I was in London and visited her new home, it was on her kitchen noticeboard - how awesome is that!

Your turn to show us your button creations, but first go over to Retro Rubber and see what my teammates have made.

Challenge ends on May 5th, don't forget to use a stamp a year or older and tell us all about it, that's the fun part right? Also, please limit your challenge entries to 10 including ours.

Thanks

Cx

Retro Rubber #26...Lets get our sketch on...

Hey,

It is time for another awesome challenge over at Retro Rubber.

Ooh goody a sketch..Don't you just love a sketch.

I do, they have so many possibilities.

I decided to dig out an old set by Penny Black - I've had it about 2 years..I use the set a lot, but I never really use the car stamp.

I have this fun set of stamps that I have had for about 18mths by Bo Bunny, its called in stitches and has all these great long stitched stamps. I used one for my border.

I coloured the main stamp using Promarkers and added some buttons to finish off my card. I love these buttons, they are glittery and I got them from my fave market at home in London.

Your turn now to show us your takes on the sketch - link up over at Retro Rubber whilst checking out the great creations from the ladies.

Don't forget to use a stamp a year or older and tell us about it. Challenge ends on Nov. 6th

Cx

Online Card Classes - A Cut Above: Part 2 - Day One

Hey,

So a couple of weeks ago, I finally got around to doing Day One of my Online Card Class - A Cut Above: Part 2 Electronic Die Cutting.

It was a lot of fun and I learnt some new tricks and manged to use a few cut files that I've had for a while.

The first part of the class is about using background files (my main photo). 

I had this fun background that I bought ages ago, but found it a bit much every time I tried to use it. In the OCC I learnt that keeping everything else simple (including colours) helps.

I added a red Happy - cut with my Silhouette and some mini gold glitter letters for Birthday - keeping it all very simple, but effective.

The next part required you to use a cut file supplied with the class. It teaches you how to scale and how to get these fiddly beasts off of the cutting mat!

I decided to use a spotty background and heart button to bring my cut frame alive. I like it, simple but also effective.

Layering shapes is one of my crafting staples. So I loved this part of the class and got to use the layered butterflies that I have had forever and never used!!

I switched it up a bit here and cut 2 of the butterflies in fussy papers, adding a bit more drama to the layers. The button with it's gold ribbon knot was already on my desk - perfect! I added an embossed background, a sentiment sticker and some bling.

Fun class, I am looking forward to Day Two..when I find some time..

If you haven't taken an Online Card Class yet, you really should - they are fun, easy and the best bit is that they are ALWAYS there. So you can do them at your leisure, great idea and means I don't get stressed about trying to keep up with a live class.

Cx

Watercolours + Embellishments..

Hey!

This is a scheduled post as I am in Richmond, VA for a work meeting. I hope I get to see a little bit of Richmond, it is supposed to be nice.

I made these cards a couple of months ago. I bought the weird flower embellishment things at Michael's in Chicago when we were there for Dana and Jim's wedding.

I chose to watercolour the background in colours that matched the button on flower. On the main photo, I thought a red sentiment would be fun. I love how this card turned out.

The next card uses yellow and orange tones. I especially like the colour of the Happy die cut.

Watercolour + Embellishment

 One of the things I like about these cards is the rough edges of the watercolours and I love the weird embellishments - especially the big stack on the green cards. Top tip - always by the weird stuff on sale...I might even make some of my own out of felt.

Cx

OCC Stenciled: Day 1...Inking and Masking

Hi,

Hope you all had a fun long weekend. I spent lots and lots of time at my desk..being away from it for 2 weeks meant that my fingers were itching for a play!

I recently bought a new Online Card Class - Stenciled. As I really wanted to use my stencils more and in more creative ways.

There are x4 techniques in day 1 -

Sponging - This is a technique I use quite often. But what I don't normally do is get all brave and use x2 colours!! Debby also showed us how to heat emboss onto vellum, so you don't hide the gorgeous background. The main photo today is this technique and I am very pleased with my final card.

Misting - Meh! I like the idea of misting, but the reality of it is too messy for me. I didn't use multiple colours here, as per the class. Partly because I only have a few colours and I didn't think they worked together. I did try it and I have an oops to be shown at another time.

Misting

My card has come out well and I like the contrast of the stencil, the die and the stamped sentiment. The spots shouldn't be so blotchy, but I don't mind it so much.

Heat Embossing - Now I get the ink resist and heat embossing with stencils, but the blending of the background and then adding droplets of water was beyond me..even I can't show you this oops..So what did I decide to do..salvage what I could - hence a very simple card.

Heat Embossing

No more heavy blending or water droplets for me - know your limits!

Masking - I've done this before and I like the results. I kept this card simple, by using one stencil, I masked and rotated it. I am pleased with the results.

Masking and Rotating

Verdict? I loved day 1 - I don't love being covered in ink..but that's a personal thing :)

Supplies used:
Inks - Distress Inks (Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough, Spiced Marmalade, Festive Berries, Dusty Concord, Mustard Seed), Versafine Onyx black, SSS Lipstick Red.
Heat Embossing - Versamark ink, Ranger heat tool, Stampendous Embossing Powders (grey and clear)
Mists - Fireworks Sweet Plum.
Stencils - Recollections Spots, Clear Scraps Spiral Dots, SSS Mosaic Heart, Tim Holtz Rays.
Sentiments - Pink Paislee, WPlus9, Penny Black.
Dies - Tag die by Marianne Creatables, Happy die by Craft Cutts.
Card blanks from Paper Presentation, white stock is Strathmore Mixed Media paper.
Any other embellishments from my stash.

Cx

WOYWW #265..Looking forward to a 3 day weekend..

Hi,

It is Hump Day, but it's actually my Thursday, as it is July the 4th on Friday, so we are off here in the US. WHOOP WHOOP!! Can you feel my excitement? 3 whole yummy days off, crafting, hanging with Hubby, eating bad food..amazing!!

Back to today..here in blogland it is time for WOYWW - joining Julia, who I hope is well on the road to recovery now and the gang over at her blog Stamping Ground for our weekly global desk nose.

My desk is a complete tip..I am attempting to do the following all at once -
1- make a stash of cards for my Ma
2 - make all the July/Aug cards for work birthdays
3 - make 50 more OWH cards (at least) before I leave for London on Aug 14th
4 - make some cards for a friends birthday
5 - make some cards for the Mother of the Groom (from Sat)
6 - get my card book (personal birthdays etc) up to date
7 - do more of the Online Card Course that I bought for JT and I

Yeah..I know what you are thinking...but it is all possible...along with sewing x2 new dresses...

So on my desk, are some partially made fairy cards for Ma, 2 pairs of glasses..not a good sign (this means a pair are not they should be..), some Promarkers, a new set of AI stamps, tons of printed images for the list above..other craft crap stuff and a bonus shot of me!

Ugh! I hate my desk being this untidy.

Here is a little card for you WOYWWer's to say 'Happy 4th of July'

Happy 4th of July

Stamp is by Whimsie Doodles, stripey paper by DCWV, star paper by Bo Bunny, coloured with Promarkers and Stickles. Twine and button are from my stash, star punched with a EKSuccess mini star punch.

Have a great day, I'll be a late visitor today.

Cx

WOYWW #257...Still Hungover?!

Hi

Happy WOYWW..

Lemon's birthday visit has been epic and I believe I am still hungover from Monday - ugh! Too old for this!!

Why is there a photo of my desk? Well every week we join the lovely Julia on her blog Stamping Ground for WOYWW and have a global desk nose.

My desk is very tidy this week, because Lemon has been here, I have not been around much. The little stack of flowers are from my Ma and she sent them with Lemon, there is a bow (that won't stick) a card in progress covered over (as the person it's for reads my blog) the little jar of blue stuff is embossing paste and is flattening out my card and my mouse is there.

This week instead of one card for you lovely WOYWWers I thought I would show you some of the Mother's Day cards that I made for my work colleagues. I know some of you were curious. I made 40 of them in the end.

Mother's Day Cards

You will notice that there are some with names..Americans seem to give Mother's Day card to lots of different ladies!

I am very proud of them all but I really did bite off more than I could chew :) mainly because the flowery ones are so much work. They are based on the card I made for my Ma - fine when making one! The backing paper and the paper that the flower sit on are easy to put together. It's the hand colouring of the flower (with Promarkers), poking holes in the flower, threading the twine, adding the button and tying the bow that takes so long!

The butterfly and heart cards are simple to make. Did you notice the dog card? One of my colleagues has a dog crazy Mother and I was happy to oblige.

Sorry for the longish post :) I'll be visiting you after work.

Cx

Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day in the UK.

My Ma is pretty special, she is always there for me and last year when Hubby and I were relocating she helped us physically, financially and emotionally.

This year has been a bit traumatic for Ma and our entire family, a surprise Cancer diagnosis wasn't exactly the best start to 2014.

Ma has managed to deal with all of it with dignity and a smile on her face and I was overjoyed that I got to go home at the point where she needed company and policing (she's not the best patient!)

Now 6 weeks after her op she has been given an all clear, which is totally amazing for her and our whole family.I am pleased to see that she is utilising the time she has before going back to work by having a bit more rest and indulging in some hobbies - sewing, embroidery, crap tv, reading etc

I know for a fact that I couldn't have gone through everything she has with such strength, but this is why she is so special.

I wanted to make Ma a bright and happy card. I had all sorts of ideas most of which centred around the Pink Petticoat backing paper I have used. When I was home, Ma saw it in my travel stash and said that she really liked it, so I wanted to use it.
I got a teeny bit carried away and used a few different techniques.
I didn't have a yellow flower, so I coloured one of the giant Papermania using a Promarker and then I sprayed the flower with a Memento Fireworks mist in Canteloupe. This is a newish technique for me and a bit messy, but adds a really nice shimmer when dry.

Here's a close-up -

Flower Close-up

I also recoloured some white paper twine black, so that it matched the text. The text is a rub-on...It is not supposed to be all patchy, but (and this is why I hate rub-ons) it wouldn't go on evenly..and in the end I decided it looked quite modern and edgy :)

The button is special too, as I bought a little bag of them when I was at home and on a day out with Ma.

I hope Ma likes her card and has a wonderful Mother's Day, I will be skyping her later.

Finally I decided that my card fits the Love to Create bingo card this week...

I am using the 3 row across and down - so Sparkle, Yellow and Flowers!

Cx

WOYWW #251...Chaos reigns!

Hi,

Can't believe its time for WOYWW already..a week has passed so quickly.

WOYWW for the un-initiated is that time of the week where us deskers from around the world join Julia over at her blog Stamping Ground for a nose!

My desk is a bit chaotic this week - a marked change from last week!! I told you the 'tidy' wouldn't last long. My life feels a bit chaotic at the moment - work is bonkerlonkers!

I took the photo just before Hubby and I went out to dinner on Tuesday night..we went to this amazing place that was doing a 3 course dinner, with a cocktail and wine with every course for $45?! It was awesome..

So what can you see..well my Promarker chart is out, as I was colouring some Stamping Bella images, one of which you can see on top of the chart, my glasses, lens cap, a card I am working on for a friend's 40th, my mouse, tweezers, pencil, a bag with a 40th birthday gift in it, a spa voucher (for me from a friend) and to the right of my keyboard a pop-up card thingy prototype for my Presidents' 30th wedding anniversary.

It's a bit busy in my craft world right now..I also realised I have been neglecting my OWH duties and will be making a batch of cards for them over the next couple of weeks.

As always I have a card for you WOYWWer's - it's not on my desk, as it has already been posted to my MIL..Happy Mother's Day to those of you with sproglets..I am definitely giving thanks for my Ma this year :)

Mother's Day card for my MIL

I used a Mother's Day sheet from last year and mounted it onto some Pink Petticoat Apple paper, the flower is by Papermania, the button is from my fave Lewisham Market (in London) fabric stall and paper twine for the bow. I added some teeny tiny gems that I bought from Craft Superstore when I was home.

I'll be having a peek at your desks later..

Cx

WOYWW #243...A different view..

Hey!

Why is there a random photo and not a piece of handmade lovliness, I hear you ask! Well it's time for WOYWW - the weekly global desk nosy, led by the wonderful Julia over on her blog Stamping Ground. Go over and check out what we reveal and join in the fun.

This week as my desk is DULL (aka tidy, as I have been a bit under the weather) ..I thought I would take inspiration from Julia and other WOYWWers and show you another part of my craft space.

The main photo shows what I like to call my 'happy random space' Its where I keep all my fave random things..

So what can you see? Here is a photo with everything marked on it..enlarge it for a better view of the text.

Are you noticing that JT sends me the most random and awesome stuff - Dinosaur Erasers?! Awesome, the cats love them.

I could spend forever telling you about every item, but my post would be epic :) So I thought I'd tell you about 2 items..

Lucky Waving Cat card was part of a set gifted to JT by her Husband, she gave me a couple, I sent one to my friend Michelle in Hawaii and she sent it back to me when I moved to NYC. So he is an International card.

The jar of buttons was a 40th birthday gift from Polly, Hubbys best friend. They came in a little bag and there are all sorts of wonderful charms, beads and buttons in there, I thought they should be displayed for a little while and then maybe I'd be ready to use them (shudder).

Hope some of these random things put a smile on your face today :)

Cx

Let's have a Martini...

..or maybe even 2?

This card makes me wish JT was here, she'd drink Martini's with me - Hubby doesn't like them :(

I love today's card! Big talk I know, but it's so fun and I bought the stamp set a while back, but haven't had the perfect card opportunity until now!

It's my entry for My Favourite Things first ever Colour Palette challenge -

They decided to go with MFT colours - Pink, Black and White...

I love the chevron paper that JT and I have from our Thanksgiving craft purchase extravaganza and I think it works well with the stamp. I used my Martinis on Me stamp set by MFT and coloured it with Promarkers and a bit of glitter glue. I die-cut it with a rectangle scalloped die that I bought in Amsterdam in a random shop!

I decided to finish it off with a black button from my stash and some hot pink paper twine.

I have already decided on a recipient for the card..kind of an apology for my tardy response to her letters :(

Hope you are all having a nice weekend, I am in hibernation mode due to the freezing temperature here in NYC.

Cx

Birthday wishes..

Hey there!

After a nightmare day at work yesterday I decided I would make a couple of things to cheer myself up! One of the things I made is a birthday card following the Retro Sketches #94 challenge this week -

I needed to make a birthday card for a friend, who has an early January birthday.

I settled on green as my main colour and then used patterned papers to fit the sketch - a mix from American Crafts and Pink Petticoat. I love these huge flowers by Dovecraft, they are so easy to use, but it has to be the right card for them, as they are so big. Button is also by Dovecraft and the twine and blingy bits are from my stash.

I had a really hard time finding a 'Happy Birthday' that worked in the space for me..I finally settled on the one you see, which is from a free set. I went with it because it has a bit of a combination of elegance and funkiness. A bit like my card I think :)

Oh and finally spot the obvious mistake......the grid paper is not on the card straight?! How did that happen!

Cx

Moving Along With The Times - Girly, But No Pink!

Hi,

Yes it is indeed that time again, how quickly the weeks are flying by now!

Team B are up this week over at the Moving Along With The Times blog and Sarah has given us a great theme of 'Girly, but no Pink!' this week.

I was feeling a bit stuck with this one..then JT sent me a little care package and in it was the lovely black and white chevron paper and voila! Inspiration :)

The layout was also inspired by a card JT had made for me earlier in the year!

Ingredients are -
Yellow spotty paper is by Pink Petticoat.
The black spotty flower and the yellow button are by Dovecraft.
The stamp is by Kaisercraft.
The Candi's are by craftworkcards.
The sentiment and bakers twine are from  my stash.

I love this card, it feels very girly to me, the splash of yellow and the enormous flower make me smile.

Head over to MAWTT and join in the girly fun. The DT makes are impressive and inspiring as always :)

Finally - Happy Thanksgiving to those of you that are in the US. Today Hubby and I are in DTown with JT and her folks, celebrating Turkey Day!

Cx

Happy 18th Birthday Amy-Jo

My gorgeous Goddaughter Amy-Jo turns 18 today, she had a very large birthday party last night, no doubt she is still in bed when I post this :)

I stupidly forgot to take photos of the BEAUTIFUL card I made her - idiot! However I did remember to take photos of the card I made for her Mum to give to her.

I can't explain how happy I am with the card, it came out even better than I could have hoped...I based it on this idea -

As you can see from my main photo, I modified the idea a bit.

I also made the actual card, from individual pieces of card stock (thanks to my friends at Paper Presentation). The die-cut hole for the sentiment was done using the Silhouette.

My ingredients were -
Butterflies = punched by JT for me using her EK Success punch
Camera paper and Pink striped paper = American Crafts
Twine = American Crafts
Button = DCWV
Candi's

Amy is a beautiful, clever girl and I love her to pieces...I want her to achieve lots and lots, I must remember though that whilst this is all possible and will happen, it should happen at her pace not mine or anyone else's....

Happy Birthday!

Cx

A final bow..

..well, for this week at least :)

As you know, this week I have been playing with a Silhouette bow and I decided that one of my ready made bows would work nicely with the FMS Sketch this week..

I seem to be making a lot of Thank You cards at the moment..I think that's because I am working on a big batch of them for OWH.

I used American Crafts washi tape, Kaisercraft textured pink card, a bow cut with the Silhouette portrait, sentiment is by Hero arts..all the other elements are from my stash.

I am very happy with this card - the addition of the button to the bow really makes it a focal point. I am also enjoying this new gem-sequin scattering technique that I am trying out.

Have a great weekend everyone, I am going to see Dr Kevin to help him with the planning for his Christmas Eve party and then I will be packing some craft items for JT and I to play with next week. Can't believe it's less than a week before I see her - AWESOME!!

Cx

Just in time..

All week, I have wanted to enter the Mojo Monday challenge...but time and lack of inspiration just seemed to get in my way.

Here is the sketch -

Finally at around 6pm (in NYC) my inspiration kicked in :)

The main photo is my card - made using American Crafts papers, for the background and the flag strip. The hexagons and the tag were made using DCWV papers, the button is by DCWV too. The sentiment stamp came free with a magazine.

Not a bad effort I think for a close to the wire entry :)

Hope you have had a good Sunday - I've mainly been on Skype and watching football (NFL)

Cx

p.s Big thanks to Hubby for the awesome photo tent, how awesome is this photo despite it being very, very dark in my Craft Room!!

Day off = solo playdate...

So I had the day off on Friday and spent a couple of hours having a solo playdate!

I got through a lot of my November needs (personal birthdays, etc), more 40 for 40 and then decided that it was challenge time.

I stumbled across CAS(E) This Sketch #52 when I was looking at someone else's blog..I love this week's sketch -

I decided it would be fun to combine it with Colour Throwdown #266.

I think my card has turned out pretty sweet - the colours and the sketch go really well together.

How does it all fit?

Old Olive = my backing paper by American Crafts
Close to Cocoa = scallop punch heart (punch by Woodware, paper by American Crafts)
Blushing Bride = button from my stash
Cherry Cobbler = paper twine and glittery strip both from my stash

The sentiment is a bit of a hybrid of Blushing Bride and Cherry Cobbler.

I am pleased that I have just the right person to send this little beauty to!

Today I am off to see an NFL game this afternoon with my neighbour Dr Kevin and the in-laws, unfortunately Hubby has to work :(

Cx