Sale-a-bration 65th!

Well it's nearly the end of Sale-a-bration, so if you want to earn free stamp-sets you really will have to get your skates on - with only 12 days left to go!
This card uses the Outlined Occasions set and I have found it particularly useful for men's cards.
This card is for our friend Alan who is 65 tomorrow (you wouldn't have guessed that if I hadn't told you, would you!)
Colour combo is More Mustard, Next to Navy and Cajun Craze with Very Vanilla.
The Just Perfect Alphabet was used for his name and I had to resort to peel offs for the 65 as I couldn't find my Rub offs!
Mmmm I like this!

Another Beautiful Butterfly.

On Saturday I had my monthly Saturday Morning Workshop and one of the projects my ladies made was this beautiful butterfly made with the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die.
This is Chris's (yet another Chris!) and she chose to make hers in tangerine Tango, which is a colour that I haven't used much at all - and I think it's beautiful - well done Chris!.

Simply Soft

This is a card that I made when at Christine's yesterday, using one of the hostess stamp-sets - Simply Soft.
This is a two step stampset - don't look too closely at it, as, even though I used the stamp-a-ma-jig, it's not quite right! I will do this card again as I really like it - and I will take a bit more time to make sure that I get it right.
My crafting ladies love it when I make a mistake - they say it makes them feel better!!
Colour combo here is Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade. The sentiment is stamped on Vellum with a retired stamp-set Wonderful Words.

Maggie's Birthday

Hi everyone. Sorry for the very late posting tonight. Barry and I have just returned from visiting Christine (Stuarts widow)and have spent a couple of hours with her and her daughter.
Earlier today, I went over to Chris's (sis-in-law) for our weekly crafting get-together. The card that we made, I have personalised for my sister Maggie's birthday on Sunday.
I can safely post it tonight as Maggie doesn't do blogging!
The colour combo that I have chosen is Pink Pirouette and Basic Gray with Whisper White.
The stamp-set is that old favourite Vintage Vogue and the initial M is from the Broadsheet Alphabet set. The right hand panel of Pink cardstock is embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. Once again I have used the Textured Impressions Designer frames Embossing Folder to make the frame for the initial, and usual finishing touches of bling - Basic Pearls.

Good luck Lady Captain

I can't find the photo that I was going to post today, so instead you can view the card that I sent to our new Lady Captain who accepted her blazer and the Captaincy on Monday night at the AGM.
You can see that this is not a SU stamp, but its one that I turn to for golfing occasions.
Good Luck Joan, have a fabulous year, and here's hoping that John has a speedy recovery- thinking of you!

Cheryl's Birthday Card

Yesterday was our friend Cheryl's birthday, so as I was on a roll with the Faux mother-of-pearl cards I carried on and made this for her.
The colour combo again is Marina Mist, Basic Gray and Whisper White.
Beau Chateau DSP and Easter Blossoms stamp-set.
The initial C is stamped from the Broadsheet alphabet and usual bling of Basic Rhinestones.
Hope you had a fantastic day yesterday Cheryl!

Sprinkled Expressions Cards

A short time ago we took the dreaded telephone call telling us that our dear friend Stuart has passed away this afternoon round about 1:45 p.m.
As you can imagine, I am not in the least mood to craft , so instead I will post you last Thursday's Craft Class ladies cards.
They were given free reign with the Sprinkled Expressions SAB stamp-set and here are the results.

This is Jan's card - I think it was for her daughter




and this is Sue's card - she wanted to do a card for a man -
think that this is quite suitable

Speedy recovery card for Stuart

Here's the card that I made to hopefully cheer up Stuart and wish him a speedy recovery.
He is certainly not over the worst, as he faces the prospect of open heart surgery, but thankfully he is holding his own at the moment.
This is a card that I have made before, using the Owl punch and the sentiment is from Hopeful Thoughts.

Another Faux M-O-P Card

I enjoyed playing about so much the other day, that today I decided to have another go at this faux mother-of-pearl technique.
This card is for a very dear friend of Barry and myself, whose husband was rushed into hospital yesterday morning with a heart attack. It was uncertain whether or not he would survive the night. Thankfully he has survived the night, but is still critically ill and will need open heart surgery if he can survive the next 5 weeks. This called for a very special card, to let Christine know that we are thinking of her.
Very similar to yesterdays posting, but today the colour combo is Marina Mist and Whisper White with a little bit of Beau Chateau DSP and Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta ribbon - usual bling of Basic Pearls, and stamp-set Easter Blossoms.

Easter Blossoms - Faux Mother of Pearl Technique

Reading Sarah Jane's blog on Thursday reminded me that I have not yet tried out the faux mother of pearl technique, so I googled it and found a video on U Tube that demonstrated it quite well. Then yesterday when Chris came over and later on Lyn joined us, we all had a go at this ourselves and enjoyed a messy time making the backgrounds. Here's my card that I did - inspired by Maria's blog here

Another Beau Chateau

Chris (sis-in-law) has been over today for our weekly crafting get-together and she brought with her a card for me to case.
The Colour Combo that I have used (slightly different to Chris) is Pink Pirouette, Crumbcake, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla.
The stamp-set used is Charming. The ribbon is some retired SU ribbon tied in a Julie bow. 1.1/4" and 1.3/8" circle punches, plus the scallop circle punch used.
Mocha Morning and Beau Chateau DSP used.Textured Impressions Designer frames Embossing Folder used and finishing touches of Basic Rhinestones.

A simple Sympathy Card

I had a phone call yesterday afternoon telling me that our next door neighbour (from our previous house) had died, so today I made this sympathy card for his wife.
These are cards that we all hate doing, but I try to keep them CAS (clean and simple)
I have ink-dusted the background circle in Chocolate Chip, then stamped the tree and the sentiment from Hopeful Thoughts. A few tiny basic pearls finishes it off. I am sure that this will let June know that we are thinking of her at this sad time.

Mothers' Day Easel card

Hi everyone - same style card today as yesterday, but this time with a colour combo of Night of Navy and Pretty in Pink.
Stamp-set used is Creative Elelements and the sentiment is from a retired SU Hostess set - Something to Celebrate.
Navy ribbon from my stash. Basic pearls as the obligatory bling!
Forgot to take the photo earlier, so apologies for rubbish piccie! Artificial light does not do it justice and I haven't got a light box.
Enjoy!

Easter Blossoms Easel Card

Today is day 2 of "ink up a stamp that you haven't used before" - so I thought I would make an Easter card.
I made the easel using the Sizzix die that Lyn has lent me (again)- I do think that it's unusual.
The Stampset used is Easter blossoms and I have stamped it in Basic Grey and coloured the blossoms with Pink Pirouette and Pretty in Pink. The ribbon is some retired SU ribbon that I thought went quite well with this design. A couple of pearls strategically placed on the greeting strip help to make the "Brake" for the easel.
The greeting is from Easter blossoms too.

This is the front view



Here's the arty farty angle side shot

Paisley Petals

What I would like to do over the next few days is ink up stamps/stamp-sets that have never been inked. I am sure that there are many others out there, like myself, who have many, many stamps that have never seen the light of day - never mind an inkpad!!
With that in mind I got out my Paisley Petals stamp-set and attempted (I stress the word attempted) to colour this in using Stampin' Write markers - must find my glasses!!
The card is an extra large Sizzix die that my new friend Lyn has lent me - its called Card, Layered elegant, and I thought that this design went really well with the stamp.
I picked out the Cherry Cobbler and matched the ribbon to it with a very simple bow.
Despite the grotty colouring in, I am quite pleased with the result - and will even have another attempt at this now!

Waterfall Card

Whilst whiling away my time surfing the internet looking for inspiration, I came across a tutorial for a waterfall card with a difference. (Or at least it was different to me!) I had a lovely time making this card, and whilst it's not perfect, I am really pleased with it.
If you fancy having a go the tutorial is here
I used some heavier weight cardstock so that the card would stand up without bending, and cut as per the tutorial.
I stamped the flower from the Faith in Nature stamp-set, along the top edge, front and back, in Soft Suede.
Then I cut around the top edge of the flowers.
Then the fun started- I coloured the flowers in Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Poppy Parade using sponge daubers- this gives a soft muted apprearance.
I then sponged Daffodil Delight underneath the flowers and around the edges of the front panel.
I diecut the M of Mum and stamped the lower case um in Old Olive.
Voila!

This card was quite difficult to photograph as it kept springing open, but here are my efforts




Card fully open


Card fully closed

Liebster Award

The purpose of the award is that each recipient has a small blog (less than 200 followers). They in turn nominate five other recipients, each of whom has a blog with less than 200 followers.
Leibster is from the German and means "dearest" and the award is passed to people who have inspired and motivated others.

Pauline Steward has been kind enough to award me with this, and you can visit her blog here.
http://pauline-paulinemargaret.blogspot.com

Thank you Pauline - I am truly flattered.

The list for my five nominated blogs is as follows, they are all people that inspire and encourage others.

This is my list and I would like to say a sincere thanks to you all.

Sally-Jo Houghton
http://stampin-sally.blogspot.com


Sharon Glynn
http://shari-anne-happycrafter.blogspot.com

Angela Dawes
http://sparklycards.blogspot.com

Alison Plummer
craftyalisoninlyon.blogspot.com

Julie Wade
http://ribbonkisses.blogspot.com

So in your turn, each of you should do these things:

1. Link back to the person who awarded you and thank them.

2. Post the award to your own blog.

3. Give the award to five bloggers (with less than 200 bloggers) you appreciate and value.

4. Leave a comment on each of the five blogs of the five people you nominate to let them know

Another Crimped card

My Craft Class ladies enjoyed making the diamond crimped card the other week and asked if we could do another - so this is what I came up with.

Colour Combo Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White.
I crimped the Whisper White square diagonally in opposite corners and used the Everything Eleanor stamp-set to stamp in the flat area remaining in the middle.
I then stamped the flowers again on a separate piece of Whisper White and then cut them out and shaped them, then stuck them on top of the original ones. I then added some colour with the blender pen and coloured the edges of the flowers with the Frost White shimmer paint. Dazzling diamonds were applied to the centres of the flowers.
Basic rhinestones added (fancy that!)
The sentiment is from a retired hostess set (Something to Celebrate)
Hope that they enjoy making this as much as I did.

Beau Chateau

I have just got back from Chris's (sis-in-law) after spending a few hours crafting with her and her friend Anita. We have had a splendid time and an excellent lunch, followed by delicious cream cake.
Here is the card that I have made (cos Chris's and Anita's were slightly different) - using Beau Chateau DSP, Marina Mist Cardstock and ink, and Charming stampset.
The Textured Impressions Designer frames Embossing Folder was used to emboss the frame and then the flower was stamped and cut to fit inside it.
A slit was made in the frame, and seam binding ribbon was threaded between the frame and the oblong (stamped flower) paper.
A cardstock ribbon was made using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, and a tiny butterfly made with the Beautiful Wings embosslit die A little bow was made to match, with a white brad to fasten, and Basic Pearls put the finishing touches to it.

Katie's 21st

Tomorrow it is my God-daughter (who is also my niece) Katie's 21st birthday.
It makes me feel old - I remember going to the hospital when she was born!
Anyway - forget the remeniscing - over to the card that I have made for her.
I am getting my money's worth out of these Sale-a-bration stampsets - this time it's the Outlined Occasions set that I have featured. (This was the set we used yesterday at Julie's).
The colour combo is the In Colours Assortment 2011-2012 - i.e. Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder and Island Indigo.
I have used the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlits Dies to cut out "Katie" and 21.
The flowers are punched with the Itty Bitty flower punch and the wording is coloured in using In Colour Stampin' Write Markers.
Linen thread is used for the tiny bows, and the usual Basic Rhinestones for flower centres and detail on numbers.
I am safe posting this now as Katie won't read my blog today, but she'll see this tomorrow on Facebook, as well as receiving her card and gift then.
Happy Birthday!!