Cute Card Thursday - Mirror Mirror

Woo hoo, today the day I have a guest designer spot on Cute Card Thursday. I love challenges set although I don't always manage to enter them....
The challenge this week is Mirror Mirror - use something shiny

Well it had to be mirri card didn't it although that doesn't always photograph very well - or is it just my photography skills :-(



I used one of my favourite stamps, you may have noticed! Dress Up Maggie, coloured her with my SU! ink pads, Old Olive, So Saffron & oops, can't remember which pink I used! The papers are Basic Gray, Sugared which I've had for a while but not been able to bring myself to cut...
I used my Scalloped Oval & Large Oval punches for the mirror, which Maggie used to make sure she looked absolutely gorgeous and the sentiment, Oval All set.

I have another GD spot on CCT in a couple of weeks time, really looking forward to it.
Am hitting the shops in Southampton today, shame they don't have any craft shops in the town centre.....

I'm back......

Long time no blogging!! Back to work last week and just haven't managed to fit much blogging in.... although I have managed some crafting - more details to follow later.

Thought I would show a few pictures of my craft room looking like a bomb site, one of my tasks for the holidays was to have a sort out and this was the mess before I started! I need to have my craft goodies out on display otherwise I forget what I've got!!



This next photo is after a bit of a sort out, I had so much stash out on the worktop I was running out of space to craft! Ages ago I bought a bar from Ikea to go on the wall to store my SU! punches on, however when Barry went to put in on the wall, he managed to find a spot where there was cabling, plunged the house into darkness and uproar with the children whose games had been interrupted!! The project went on hold for a while until we got a gadget to find out where the cables were and discovered that I couldn't have the bar where I wanted - what a shame, I had to make another trip to Ikea to buy a shorter bar, sadly some more storage jumped into my shopping bag at the same time so I have been having another sort out and it looks even clearer now, will take some pics and post them soon - before it gets messy again...



Here are a few notelets I made a while ago, that I haven't posted yet. They are made from the Playful Petals stamp set from the SU! Mini catalogue - I really love this set. Only available until September, which will be here before you know it.





I was playing with some scraps of patterned paper recently and thought I would jazz up some bulldog clips as they are so boring - here is one before I started playing....



and here they are after a makeover! I made one for each of us in the office at school.



Will be back tomorrow with a card for you.

Catching up on 365 card challenges

Here we are, burning the midnight oil again, got to finish the challenges over at 365 cards this week to be in with a chance to win a Scor It Mini. I had to do the challenges from days 44 - money holder, day 48 - scored pattern and today's challenge which is to make an accordion card.

The picture below is my entry for day 48, if you look closely you can see I have scored double lines at the top of the card and above and below the stamped image, either side of the Old Olive card.



The next 2 photos are for day 44, a money holder. I cut a piece of A4 card to 25cm x 15cm and scored at 10cnm & 20cm leaving 5cm at the end to fold and make a pocket for the money.



Sorry about the photo of the inside, had a couple of vodka & cokes and try as hard as I might I could not get this to photograph without being blurry, it seemed alright on the camera LOL!



The final challenge is todays one to make an accordion card. Really enjoyed making this one, you should have seen the state of my craft room by this time! If I remember I will take a photo before I clear up.....
I used card from stash, stamped from Hero Arts and various ink pads, coloured the images with Marvys - really need to get some copics.....
The paper used here is some I got today, Jules, you will never believe it, I have cut up some of that DCWV paper already!



Here's the inside of the card, I added some paper to the back of the card but forgot to take a photo and as I can hear my bed calling will do it tomorrow - if I remember!



Back tomorrow, see you then.

365 cards challenge Day 43 Gift Card Holder

While browsing the 365 card challenge blog yesterday, I noticed there was a great challenge on Day 43, which was to make a Gift Card Holder. How could I resist the challenge, so following the instructions from Kim's blog I got cracking and made a couple, one for a girl and one for a boy.
It also gave me the opportunity to use up some of my recently rediscovered goodies!



As you can see, my good old Versamark has been in action again, really liking the effect that gives.



Think I might also use these for giving money, although notice that day 44's challenge is to make a money holder, so maybe I'll change my mind once I have had a look at that one!

Oh dear, another late night, had better be off to bed now. Really going to have to get back into 'school' routine soon :-(

365 cards challenge Day 47 Pop Up Cards

As its been such a lovely day today, thought I would take advantage of the sunshine and do a spot of gardening. I shouldn't have sat outside having my lunch then I wouldn't have realised how badly it needed doing!!
Anyway here we are a bit later than the last couple of days, with my entry for 365 card challenge, day 47 which is Pop Up cards.

Here is my card in before it pops up, only just though, as you can see in the photo!



and here it is in the open position. Had to use my Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set again, I just adore this set, yummy scrummy calorie free cupcakes....
I think this style card is really effective and the best thing about it is that it folds flat if you have to post it - you just have to hope the person you are sending it to susses out how to make it pop up without damaging the card!
I coloured the image with my waterbrushes and ink pads as detailed below, and background stamped the base card with a Versamark ink pad.



Recipe
All items from Stampin' Up!
Stamp set - Crazy for Cupcakes
Cardstock - Regal Rose & Confetti White
DSP - Chocolate Chip
Inks - Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Creamy Caramel & Versamark
Ribbon - Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain
Accessories - Scallop Oval & Large Oval punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

CCT & Friday Sketchers challenge

Just got time to leave my entry for CCT & Friday Sketchers challenges this week. Am off out for a meal with a friend any time now so will be back later with details

365 cards challenge Day 46 Matchbook cards

The challenge over at 365 cards today is Matchbook cards - mmmm, wasn't to sure about this one but thought I should give it a go anyway. I am glad I did, as I enjoyed making it and I can see me using this style card again.



I cut an A4 piece of Really Red cardstock in half lengthways, then scored at 5" & 10.75". I background stamped the cardstock with a versamark ink pad using flower stamps from the Simply Said kit. I stamped a white piece of paper with more flower images in Really Red for the insert and attached this to the inside of the card as shown.



The image on the front of the card was stamped in Black onto Whisper White card and watercoloured with Really Red ink from an inkpad, then mounted onto black card. The sentiment is from the same set, stamped in black onto WW card, then mounted onto a scalloped oval punched from Really Red card and pierced on the scallops, you may have noticed I like doing this!!
Card finished off with some black grosgrain ribbon tied around the bottom of the front flap.

Thanks for looking.

Creative Inspirations challenge 3 - Scallops

Two posts in one day, can't remember the last time that happened!
Thought I should have some quality crafting time and catch up on some challenges today, the boys are out, Elle is supposed to be revising - the house is lovely and quiet.

The challenge over at Creative Inspirations this week is scallops, so having several punches with scallops on I thought I would join in this one.



Time to use some of my lovely SU! stash, I love the set I have used here, Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set along with papers from the Sweet Always designer paper set, another favourite of mine. The image was stamped onto Whisper White cardstock with Chocolate Chip ink, coloured in with Creamy Caramel Stampin Pastels. The icing on the cake is paper pieced from scraps, it has a lovely sheen to it, not very clear in the photo but very effective IRL.
I have used my scallop border punch along the right side of the card front and on the Pumpkin Pie mat on the front of the card. Sentiment has been stamped on WW cs in Choc Chip and mounted onto a scalloped oval which has been paper pierced. Do you think there's enough scallops?

Am off out in the garden now, ought to do a bit of pruning while the sun is shining. See you later.

365 cards challenge

The sun is shining, I've got another week off work and my MOJO has found its way home, what more can a girl ask for? Chocolate......there's lot of that around here too at the moment - sure I can solve that little problem!!

I have been looking at the challenges on the 365 card blog for some time now but not yet joined in, so thought I would give the trifold challenge a go today.



I adapted the measurements slightly from that shown on the linked blog, so it would fit in a C6 envelope without looking too small. I am still on a mission to use up my non SU stash, there is just so much off it, discovered loads of stuff I had forgotten about last week in my major stash clear up. I finallly plucked up the courage to use some of my Basic Grey Archaic papers, found co-ordinating cardstock from my card mountain and voila the card base was made. The image is from the Loads of Love and Loads of Love Accessory set from SU! coloured with SU inkpads. The greeting is from the same set, and the tags punched using Tag and Little Tag punches from SU! and ribbon from stash.

Hope you like it, the card is now in a cello bag, in my box to sell, worktops cleared - I'm ready for another challenge now!

Even later.....

OMG where has the last week gone! I've been a really bad blogger lately, but hope to resume normal service very soon.

I was looking forward to the Easter holidays to catch up on crafting, but my MOJO has gone AWOL :-(
I've sorted out my craft room in a bid to find it, but not had any luck! I've turned out cupboards, drawers, wardrobes and a spot of gardening when the sun has been out. Here's hoping that now my chores have been done I can craft, guilt free...

As promised, the first photo is of the swaps I received at team training recently. We also got some lovely goodies from Amanda, a notebook, folder and a test tube which had mini smarties in - needless to say they are no longer - they were calling out to be eaten. I'll try and remember to photograph them (not the smarties!) and post it later.



The next photos show 2 of the projects we made on the day. The first is a gorgeous little gift box, made from one sheet of A4 cardstock, randomly stamped with images from the Playful Petals set using 3 different colour ink pads. The box is kept closed with a strip of coloured cardstock placed round the belly of the box and topped off with another image stamped and layered up.



and here is the box when open - I just love the way it opens up to reveal the gift inside. So simple yet so effective.



Here is another gift box, which would be ideal to use for wedding favours, made from one piece of cardstock 8" x 4", holes punched into the sides using a Crop-a-dile, then tied together with SU grosgrain ribbon. I think I may have a go at making one of these with acetate.

Better late than never! SU training.....

We had SU team training recently and I thought it was about time I showed you the swaps I made. We all make and take cards to swap with each other, I really enjoy this as its great to see what other crafters come up with. Its funny how you can look at a stamp set and not be very inspired by it, then see what someone has made using it and then you just HAVE TO HAVE that set!

I decided to make 3 different swaps, I didn't feel like making 13 of the same type.
The first card is a spring card, I stamped an image from the Cheers to You stamp set onto Whisper White cardstock, coloured with Bold Brights Watercolour Wonder Crayons using Aqua Painters. I trimmed the card and edged with Tempting Turquoise ink. I punched the edge of a square of Rainbow Sherbet paper with the Scalloped Border punch and mounted the cocktail image on the square left in the middle of the paper. I stamped Tempting Turquoise card with the Polka Dot background stamp using Versamark to give a watermark effect and then folded into a spring card and mounted the designer paper and stamped image onto the pop up square.







The next card is a great triangular card, which I saw on another blog recently. I used Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie & Regal Rose cardstock for this card, covered 2 of the sides with from the Sweet Always designer paper pack, I love the colour combination used in this pack. The image on the front is from the Crazy for Cupcakes set, which is a very versatile set, I just love those calorie free cupcakes! The image was stamped onto Confetti White and coloured with corresponding ink pads and Aqua Painters. The greeting is from the new Oval All set and punched out using the Scallop Oval and Large Oval Punches all available from the Mini Catalogue. If you would like to order any of these items please contact me, but remember they are only available between 1st April and 30th September so don't miss out!



The final card is made from A4 Very Vanilla cardstock cut lengthways. One of the stamps from the Summer by the Sea set has been stamped onto Creamy Caramel cardstock with Close to Cocoa ink, coloured with Stampin' Pastels. This is mounted onto Bashful Blue cardstock which has been punched with the Scalloped Border punch along the left edge. The sentiment has been stamped onto the same coloured cardstock and punched out with the Tag and Small Tag punches, a hole punched using the Crop-A-Dile and threaded with Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon and mounted onto the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.



I will be back later to show you the items I received and some of the things we made. Am off to tidy up my craft room, have lost a couple of ink pads, so hoping to unearth those!