Welcome to the start of another week . . . .

Morning all,

Welcoming new follower Tracey Thurston, thanks for stopping by, hope you will pop back again soon

I know that nobody enjoys making sympathy cards ... but they are occasionally necessary, so, I find it's better to make some when you don't actually NEED one, then you always have one (or more) on hand when the sad occasion arises. Here's one that I made recently ... whilst it doesn't have the largest amount of white space I would still class it as CAS (Clean And Simple) as it's just one focal image, has white space, minimal layers and embellishment AND I hope it's elegant in its simplicity which (IMHO) makes it suitable as a sympathy card .....

My card

And a closer view of the image

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• 12.7cm square white, 250gsm, card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to 11.5cm square and one piece of black cut to 12.2cm square
• PSX lilies image (K1276 .. can hardly believe that I've had this image since around 1994 and probably haven't used it in ten years!) stamped using Memento tuxedo black
• touch of colour added using Faber Castell polychromos pencils and the lightest touch of stardust stickles
• On the envelope and insert I used Hero Arts sentiment (from set C1342) which I stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Colour Crazy - challenge No. 37 - ANYTHING hand coloured GOES
2. Emerald City Crafts - challenge No. 3 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Addicted to CAS - challenge No. 120 - FLORALS

And then a more cheery birthday card also using stash I've had for AGES, I love the fun border, I think it really lifts the image too - hope you agree

My card

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• 12.7cm square white, 250gsm, card and matching sized envelope
• Three pieces of white card, two cut to 11.5cm square and one to 12.2cm square
• On the smaller card panels (reverse of card and on envelope) Inkadinkado tree image (Utopiary set) stamped using Versafine onyx black ink
• TPC Studio birthday sentiments (from the Cupcakes set) stamped using Ranger Archival paradise teal ink
• On the larger white card TPC Studio border stamped using Ranger Archival paradise teal ink
• Stardust stickles to highlight

I'll be entering the above for the following challenges:-

1. Simply Less Is More - challenge No. 346 - TAKE FLIGHT ... all those birds in the tree!
2. That's Crafty - September 15th challenge - FLY AWAY
3. Jo's Scrap Shack - challenge No. 206 - ANYTHING GOES

And, whilst I was thinking "TREES" I decided to use some NBUS

My ATC

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in both black and white
• Inkadinkado trees (60-31346 Trees) inked using Memento tuxedo black on to white snippet and twice on to full coverage post which I then cut out and used as a mask before inking and stamping again with the mask in place.
• With a second mask in place (to cover the second batch of trees) I applied distress inks in tumbled glass and stormy sky, using a Tim Holtz mini distress tool
• With the masks still in place I stamped the Inkylicious sleigh image (Santa's Sleigh) using Versafine onyx black ink
• With the mask removed I then applied Crafters Companion spray and shine to protect the water based inks
• Stardust stickles to bling up the "snow" on the ground and trees
• Once the image panel had been adhered to the black matting layer I thought it looked a bit bare so ... using the Color Box frost white ink and the Technique Tuesday border (border notions) I stamped the border around the outer edge and BAZINGA!

 

I'll be entering the above ATC for the following challenges:-

1. Pixie's Crafty Workshop - challenge No. 299/300 - USE SNIPPETS
2. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 66 - ANYTHING GOES
3. The Corrosive challenge - challenge No. 9 - ANYTHING GOES

Snippets!

A few nights ago my hubby was out for the evening so I decided to visit with a neighbour. He plainly came home before me as I got this text saying "Beware toad outside dining room window"!!! He wasn't wrong though

Awww

Welcome to my Saturday post ...

Hi there readers,

Hope you've all had a good week. My hospitalised pal has been released back in to the wild, thank heavens and can hopefully now concentrate on getting herself well.

Me? I realised that Christmas is rolling towards me so I've been on a card making kick this past week so, here's another for you - using new stash before it even made it to the drawer - YAY! I bought this image whilst on a traybake foray at The Range - I SWEAR we didn't go in to craft shop but for the traybake and coffee!

My card

And a closer view of the image panel

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• White 12½cm square, 250gsm, card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to 11½cm square and one of red cut to 12cm square
• Hels Cuppleditch image stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour, blended using Sansodor and a paper stump
• Faux crystal gemstones, Anita's 3D gloss and stardust stickles to add bling
• Additionally, on the insert and envelope I stamped the Paper Artsy sentiment (JOFY17) using Memento tuxedo black ink

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:

1. CRAFT - challenge No. 433 - CHRISTMAS
2. The Merry Christmas challenge - challenge No. 34 - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES
3. Crafting with friends - challenge No. 50 extra - ANYTHING GOES
4. Colour Crazy - challenge No. 37 - ANYTHING (hand coloured) GOES

And now ...

My card, DL, for a change!

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

It proved very difficult to capture the ombre - sorry - but,
candied apple is on top and fired brick the lower colour

Materials used:

• Centura Pearl, DL card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to 9½cm x 20cm and 9cm x 19½cm
• One piece of maroon card (Recollections multi pack) cut to 9½cm x 20cm
• Using low tack tape I masked off my shape before applying Distress Inks in fired brick and candied apple (ombre style) using a mini blending tool. Before removing the mask I applied Crafters Companion spray and shine
• Stampers Anonymous (Slideshow CMS263) main and numeric images stamped using Versafine onyx black ink ( I should really have applied the spray and shine AFTER this step as it didn't dry, even with a heat gun so ... nothing for it, a liberal sprinkling of clear embossing powder and heat set - reSULT and actually, I LIKE IT - happy accident!!
• TPC Studio (cupcakes set) sentiments stamped using Ranger Archival sienna ink

I'll be entering this for the following challenges:-

1. Simply Less Is More - challenge No. 346 - TAKE FLIGHT ... looks like my balloon's on its way!
2. That's Crafty - September 15th challenge - FLY AWAY
3. Creative Friday - challenge No. 188 - OMBRE
4. Morgan's ArtWorld - challenge No. 18 - ANYTHING GOES

Welcome to my Friday post

Morning readers,

Hope you've all enjoyed a good week. With Hurricane Irma out of the way we can all sit back and relax a bit ...... other than 70mph winds on Tuesday night where I live, what WAS that all about?

Me? I found some relaxation with some colouring in .... AND it is at least another Christmas card to add to my 2017 quota - YAY! I LOVE this stamp set so .. used two of the days!

My card depicting two of the 12 days of Christmas

And a closer view of the front image panel

A closer view of the insert image

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• 12½cm square white, 250gsm, card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to 11½cm square
• One piece of red card cut to mat with a 1.6mm border
• Penny Black images/sentiments (from the 12 Days of Christmas set) and the Paper Artsy sentiment (from JOFY17) stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour card front and insert images, blending with Sansodor and a paper stump
• Anita's 3D gloss and Stardust stickles to bling up the card and to add shine and texture

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Addicted to Stamps - September 13th challenge - CLEAN AND SIMPLE
2. The Holly and The Ivy - challenge No. 14 - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES
3. Everybody Art - challenge No. 408 - CLEAN AND SIMPLE

And then an ATC using a stamp set I used for the first time last weekend ....

MY ATC

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in orange and white
• Paper Artsy image and sentiment (JM22) stamped using Memento tuxedo black
• Marvy le plume II alcohol marker to colour background
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour image
• MFT Small circle (from Party Patterns) stamped using Memento rosebud and Bahama blue inks
• Stardust stickles and Anita's 3D gloss (for vase) to add bling and texture

Most people who know me know I do NOT cook, let alone bake ... my only excuse is that I was trying to keep busy whilst waiting on news of a pal's operation and to hear from friends in Orlando that all was well ..... LOOK HOW I OCCUPIED THE TIME

Raspberry and coconut traybake, the ones in The Range were so nice I had to have a go
My hubby was, quite frankly, STUNNED into silence!

The pal who had the operation? All went well, thank goodness
And our friends and neighbours in Florida? Relatively minor damage so, again, thank goodness

And lastly, I found out that I made TOP PICK over at the Merry Christmas Challenge, thanks so much peeps, glad you liked it. What was my make? Well, it was my twinkly poinsettia card below.

 

Welcome to my Wednesday post

Morning peeps,

Hope your week is coming along as per plan! I got to meet up with a pal for lunch and a catch up on Monday and, frankly, we had a blast - I have no idea where the day goes but it flashes past in the blink of an eye.

Talking of flashing past, the year is doing likewise and it's time to get serious about Christmas projects! Whilst I was having a rummage I came across this wood mounted beauty, cowering in the back of the drawer and ... just had to ink it. Aren't they ADORABLE? Is it just me or are you all thinking PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR?

My card

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• White 12.7cm square, 250gsm, card with matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to 11.5cm square
• Art Impressions (M3062) penguin image stamped using Versafine onyx black ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pens used to colour
• MFT sentiment (Hand Lettered Holiday) stamped using Memento tuxedo black and Versafine satin red inks ... I also edged the image panel using the red ink
• Stardust stickles used to trace the larger sentiment and highlight here and there
• Anita's 3D gloss on some of the parcels

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Art Impressions - challenge No. 216 - OFF KILTER .. nothing more off kilter than thinking of penguins on sleds!
2. Chrimbo Crackers - challenge No. 140 - HUMOUR
3. Everybody Art - challenge No. 408 - CLEAN AND SIMPLE
4. The Holly and The Ivy - challenge No. 14 - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES
5. A Snowflakes Promise - challenge No. 44 - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES

Yesterday I discovered that one of my ATC's had won a prize over at Happy Little Stampers, thanks peeps

 

And now, since it IS What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, I'll share a pic of the mess that is my workspace. I DO miss entering my desk over at Julia's WOYWW but my wrist won't allow me to make all the necessary comments (as so many people like to visit as many desks as possible) and it's not fair to enter if you don't propose to join in - miss you guys!