Monday - here comes another week!

Morning readers,

Hope you've had a great weekend and that the weather didn't interfere with your plans, take care everyone.

I've a make to share with you today ... a little Artist Trading Card but (unusually for me) using a coloured background. I wasn't sure how the green pencil would come out on the black card so I coloured with white first - seemed to work!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippet of black card to fit my ATC blank
• Using Versamark embossing ink I stamped the Crafty Roo image ("Celia full bloom") before sprinkling with gold embossing powder and heat setting
• I used Faber Castell polychromos pencils to colour my image
• MFT sentiment (from CS.74) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• I fussy cut the sentiment and adhered to my ATC using dimensional foam pads ... cut in half to make them fit!

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

1. Kleuren met Potloden - August challenge - ANYTHING GOES (hand coloured with pencils)
2. Snippets Playground - challenge No. 539 - USE SNIPPETS
3. The Little Things - challenge No. 07 - ANYTHING GOES
4. As You Like It - August 13th challenge - FAVE COLOURING MEDIUM and WHY! I love using pencils, I find blending from one colour to another so much easier - that and I'm rubbish with water colours!
5. Beautiful Blossoms - challenge No. 44 - ANYTHING FLORAL GOES + (optional) MOOD BOARD

Saturday - that makes it the weekend! Woo Hoo!

Morning readers,

Happy weekend! Hope you have some nice plans.

I've a make to share with you today ... Whilst still CAS-ish, it does have a couple of layers and some designer paper but .... still happy with it!

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and red, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippets of card in Funky Fossil designer paper, black, red and white
• Penny Black image (3138D "Gentle Gaze") and CRASPIRE sentiment (from DIY WHO-167-57-0250) both stamped on to white snippets using Versafine Clair nocturne ink.
• WRMK nesting rectangle die used to cut my image in to a rectangle before matting on black and then red card which I cut using scissors
• I fussy cut the CRASPIRE sentiment using scissors and then adhered to my card using dimensional foam pads (which I had to cut in half widthwise, to make them fit!)
• Stardust stickles to add some sparkle to the bloom and vase

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

1. Addicted to Stamps - challenge No. 523 - BIRTHDAY
2. Seize the Birthday - challenge No. 332 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) FUNNY / PUNNY
3. Paper-Rocks-Scissors - challenge No. 19 - USE PAPER AND/OR SCISSORS
4. Ellibelles Garden Party - challenge No. 18 - ANYTHING IN OR FROM THE GARDEN
5. Time Out - challenge No. 319 - PICK AT LEAST TWO ... I went with CAS, FLORAL and BIRTHDAY

I was a lucky winner over at Starstampz for their challenge No. 83 - thanks peeps, appreciate it.

I was also a "Birthday honour" pick over at Seize the Birthday, thank you so much. Since both of these featured cards include the dots/grids and same colour scheme .. I was, obviously, in my red and grey abstract period!! Todays card (at the top of this post) also features red but with only black as the other colour!

TGIF peeps, the weekend is close!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... I recently acquired a stamp from Paper Artsy and set out to make a card with it ...

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and red, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippet of card for my heart image
• Paper Artsy heart image (from JM90 - May 2026 - NBUS) stamped once on to my card front and a second time on to my white snippet, using Versafine Clair nocturne ink.
• Paper Artsy "Christmas" (also from JM90 - May 2026 - NBUS) stamped using Versafine Clair strawberry ink
• Once dry, I fussy cut out my heart/sentiment, with scissors, and coloured it using Faber Castell polychromos pencils
• MFT splatter (from CS.97) stamped using Versafine Clair strawberry ink
• On the inside of the card and on the envelope I stamped the Uniko Sentiment ("Christmas wishes") using Versafine Clair strawberry ink
• Stardust stickles, to add some festive sparkle to the snowflake and star on the heart

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

1. Kleuren met Potloden - August challenge - ANYTHING GOES (using coloured pencils)
2. NBUS - challenge No. 89 - USE NBUS
3. Paper-Rocks-Scissors - challenge No. 19 - USE PAPER AND/OR SCISSORS
4. Holly and Ivy - challenge No. 209 - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES
5. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 833 - CHRISTMAS

I was a lucky winner at Kleuren met Potloden for their July challenge, I am so appreciative

Wednesday, here we are at that awkward mid week moment!

Morning readers,

Will you be watching the solar eclipse this evening? Please watch safely and enjoy the experience - last chance till 2081 apparently!

I've a make to share with you today ... whilst it didn't start out this way, this make was Quick, Clean, Simple and Monochrome! Well, monochrome except for the bright green matting layer, that is!

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and lime green, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Stampers Anonymous bird/zigzag/sentiment (all were from THMM182) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Stardust stickles to add some sparkle to the zig zag and to give the bird an eye

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

1. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2632 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Creative Aunts - challenge No. 116 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 283 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Triple B - August challenge -  BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES & BLOOMS + (optional) MOOD BOARD
5. SoSS - challenge No. 277 - ANIMALS (here's hoping birds count)

Monday - have a great week

Morning readers,

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend and the warm sunny weather.

I've a make to share with you today ... it's been a while since I used this dog/cat stamp set and also since I inked the Memory Box stencil too - this card is a general purpose theme with the simple "Happy thoughts" and low key colour scheme

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and lime green, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Stampers Anonymous dog image (from CMS272 "mini cats and dogs) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink - including on to a full coverage adhesive post-it which was then fussy cut out and used as a mask
• Stampers Anonymous sentiment (from THMM182) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• With my doggy mask in place and using a makeup brush and Brilliance pearlescent thyme ink, I applied colour through my Memory Box grid stencil (88517)
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour my pooch
• Anita's dimensional gloss for the pooches eyes
• Stardust stickles to add some sparkle

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

1. Kleuren met potloden - August challenge - ANYTHING GOES (using coloured pencils)
2. Stencil Fun - August challenge - ANYTHING STENCILLED GOES + (optional) CAS STYLE
3. Critter Crazy - challenge No. 113 - ANYTHING GOES (featuring a critter)
4. Creative Aunts - challenge No. 116 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 283 - ANYTHING GOES

Hubby and I had a couple of days away, trying to see more of the UK before the weather changes, abruptly, from Florida style weather to British winter!!! The forecast was for 19° - 21° over the course of our break and I have to say, this was most welcome after the 30° - 37° of late!

Ludlow Castle

Ludlow Market Square

The Rose and Crown, apparently, the oldest pub in Ludlow

The Parish Church of St. Lawrence

The local brewery, which we found after three consecutive trains to Shrewsbury were cancelled and we lost the will to wait any longer!!!

Shrewsbury - we tried again, this time by car!

Wednesday ... mid week!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... a wedding card commission for SD#2, as she was off to a wedding last weekend and wanted a card featuring hearts along with the initials of the happy couple. I don't often use a square card blank but I wanted to use this heart of hearts stencil and, frankly, it was too big for my preferred card size. Came out pretty much monochrome too!

The card front and the insert

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, 6" x 6" square card and envelope
• Card in white and cream pearl, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippet of white card for my "Always and Forever" sentiment
• Unbranded heart of hearts stencil, taped in place and, using a mini blender and domed foam pad, I applied Versafine Clair strawberry ink for the outline hearts
• Inkadinkado "R" alphabet (from 99107) stamped using Versafine Clair strawberry ink
• CRASPIRE sentiment (from WHO167-57-0256) stamped on to a white snippet, using Versafine Clair strawberry ink and then cut out - edging with a red alcohol marker so the white base didn't show
• On the insert/back of card and the envelope I stamped the CraftyRoo sentiment (from "Happy Wedding" - December 2024 yet still NBUS) using the Versafine Clair strawberry ink
• Finally, a light touch of stardust stickles to the R & R to give some celebratory sparkle and - DONE!

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

1. NBUS - challenge No. 89 - USE NBUS
2. Make My Monday - challenge No. 283 - WEDDING/LOVE WISHES
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2631 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Stencil Fun - August challenge - USE A STENCIL + (optional) CAS STYLE
5. Crafting Happiness - August challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) BACK TO SCHOOL

I was a lucky top pick over at Paper Rocks Scissors this week, thanks peeps, I really do appreciate it.

Monday again - have a great week

Morning readers,

Hope you enjoyed your weekend and that the weather was kind to you

I've a make to share with you today ... I've had need of YET another sympathy card, that's four in less than two months. This one was selected to be Quick, Clean And Simple.

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and black, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippet of white card, for my sentiment panel
• Sizzix thinlits die (from 660220) used to die cut my card front panel
• CRASPIRE sentiment (WHO167-57-0250 - July 2026 - NBUS) stamped on to a white snippet, using Versafine Clair nocturne ink and cut out (with scissors) leaving a narrow white border and attached using dimensional foam pads

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

1. NBUS - challenge No. 89 - USE NBUS
2. Paper Rocks Scissors - challenge No. 19 - ANYTHING GOES - but MUST use paper and/or scissors
3. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 327 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 8 - ANYTHING GOES
5. AAA Cards - challenge No. 20 - SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH "S" - in this case, SYMPATHY

I always TRY to use new craft goodies when they arrive, this plan sometimes works well and sometimes not! Darnell does her best to help out by running the fab NBUS challenge blog which is designed to encourage us to use our new stash, she recently ran a "Mutual Appreciation Challenge" and I was one of the lucky winners, winning a prize from Alex Syberia Designs, and I'm looking forward to receiving details of my prize - thank you Darnell and Alex Syberia Designs

Great afternoon and evening with the Surrogate family, meeting at 'Spoons and then Rosa Thai - delicious!