The challenges just keep coming .....

Well that's how it feels anyway.  This morning I got a lovely email from Claire Brennan (Waltzingmouse stamps) to say that I had won a refund on the order I put in last week.  Absolutely speechless was I (though in a typing sort of way).  So it is appropriate that the first challenge was CASEing one of the design teams cards from the Grand Calibur party.  The card I chose, an absolute hands down favourite for me, is from Belinda Chang Langner

Just love the subtlety and peacefulness of this card.  Mine however, is not, and lost abit I think,with using too strong a colour in cardstock.  I only have nestie-friendly WM stamps (this is being fixed) so unable to use any of Claire's stamps.

I was aiming for roses on the trellis but it looked 'symmetrical' and dull so opted for a PTI rosebud.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI New Leaf, white, Sweet Blush
Stamps - PTI YOF:  Rose;  Flourishes Tea Rose
Ink - PTI Ripe Avocado;  Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics - YG 11, 13, 15;  R20, 22, 24
Dies - Spellbinders Labels 16;  PTI Double Ended Banners
Gemstones - Kaisercraft


My second card is for Pals Paper Arts #78 featuring bows (love the graphic they have chosen)

Still on the Valentine theme....

Love all those gorgeous heart patterns, couldn't choose between them, so used them all. This bow is one of my favourites as it can be used on masculine cards.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white
Stamps - PTI Heart Prints
Ink - SU Real Red;  Memento Tuxedo Black
Ribbon - SU Melon Mambo dotted grosgrain

2 cards ...... 2 challenges

A quick post tonight as it's later than I anticipated I would be posting ie the Australian Open is on, and I have a few to get through.

Colour Throwdown # 126 - I don't have Marina Mist and not exactly sure whether it is a sky blue or alittle more subdued than that, so opted for a sky blue colour.

I maybe getting slightly closer to a Valentine card for my husband,  pity he has seen it.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Early Espresso, white
DSP - SU Kiwi Kiss
Stamps - PTI Heart Prints
Ink - Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue;  SU Early Espresso, Old Olive
Ribbon -  SU Early Espresso Striped Grosgrain
Pebbles - Candy Dots


Really wanted to have a go at this and it is very last minute.  I am not very familiar with uploading onto Splitcoast but I'll give it a go.

It was such a lovely card from friends in Melbourne and I thought if you didn't look too closely the holly wouldn't be that obvious on an anniversary card, well at least I hope my parents won't care too much

What you need

Cardstock - SU black, real red, white
Stamps - Flourishes Let them eat cake, Fanciful Flourishes (sentiment)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  SU Real Red
Die - Spellbinders Labels 5
Ribbon - SU Real Red
Gemstones - Kaisercraft 

Card Patterns #99 meets CR84FN12

Edited to Add:  This is my choice for the Papertrey Ink 4th Anniversary celebration - pick your favourite design from the past year.  Not sure I will be able to give it away!

Lavender (any shade of purple) really isn't my colour of choice, I think it's just abit too blue for me (difficult to explain).  However I found PTI's Lavender Moon and figured it was the answer to my dilemma.

Continuing with my baby card requirements, this Card Patterns sketch really lent itself to the theme.  I love how my teddy card turned out and will probably make afew in some other colours, to have on hand.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Lavender Moon, Sweet Blush, Kraft, White
Stamps - PTI Baby Button Bits;  Star Prints
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa;  PTI Sweet Blush;  SU Creamy Caramel
Copics - E13, E15
Dies - PTI Medium Scallop;  Spellbinders Circles and Scallops
Crafty Sparkles - Cosmo Crystal
Ribbon - SU Pretty in Pink
Gemstones -  Kaisercraft

Get Sketchy #71

This sketch is just my thing so had to have a go, all framing and simplicity.  As we have a number of imminent baby arrivals, I thought it would be an idea to get ahead.  This also coincides with Verve's Baby Love challenge.

I got to use afew new goodies on this card, the patterned paper, tag die and twisted paper twine I hadn't seen before - very happy with it.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Summer Sunrise, New Leaf, white
Patterned Paper - PTI Bitty Baby Button Bits;  Cristina Re gingham
Stamps - PTI Bitty Baby Button Bits;  Verve Sweet Scallop  Tag
Ink -  Memento Pear Tart;  PTI Orange Zest
Die - Verve Sweet Scallop
Twisted Paper Cord - Annabelle Stamps
Buttons - PTI
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

Waltzingmouse Challenge #31

I discovered this striped vellum at the bottom of my paper drawer and thought it could be useful for this challenge.  The card came together  quite easily after that and I love the pearl flourish.

What you need

Cardstock -  PTI Sweet Blush, white
Stamps - WMS Free Spirit Boy;  Verve flower;  PTI Mat Stack 1 Collection (sentiment)
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa, Tuxedo Black;  SU Pink Pirouette
Vellum - ? Cristina Re
Ribbon - SU
Copics - R20, R22, R24, R29, YR15, YR18
Pearls - Prima

JAI #52

This is my second post for today, scroll down for the January PTI Blog Hop

When I saw this sketch I knew exactly what I would use.  I have had this piece of patterned paper (well actually, it has a sibling in another colour) kicking around for quite some time, a very elegant design that I was sure I would have no trouble using -  why didn't I get more?? Thank goodness I didn't, it just hasn't seemed right for what I want to do .... till now.  As soon as I saw that "bracket" at the bottom I knew its time had come. 

Ta, da!!!!  I had to chop up an entire 12 x 12 sheet to achieve it, what a waste!!  But what was worth it was my husband saying how much he liked it.  Maybe I could use its twin to make him a Valentines card, except it's blue.

And also  Happy Australia Day!!! (back to school tomorrow)

What you need

Cardstock - SU Very Vanilla
Patterned paper - Grant Archival (not sure if that actually means anything or its the company)
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa
Stamps - SU Curly Cute
Pearl Brad Kaisercraft
Dies - PTI Beautiful Blooms 1

January PTI Blog Hop

The January Blog Hop theme is to use a stamp set that may not have seen much ink lately or not seen it at all.  Damask Designs was my first PTI set which has been used alot but mainly as a background, not really as a feature, so I thought I would include these cards in this blog hop.  I made this set for a publication call which I guess we can safely assume wasn't taken up.

What you need

Cardstock - Textured white;  SU white, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive
Stamps - PTI Damask Designs;  SU Elegant Thank you
Ink - Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and markers
Gems - Kaisercraft

But wait ....  there's more ....

Another card!!!!

I am still in search of an appropriate card for my husband,  still too girly I think.  I used the latest sketch from Mojo Monday (175) as my inspiration and finally used Heart Prints, which I finally got at Christmas.  It's hard to see, but I have stamped xoxo on the banner (thought I should put abit more effort into the stamping aspect.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft, white;  SU Early Espresso, Real Red
Patterned Paper - 2008 Bitty Dot Basics
Stamps - PTI Heart Prints
Ink - PTI Pure Poppy; Memento Rich Cocoa
Die - PTI Double Ended Banner
Martha Stewart Lace Tags
Prima flowers
Ribbon - craft supplies
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

OLW - Sentiments

I really need to get the light tent out again - this is WHITE cardstock.  So, sentiments as a feature -  Susan R herself  gave me this idea, to bend clear stamps.  I am still in search of a card for my husband, don't think I have found it, I think he would want alittle more on a handmade card from me (possibly due to the inordinate amount of time I spend card making).

What you need

Cardstock - Kaisercraft
Stamps - PTI Sweet Love
Ink - SU Poppy Parade, Pink Passion

CASE Study #23

My key elements in this card are the colours, yellow/green and black and aspects of the layout.

Hmmmm, not quite the outcome I was expecting, not sure who I would send a black and green thank you card to.  I thought the green would pop on the black but I think it's afew shades too dark. 

What you need

Cardstock - SU black, white;  PTI Ripe Avocado
Patterned Paper - PTI Everyday Blessings, Inside and Out:  Thank You
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  SU Old Olive
Dies - Spellbinders Circles, Labels 3
Ribbon - PTI
Flowers - Prima
Gemstones - Craft Supplies;  Kaisercraft

PPA77 and CTD #125

NOTE:  This is my second post for today, and the sketch is just not playing ball.



Layered cards like this don't come easily to me (framing far more my comfort zone), but I have had alittle practice while using Niki Estes as my inspiration.  Nor is this very pastel colour palette.  I don't have Blushing Bride so used PIT Sweet Blush.  I thought later this would have looked good on Shimmer Pink cardstock.  Next time.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Sweet Blush, Kraft;  SU Pear Pizzazz

Patterned Paper - Cristina Re gingham;  PTI Pink Patterns

Embossing Folder - SU Manhattan Flower

Die - SU Little Leaves Sizzlits

Flower - Prima

Ribbon - ? Maya Road

Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa

Stamp - PTI Damask Designs

Gemstones - Kaisercraft

Summer Colours

Such lovely fresh colours, pity I didn't have 2 of them.  Oh well.  This is the first Mojo Monday and ColourQ challenge I have participated in, and look forward to taking part more often. I had to substitute Pear Pizzazz for Always Artichoke and only had Cherry Cobbler cardstock (sure I had the ink).

What you need

Cardstock - SU So Saffron,  Poppy Parade, Cherry Cobbler, white
DSP - So Saffron
Stamps - Verve Dream Big, Artful Elegance
Ink -  Memento Rich Cocoa;  SU Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz
Ribbon - SU Pear Pizzazz
Gemstones - Kaisercraft
Brads - Craft Supplies
Dies - Spellbinders Large Circles, Lacey Circles

Card Patterns #98

Not absolutely sure what was going on in my head this afternoon, hadn't intended to do this challenge with these colours but perhaps things turn out for a reason.  My husband had knee surgery this week, things didn't go quite to plan, in that the surgeon had a few more things to take care of.  Consequently rehab will take much longer than planned (what was I thinking that this would be straight forward!!).  My daughter has been a wonderful help and she is back to school next week which brings in another raft of tasks.

Anyway,  this is a very striking sketch, so it required striking colours (can't seem to get the image to load).  And, being true to my vow to make a big dent in my patterned paper cache, used PTI Raspberry Fizz.

What you need

Cardstock - SU black;  ? Canson gold
Patterned Paper - PTI Raspberry Fizz
Stamps - PTI Mega Mixed Messages
Dies - Spellbinders Large Circles, Lacey Circles
Ink - PTI Fresh Snow
Embellishment - Melissa Frances
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

Finally ... some sunshine

It's a beautiful morning in Brisbane, after the awful weather of the past few weeks.  While this city cleans up (thanks to the thousands of volunteers who have helped those affected), floods have spread to Victoria where my family is from, we could really do with a dry-out.

This card is for a combined challenge that I was abit slow getting around to but really wanted to have a go.

I took a bit of licence with the CAS #124 layout, I may have another go at it because it is a lovely sketch.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft;  SU white, Early Espresso
Patterned paper - Doodlebut Ladybug Serenade
Embossing Folder - Provocraft Houndstooth
Die and Stamps - MFT Textile Rectangles
Ink - SU Real Red, Early Espresso
Ribbon - PTI Dark Chocolate
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

CAS #123

Nice to be back in the swing with CAS challenges.  I have been doing ALOT of stitching on cards a la Niki Estes (great inspiration) so it had to appear on a creation of my own.  Alittle labor intensive as I don't have a sewing machine (of the automated kind) but I found it very therapeutic.  Also, on my quest to use my patterned paper, alittle bit more has been added to a card.

Apologies for the photography, light at the moment is alittle unpredicatable

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft, white
Patterned paper - Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie
Stamps - PTI Sweet Love
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa;  SU Choc Chip, Real Red
Bookprint
Gemstones - Kaisercraft
Dark brown DMC embroidery cotton

Waltzing Mouse Challenge - Valentine

This is my first Waltzing Mouse Challenge (hopefully the first of many), but I have been watching and admiring for along time.  Unfortunately I don't have a set (limited at this point but determined to fix this problem) remotely resembling a valentine set. So, with this in mind I used the half scallop from Vintage Labels 10.

What you need

Carstock - PTI white;  SU Real Red
Stamps - Waltzing Mouse Vintage Labels 10;  PTI Heart Prints
Ink - SU Rose Red; Versa Colour Opera Pink;  Memento Tuxedo Black
Die - Spellbinders Labels 10;  Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
Ribbon - SU grosgrain Real Red
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

OLW #35 - Yellow

Most of Queensland is in the grip of the most awful flooding and we are looking at issues at our own back door - literally!  No work for most people and thankfully our daughter is safely at my parents place but we are flooded in.  Still there are many people far worse off than ourselves, most particularly the population of the Darling Downs going through the most horrific flash flooding on Monday night.

Anyway a cheerful card is in order - I am hoping that yellow-green counts as a shade of yellow for this challenge.  It would have looked abit dead with yellow leaves.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white
Stamps - Flourishes Fushias
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics

CAS #122

My goodness, where did 2010 go!!  It has taken quite a while for me to get back into the swing of card making after our Christmas holiday in Hawaii (read impetus to do anything), except surf my favourite blogs and see how creative everyone else has been.  But Michelle inspired me last night as she made her first foray into Challenge-Land and today is a very good craft day - heavy rain (what's different from the past month) and windy.  So along with is card, I have made a couple of cards heavily inspired by Niki Estes, which use Cosmo Cricket papers (I am trying to make use of my large collection of patterned paper and not buy anymore - HA!).

One of the challenges Flourishes is running is "Recycling Christmas", so with that in mind and a stack of Christmas cards still hanging around, I thought I would use the idea for this challenge (not sure whether this will be the one for Flourishes as there isn't an ounce of stamping on it).  The snowflakes were punched and glittered though.

What you need (not alot!)

Cardstock - PTI white
Used Christmas cards
Crafty Sparkles - Cosmo Crystal

I don't plan to post anything else Christmas-y so I thought I would share with you the cards I made for my family, something homemade as we were so far from home (sniff...).  The first, fairly obviously was for my daughter ...

Love the Pure Innocence stamps from My Favourite Things, gives me a chance to exercise my Copic investment.  I put floc on her hat, muff and boots and am so glad it didn't rub off in transit.

I couldn't believe my luck when I found this stamp at Darkroom Door - most particularly it is a Triumph (my husband's favourite brand).  I also picked up a couple of distress inks in the hope of getting to know this technique a little better.