An afternoon's hard work !?! ....

 Not really....  it was nice to have the time to catch up on a few colour schemes and sketches that didn't happen late last month.  Like this one ..

Now Vintage/Shabby Chic isn't in my comfort zone and as I have said before, I am very jealous of those who achieve it so effortlessly.  Not sure why I opted for brown tones, except that it is easier for me to get that vintage look with these hues.  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI rustic white, cream;  BB dark brown

Patterned paper - MME Miss Caroline Howdy Doody

Stamps - HA Pattern Hearts and Flowers, Large Flower Background, Year Round Sentiments, Newspaper Background

Ink - SU Early Espresso, Crumb Cake;  Memento Rich Cocoa;  PTI Chai

Dies - MFT Jumbo Fishtail Flags;  SB Classic Circles

Copics - R11, R12, R14, R22

Gems - Kaisercraft

Dark brown ribbon

*****

I CANNOT resist a pink and green colour combination.  It is my all time favourite and again a sketch from the recent past

On the whole, I really like the new SU colours (not sure about Summer Starburst but I guess it will have its uses).  The new pinks I particularly like, but the jury is still out in the Jones craftroom on the stamp pad itself.  Either it takes a bit to get ink on the stamp or it's far too moist.  Still, I am probably in the very small minority on this matter.

What you need

Cardstock - SU white, Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Regal Rose

Stamps - TE Make it Amazing

Ink - SU Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Early Espresso

Dies - PTI Zig Zag;  SB Deckled Rectangles, Classic Rectangles

Gems - Kiasercraft

*****

Now this sketch stumped me for a while, how to cut those rectangles.  I used MFT Fishtail Flags off the end of my Bigshot and it worked a treat.  Not much more to say really ....

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black

DSP - SU Brights Collection

Stamps - PTI Inside and Out:  Thank you

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Embossing Folder - Sizzix Dots and Flowers set

Die - MFT Fishtail Flags

Gems - Kaisercraft

******

OK for my final card for this Sunday before I put the finishing touches to our lamb roast for dinner (my favourite).  I really wanted to have a crack at this colour scheme, very intriguing.  Couldn't find my So Saffron inkpad but remembered this VERY old DSP.  Again this sketch was from a few weeks ago but I just love the simplicity of it.  Night of Navy has always been my favourite "navy" but this new one has a bit more black in it and I love it.

 What you need
Cardstock - PTI white, Midnight Muse
DSP - SU So Saffron
Stamps - The Craft's Meow Timeless Tags
Ink - SU Midnight Muse
Die - MFT Fishtail Flags
Brads - SU

That's it for today.  My daughter is still unwell, listless and a very sore throat, not sure if she will make it to school, though she tells me she has to be there for Maths - maybe we are getting through on that front.

Finishing up from the weekend

Waltzingmouse #100 and Dynamic Duos #5

Time does go fast and already we are at the 100th Waltzingmouse challenge.  For this card I have restamped the label afew times to get a layered effect and very happy with the result.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

DSP - SU First Edition

Stamps - WMS Vintage Labels 18, Pic Nic Patterns, Cameos to Go (sentiment)

Ink - SU Real Red, Island Indigo;  Memento Tuxedo Black

Die - PTI Medium Scallop

Ribbon - Su Real Red grosgrain

Gems - Kaisercraft

******

Retro Sketches #14 and Play Date Cafe #134

I thought I might not get the chance to finish my card for these challenges but a bit of unexpected time at home waiting for tradesmen allowed me to finish them.  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft

Stamps - Paper Smooches Hip to be Square;  WMS Asian Gardens (sentiment)

Ink - SU Poppy Parade;  Memento Rich Cocoa

Flowers and Gems - Kaisercraft

Brad - ?

Diamond Stickles

*******

And finally, not sure if I will enter this one for Just us Girls, it is possibly a bit too simple but in my latest mania to use my quite large collection of  12 x 12 patterned paper, I have used some glittery paper.   This could be for my father or husband, whichever is more in touch with their feminine side.

What you need
Cardstock - SU Early Espresso, Vanilla; vellum
Patterned paper - Chatterbox Fine Tinsel paper  in chocolate
Stamp - PTI Think Big Favourites
Ink - Versamark
Glitter - SU

Tuesday Trigger and CFC #52

My final Mother's Day card is for my daughter to give my mother.  Don't know how she feels about gold birds but I was really trying to capture the gold spots on the dress.  I have inked the background stamp with gold Smooch which I had to go over once stamped as it was a bit uneven.  

What you need
Cardstock - SU vanilla
Stamps - Annabelle Stamps Backgrounds by Design 2;  Verve Because of You
Gold Smooch
Ink - SU Early Espresso
Die - SB Romantic Rectangles
Bird Punch - SU

Sunday Cards

The idea I had for this challenge was a Mother's Day card for my Mum, but it evolved into this pretty number.  Reasonably classic, very CAS but not for my mum next Sunday.

What you need

Cardstock - SU grey, white

Stamps - Verve Great Friend, Because of You

Ink - SU Pretty in Pink, Pool Party

Gems - Kaisercraft

*****

It seems there are birthdays going on everywhere at the moment.  This one is for my brother-in-law, the celebration was today but not sure exactly when the big day is.  It is very hard to see the glittery "50", as my camera is basic and doesn't take the best photos, but it looks very effective in real life.  

As it is Simon Says Stamps 3rd birthday as well I will enter it for that challenge as well

What you need

Cardstock - BB black; cardboard

Patterned paper - SU Mocha Morning;  Doodlebug glitter Lily White

Dies - PTI Wonderful Words, lower case letters, numbers

Other - Kindyglitz (black);  Darice black glitter

Two for ... er ... Sunday

I don't have many Easter stamps, as we don't give Easter cards.  So the one stamp set I do have gets rather a hammering.  

The fridge is full of Lindt chocolate bunnies, or maybe they are multiplying in there.  Alot of it seems to have come back from Melbourne, a surprise that it survived a 2 hour plane trip.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft

Patterned paper - PTI Men of Life

Stamps  - WMS Spring Baskets

Ink - SU Early Espresso (and marker), Poppy Parade

Gems - Kaisercraft

********

These are such lovely fresh colours and this card came together surprisingly easily as well.  The peony images from the PTI anniversary set are just so versatile and a pleasure to use.

What you need
Cardstock - SU So Saffron, Peach Parfait, white
Stamps - PTI Pretty Peonies
Ink - SU Peach Parfait,  Early Espresso;  Memento Angel Pink
Ribbon - SU taffeta
Pearls - Kaisercraft

CAS-ual Fridays #46

My tune - "Je t'aime ... Moi non plus"

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg

I was going to use "Happy Birthday" by Scottish band Altered Images,  which appealed strongly to my 80's dominated musical taste, but it probably wouldn't show alot of imagination.  Then I spotted this WMS stamp and thought of the very seductive french 60's number

Unfortunately it is a little hard to see the ink on the card, I was trying to clear emboss it  but still way too pale.  It looks really pretty and delicate in real life.

What you need

Cardstock - Hero Hues (Pool). SU white

Stamps - WMS Florentine Frippery, French Country

Ink -  SU Real Red, Pool Party

Gems - Kaisercraft

CAS-ual Fridays #44

CFC44:  It's as Easy as 1-2-3  Create a Clean And Simple project using 
1. A Pattern
2.  An Image
3.  A Sentiment

This challenge sounded like fun to me, I have layered the frame from the Mat Stack Collection (a bit too much cutting for a Saturday morning) and used one of my favourite silhouettes from Simply Jane.  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Stamps - PTI Pretty Peonies, Mat Stack 5 Collection, Simply Jane

Ink - SU Pool Party, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso

Ribbon - PTI Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy

Pearls - Kaisercraft

CAS-ual Fridays #42

Had to put in a submission for this one as I have been making afew baby cards lately.  One of the Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients kits had a selection of one of my favourite patterned paper companies - October Afternoon.  This is from Campfire but couldn't for the life of me, work out what to do with this pattern, till I dreamt this one up.

I really like this - can be used for a little boy or girl (which it will be).  And of course it is in one of my favourite colours - Navy.

What you need

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Navy; SU Very Vanilla, More Mustard

Patterned Paper - OA Star Gazing

Stamps - PTI Baby Button Bits, Star Prints

Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa;  SU Night of Navy

Marker - SU Pumpkin Pie

Die - Spellbinders

Krafty Christmasy CAS-ual Friday #30

Decisions, Decisions!  I have gone with Scallops - Kraft - Aqua, though I have inadvertently added polka dot ribbon (my mind really must be going).   With the Christmas theme I can also enter it into the Kraft Journal challenge and Jay-Gee's challenge # 14 (also get to post her divine graphic).

It is hard to see but I have stamped text on the card base, then sponged the edge of the top card, looks pretty I think.  The stamps are  2 lovely sets from Wplus9, though our Christmases are not wintery but definitely warm.

What you need
Cardstock - PTI Kraft, Aqua Mist, white
Stamps - PTI Text Style;  Wplus9 Christmas Wishes, Winter Wishes
Ink - PTI Fresh Snow; SU Real Red, Pool Party, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Die - Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangles
Ribbon - Vandoros
Gems - Kaisercraft

CASE Study - your own style

My Style:  I think it is fairly clean, very much a "framer", and don't mind a bit of bling (rarely absent from my cards).  This is one of my favourite colour combinations, classic and abit bold.  The only problem is, there is no stamping, definitely not my USUAL style.

It also happens to fit in with another challenge using stickers, don't have alot of them and guess where I found it - in the forgotten box (that has really saved me this weekend).

What you need
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics black, hot pink;  SU white
Patterned Paper - PTI Raspberry Fizz Mix
Sticker - Cristina Re
Gems - Prima

This must be a record ...

3 challenges with 1 card - don't think I have attempted that before.  I originally coloured these tulips for the recent Sweet Stop challenge, but would have had to cut it down to fit on the card, which wasn't going to happen.  So when I saw the colours for Play Date Cafe, I was delighted I would be able to use it.

There maybe afew more posts today as it is a dreary old Sunday in Brisbane - perfect for cardmaking.

What you need
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Navy; PTI New Leaf;  SU white;  X-press-It Blending Card
Stamps - PTI Friendship Jar Spring Fillers;  Wplus9 Backgrounds 2, Filligreed Frames
Ink - SU Night of Navy;  Versacolor Fresh Green;  Versamark
Copics - YG11, 13, 17;  RV29, 32, 55
Embossing Powder - Superior Filigree white
Ribbon - SU Pretty in Pink satin
Brads - SU