OLW #102

Well, it has certainly been a while since I played along with this one, though I haven't played along with many challenges recently but this really caught my eye.  Over at Ardyth's blog the "subject" is well,  your favourite school subject.

Hands down, in Grade 11 and 12 it was Modern History, I loved learning about the incidents leading up to the world wars (seems we never learn) and more recent South African and American political history.  But my problem is that this subject doesn't really translate well into stamps - not mine anyway. So running a very close second was English, studying books that I still really love - Gone with the Wind (SOOOOO much better than the movie), To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre but the stand out, of course was Pride and Prejudice.  Oh swoon!  It is the only book I have read twice (don't do reruns of anything very well) and the BBC TV series that came out in the early 80's (not the Colin Firth one) was hot romantic stuff for 16 year olds as we were.

So, with that background here is my card

What you need

Cardstock - Neenah solar white

Stamps  - PTI Simply Jane

Ink -  Memento Tuxedo Black, London Fog

Die - Spellbinders Small Labels

One of the best lines in the book, and delivered with such arrogance - DIVINE!  It is the first time I have tried embossing with dies and I love the effect, so elegant, if a little difficult to see in the photo.  I had bought some Neenah cardstock a while ago but hadn't got to using it - it does stamp beautifully.

To finish with here is something I found on Pinterest a while ago,  I have no idea whose board it came from but so appropriate for this post.

A couple of weekend challenges...

I don't usually get the opportunity to do Mojo Monday sketches but really wanted to remedy that and pull out my sadly neglected Verve stamps which I love.   So I paired it with this very challenging colour scheme from ColourQ.  Here are the results

Bordering Blue isn't a favourite of mine, in fact, not really sure I have the right colour as I have possibly given it away.  Very happy with the results, given the unusual combination.


What you need
Cardstock - PTI white, terracotta tile, scarlet jewel;  SU Bordering Blue
Stamps - Wplus9 Backgrounds 2;  Verve Floral Symphony, Dream Big
Ink - Memento London Fog, Tuxedo Black;  SU Bashful Blue
Martha Stewart butterfly punch
Dies - Spellbinders small circles and scalloped circles
Gemstones - Kaisercraft, MME Lush


Now, for my second challenge, this weeks Tuesday Trigger

There are quite afew challenges with this colour scheme, and it is so lovely and fresh.  Here is my take on it which I am pleased with.

What you need
Cardstock - PTI white
Stamps - Wplus9 Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions;  PTI Sending You, Floral Fusion
Ink - Memento Pear Tart, Cantaloupe, Lady Bug, Tangelo;  SU Tempting Turquoise
Gemstones - Kaisercraft
Copic Multiliner


And finally, card No. 3 for One Layer Wednesday #58.  This challenge was to use yellow, orange and aqua.

I have been waiting to use this lovely stamp set, I resisted bird cages till I saw this set.  More Copic colouring practice, YAY!!


What you need
Cardstock - PTI white
Stamps - My Cute Stamps - Elegant Birds
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

One Layer Wednesday #54

This week's challenge was to take inspiration from 'Cake Wrecks', specifically cakes for a baby's arrival, christening or some other occasion.  This is a truly amazing site if you have a chance to browse.

This one was my choice to case.

The detail in the buttons is fantastic, and as I had button stamps that still hadn't been inked, this was the perfect opportunity.

You can tell which were the rubber stamps as they are off line and I am too lazy to get out me stamp-a-ma-jig.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Stamps - PTI Button Boutique;  SU Button Button;  WMS Fancy Phrases

Ink - Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid, Sky Blue, Sunflower Yellow, Purple

OLW #48

Edited to Add:  As suggested by Katina, this also fits into the latest "Less is More" challenge, where the sentiment takes centre stage.

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/

The Brief:  A Sympathy card that doesn't use flowers or trees.

I have just noticed that this image does have leaves....sorry, an oversight.  This card design is an adaptation of one that I have done many times for people though usually 2 layers on navy cardstock (love that stuff).  Fairly happy with the result on 1 layer.

What you need
Cardstock - SU white
Stamps - SU Baroque Motifs;  My Sentiments Exactly
Ink and Marker - SU Night of Navy
Pearls - Kaisercraft

OLW #46

The challenge this week was to add eggs ...... but when I started this card, I didn't have any stamps with eggs on them!!  How did this happen.  But fortune was smiling on me today (well in 1 respect anyway) when the mailman came today he brought with him my Waltzing Mouse order  which included egg stamps.    However in my enthusiasm to colour I made a complete mess of the shading so only the bin gets to see that one.

So, this is what we have ended up with.  Not eggs but think alittle laterally, they could be.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Stamps - MFT A box of Love;  PTI Mega Mixed Messages

Ink - SU Rose Red;  Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics - Various

Now for  some gratuitous animal photos.  As I have probably mentioned we have a rescue dog with us at the moment.  We are on trial to see if she is happy here, needless to say my husband and daughter are in canine heaven.  Billie is a 2 year old goldie collie cross who has had a pretty tough life and if we could just fix the weeing on the rug problem and the barking at other dogs problem we would have the perfect pooch.  Mind you she is a dream compared to our 5 month old Ragdoll cat who is prone to a few psychotic moments throughout the day.

With Charlie the Cat on their first day together (and the infamous toilet rug).

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

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

One Layer Wednesday # 23

Metal ? ..... One Layer ...... hmm, interesting.  I think my mind was in planning mode on Friday night,  a couple of challenge cards came together remarkably easily when I put pen to paper.  The idea for this was fairy lights at a birthday party, and though you can't see it, the white brads are sparkly! 

What you need

Card stock - PTI Kraft
Stamps - SU All Scallops;  Stamp It Happy Birthday Script
Ink - SU Real Red;  Memento Tuxedo Black
Brads - ? American Crafts
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

One Layer Wednesday #22

My Mum's all time favourite 'shape' is the Fleur-de-lis.  Whilst this isn't a true fleur-de-lis, I think it is a great stylised version.  The glitter technique is one I picked up from Nichole Heady, using double-sided tape and have used it several times as it looks so effective.

Weather's a bit grim here today - looks like it will be indoor jobs today, but going to the movies sounds like a better option.



What you need

Cardstock - SU Very Vanlla
Stamps - SU Carte Postale;  PTI Damask Designs
Ink - Brilliance Coffee Bean
Sugar Coating - Doodlebug Cupcake glitter
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

One Layer Wednesday #21

This SU stamp set is one of those forgotten ones - could see all sorts of possibilities for it when I bought it, but somehow has seen more of the back of my stamp shelf than ink.  Perfect opportunity to use it when the theme is nature.  It wasn't the best day for photography on Saturday, we are getting alot of spring rain which isn't normal for us, so a very gloomy day

What you need

Cardstock - SU Whisper White
Stamps - SU Soft Summer
Ink - Memento Pear Tart, Rose Bud, Rich Cocoa
Stickles - Diamond

One Layer Wednesday #20

"3 plus 1 - 3 images and 1 sentiment"

This isn't a terribly inventive take on this challenge, butterflies would have been my other option but it serves the purpose of having some more Christmas cards to sell.

When I do this again I will layer black cardstock instead of a line (a dicey undertaking for me).  Apologies for the poor lighting in the photo but it was a very grey day on Sunday.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Whisper White
Stamps - PTI Christmas Friends, Signature Christmas
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  Versacolor Magenta;  Versamark
Embossing Powder - Fantasy Gold
Gemstones - Kaisercraft
Fine black marker

OLW #18

This is a great stamp set, again not used enough, but I thought I should be able to incorporate a stamp into Blooming Button Bits rather than buttons.  The sentiments PTI use are not only a great font but are said really nicely. (Just caught Day 2 of the PTI September sneek peeks and I think the credit card is in alot of trouble again).

What you need

Cardstock - SU Whisper White
Stamps - PTI Blooming Button Bits; Dot Spot
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa, Pear Tart;  Brilliance Rocket Red
Gemstones -  Kaisercraft

OLW #17

Thought I'd get this post out before the daily rush started.  Friday is a long day for my daughter.  She learns the violin at school and part of that commitment is that they play in an ensemble group (great for confindence and working within a group) but that starts at 7.30am so we are out bright and early.

Enough gossip - border stamps, love them but don't use them enough, perhaps this challenge will prompt me to do so.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Whisper White
Stamps - PTI Through the Trees;  Flourishes Fanciful Flourishes
Ink - Memento Bahama Blue, Tuxedo Black

I'm off making Christmas cards today and very much lookin forward to what Amanda has in store

OLW #16

This past week, I have enjoyed being 'inspired' by cards in magazines particularly Papercrafts magazine.  Two of them have been far more embellished than is really my style but have had fun doing them and quite pleased with the results.  This has been to the detriment of the challenges I like to follow, so I finally settle down to doing them late Sunday afternoon (fading light and all). 

Telling a story - hmmm.  Most of the stamps I have in that catogory are trees, no surprise there (flourishes don't tell stories sadly).  This is a lovely PTI set not used nearly enough by me, but now the trees have been 'christened', will hopefully see the ink pad more often.  The birds are gold embossed but it was very hard to get them to twinkle in the afternoon light.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Basic Black
Stamps - PTI Through the Trees
Ink - Versamark;  PTI Fresh Show
Embossing powder - Celebrations of Australia (fantasy gold)

OLW # 15

    "Unexpected Colours"
I love this idea - when it comes to Christmas I try to pick colours other than the traditional red, green etc.  Last year for a work colleague I chose white, black and  SU Sahara Sand.  The black provided framing for the black swirly Christmas tree, it did look good.
Anyway, navy would be one of my top colour choices, so I thought, why not on a Valentines card.  Wish I had embossed the flourished heart but will know that for next time, and not a gemstone in sight.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Whisper White
Stamps - Flourishes Fanciful Flourishes;  PTI Damask Designs (sentiment)
Ink - SU Night of Navy;  PTI Fresh Snow

OLW #14

Having missed the previous challenge due to technical issues I wasn't going to miss this one (if I remember I might put my Christmas card in at the end).  This one was a square card with an outline stamp, coloured or not.  I haven't had a chance to use this stamp set much so what a perfect opportunity with one of my favourite flowers.

What you need

Cardstock - My Memories - Metallic White Gold
Stamps - PTI Year of Flowers:  Roses
Ink - PTI - Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado:  Memento Rich Cocoa
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

This was for OLW #13 - Christmas cards.  I love the sparkly little dove.  Might use this one as the mass produced design.








What you need

Cardstock - Artstamps Textured card
Stamp - Inkadinkado
Ink - Versamark
Embossing powder - Fantasy Gold
Gemstones - Kaisercraft

Well, my daughter should be home soon from her second birthday party this weekend.  Yesterdays was a sleepover, though I don't think much sleep happened.  Consequently all the girls who  then fronted up for todays sports party, are VERY tired.  Early to bed methinks.

OLW - Watercolour

The challenge this week was to colour an image.  Had no idea what to do, as I have largely replaced this technique with Copics.  Just goes to show you should always stay in practice.  I settled on balloons because they are easy to colour, and it is a relatively easy kids card to do.








What you need

Cardstock - SU Whisper White
Stamps - SU Crazy for Cupcakes;  Stamp-it Swirly Birthday
Ink - Versamark;  PTI Pure Poppy
Embossing powder - Zing!  Black Opaque
Faber-Castell Watercolour Pencils
Aqua Painter
Stickles - Diamond

Simplicity OLW#11

This is the one and only remotely amusing stamp I have, just doesn't seem to be my thing on handmade cards (love getting them).  The sentiment is from a beautiful Flourishes set but I went back to my  favourite cupcake image I used last year for my daughter's 7th birthday invitations.  Hopefully I can attach a photo of the invite.

What you need


Cardstock - PTI White
Stamps - Flourishes "Let them eat cake";  SU Crazy for cupcakes
Ink - Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Embossing powder - Zing! Black (glitter finish)
Kindyglitz - Black, Red
Copics - E55, E59, RV02, RV13
Felt pens - Black marker, SU Stampin' Write (Real Red)

This is the pull out invitation, these were her favourite colours (and we know how transient that is!), and I happened to have sheets of this paper that I could get rid of - er, I mean, which I had for this purpose.  Hadn't discovered the delights of Copics so watecoloured the cupcakes (yes, all 20 invitations), and used SU Dazzlin' Diamonds for the cake icing.