The Paper Players # 214

How is this for good fortune - I made this card for my husband only a few days ago and here is a challenge it fits right in with.  I think even he likes having a card made with him in mind, and would be disappointed if I just bought one.

He is very much a motor sport fan, especially motorbikes, so this great embossing folder was a must and it looks particularly good on foil card stock.

What you need
Cardstock - SU black, grey;  silver foil cardboard
Stamps - Uniko Studio Today, Tomorrow and Always Time;  MFT Birthday Sentiments
Ink - SSS Smoke;  Versafine Onyx Black
Embossing Folder - Tim Holtz
Die - MFT Fishtail Flag Stax
Gems

Paper Players #183 - Stars

Now, this makes me very happy.  Not only do I get to use up another sheet of 12 x 12 but, I think I may have a vaguely masculine, pre-adolescent birthday card.  Hopefully we won't see the stars tonight, as we desperately need rain,  Brisbane has had high humidity and low rainfall for the past few weeks, a break would be nice.  However, way out west they are doing it much tougher - drought has claimed much of Western Queensland.  Maybe they have had a bit of rain out of the recent falls.  

We are back to school,  my daughter is with none of her best friends in class but with her extended friendship group and the teacher she really wanted.  So there is a silver lining.  She is coping well with dance commitments and Middle School band and Percussion Ensemble.  

I really like this card, inspired by a couple of techniques Jennifer McGuire has used in recent posts ie glitter and adding Glossy Accents to everything.  

What you need

Cardstock - SU Midnight Muse, white;  PTI orange

Patterned paper - Pebbles

Stamps - MFT

Punches - Fiskars, EK Success

Ink - SU Midnight Muse

Glitter - Glitter Ritz Champagne

Dies - MFT Fishtail Flags

The Paper Players #151

Here's a quick one for Friday.  I had to try this very interesting sketch, so had a quick flick through my Pinterest colour palette board, and decided on this combination.

It's a bit hard to see the orange stamping (yes that colour again), and I have loosely interpreted the large diecut with 2 half circles in the reverse paper and a Martha Stewart doily.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black

DSP - SU Brights Collection

Stamps - SU Pocket Silhouettes;  Avery Elle Blossoms and Blooms (sentiment)

Ink - SU Pumpkin Pie

MS doily

Various Punches

Ribbon - SU black satin

Now ....... Breathe ............

WOW ... huge (cultural) weekend for us, but I have to say my daughter did the hard yards.  In the past week, she has had the final week of school for this term.  But also rehearsals leading up to the mid year Aust. Girls Choir showcase, a day long workshop with choirs from other schools in the area and  a charity concert for dance.  Now we can relax.

This first card is a real mix up of colours and patterns which I thought would be great for a teenager.

Love these colours, so summery, which is nothing like the weather here at the moment.  Winter has really hit now - but nothing like the Northern hemisphere experiences - but we do suffer ("tears tears").

Love this little sentiment!

What you need

Cardstock - PTI red, white

Stamps - CAS-ual Fridays Woot woot, Big Thanks

Ink - SU real red, Island Indigo, Certainly Celery;  PTI Hawaiian Shores;  Memento Tuxedo Black

Punches - SU

Ribbon - Certainly Celery satin

Gems - Kaisercraft

Marker - SU Island Indigo

******

Now, I have to add a few thoughts on the Bolshoi Ballet.  So very glad we went, larger than life, BUT,   I think I far preferred the subtlety and elegance of the Hamburg ballet we saw last year.   It is a great experience for children to see these famous companies and make informed decisions on their preferences.  They were faultless but, in my opinion, a bit emotionless. 

OK enough artsy opinion,  needed to have a go at a few challenges close to my heart.  No stretch on colour, theme or bling (NEVER a problem there).  I loosely interpreted that Graphite Black was BLACK.  

Edited to add:  this was selected as the Headliner for The Paper Players.  Thank you, that is a real thrill!

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black;  SU Lucky Limeade

Stamps - CAS-ual Fridays stamps Bold Wishes, Mum's the Word

Ink - SU Lucky Limeade Memories Unicorn white, Brilliance Starlite Black (well, it has black in the name!!)

Die - TE branch

Gems - Kaisercraft

The Paper Players #147

 This card started out quite a different beast.  I wanted to combine it with another one of my favourite challenges, but when I had another look at the colours, the dominant hue was sadly lacking.  So no Stampin Royalty today.

This is probably the hardest challenge for me to do - this says multiple patterned papers to me (or stamping).  Not absolutely sure what I think about this one, perhaps the card size is a bit too big for the diecut.  I dunno!

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, black

Patterned paper - Echo Park Victoria Gardens

Die - MFT

Stamps - MFT On the Line

Ink - Versafine Onyx Black

Gems - Kaisercraft

I hope to be back over the weekend with a couple of cards, certainly the plan is there.  Those gates still need painting.

Miscellany on Sunday

First up is my entry for the Case Study Design Team call.  The brief was to interpret a piece by your personal "muse".  For me, it's Debbie Olson - I am completely in awe of her colouring, precision and her ability to put patterned papers together.  This card encompasses pretty much all of these things.  I am completely unable to incorporate this much detail without it looking a mess.  So with my simplified version, I have used the colours, scallops and of course seam binding.  

I think my Mum will love this card for Mother's Day next Sunday.  My family will be out doing the annual Mother's Day Classic, a walk/run to raise funds for breast cancer.  It has become a bit of a tradition with us, and usually followed by a gorgeous breakfast somewhere.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, Aqua Mist, red; X-press It Blending paper

Patterned paper - PTI Aqua Mist collection

Stamps - PTI All Booked Up, Mat Stack 3 Collection;  Verve One Person (sentiment)

Ink - HA Soft Pool;  Memento Lady Bug, Tuxedo Black

Die - MFT small scallop

Copics - R12, R14, R17; T4, T4; YG13;  BG11, BG13

Sean Binding ?

Ooh, just noticed the very latest Paper Players challenge is for Mother's Day.

 ******

I generally don't need this type of card, but you just never know.  I love the calm effect of this grass stamp, I hope it sees some more ink soon.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft, brown white

Stamps - HA Silhouette grass;  PTI Think Big Favourites.

Ink - SU Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Early Espresso

Square Punch - SU

*****

I have saved the cutest for last!

What a gorgeous little girl!  Oh, and the outfit is beautiful too.  I hate to think how much it costs.  I remember buying my daughter a reasonably costly ensemble when she was about 6 months, then fretted every time she wore it, that food would end up all over it - which of course it did.  Very silly on my part, but she looked divine for 5 minutes.

I couldn't quite tell whether the top was pink or cream but it doesn't really matter as it's for a little girl.  Congratulations Aga, enjoy this time as it REALLY does go in a flash.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Sweet Blush, Black;  Canson metallic gold

Stamps - PTI Background Basics:  Dots and Spots;  Mega Mixed Messages

Ink - Versamark;  Memento Tuxedo Black

Embossing Powder - Zing! Matt Black

Die - MFT Bow

Pearl - Kaisercraft

Corner Rounder - We R Memory Keepers

Where does time go .....

We have had quite a restful Easter, which is good as there was alot of running around in the 2 days before with my daughter - a trip to the orthodontist, decided that braces were happening MUCH sooner than anticipated, like in the next 2 weeks.  Before that she has to have 3 baby teeth removed under general anaesthetic.  Apparently, these days braces are a source of great excitement and she really hopes they will be on before she goes back to school in 2 weeks.  Obviously she isn't paying for them and I will remind her of this time when cleaning her teeth becomes a chore.  The hope is that if they go on now, they will be off in 18 months time.

Anyway, enough of our goings on - a card.  I have been doing alot of kit card making recently, hence the silence over here.  The downside of a kit is that sometimes the patterned paper chosen, is one that I would not have picked in 1000 years, yet that is the challenge.  Also I have been doing alot of Copic colouring - something that tends to happen in fits and starts,  but a technique I am always trying to improve on.

    

 So we have my perfectly polished young lady.  For the Paper Players challenge I settled on

Pink and Green - Birthday - Pearls

What you need

Cardstock - SU white, Gumball Green, Primrose Petals

Stamps - MFT Polished to Perfection;  PTI Quilled Elegance (sentiment), Embroidered Blooms

Ink - SU Primrose Petals, Gumball Green; Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics - as above

Pearls - SU

I will also enter this into the latest Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

****

Another task undertaken this weekend was a complete clean up of my craft room, and believe me, it needed it.  I have had this recent edition of Better Homes and Gardens (Aust. Ed) sitting on my desk, well, since it came out.  It is hard to see but the main picture uses orange and grey as its main theme.  Just crying out as inspiration for a card.  

Unfortunately I was too late for the CASology challenge this week but went ahead with it anyway.  In my cleaning frenzy, there were some new PTI stamp sets to put away.  As they aren't designed to fit CD cases anymore, I find it a chore to make them fit into the cases I have.  But I found this set and had to use it.

I was about to throw the magazine away (minus recipes and DIY stuff), but I think I will keep it for future reference as there are a few more very interesting colour palettes

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Stamps - PTI Quilled Elegance, Think Big Favourites

Ink - Memento Grey Flannel, London Fog, Tangelo, Morocco

Gems - Kaisercraft

Right I am off to do some cooking, apart from dinner, there are a couple of biscuit recipes dying to be baked.  Oh and trying some of the baked cheesecake I made earlier.

*****

Thought I would just sneak one more in.  Difficult colours but enjoyed the challenge of pulling it together and very happy with the result.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Always Artichoke, white, Lucky Limeade

Patterned Paper - PTI 2008 Bitty Dot Basics (Ripe Avocado)

Stamps - PTI Birds and Blooms, Think Big Favourites

Ink - SU Lucky Limeade, Pool Party

Die - MFT Retro Squares (?)

Copic - BV25

Gems - Kaisercraft

Last day of holidays .... (BIG sigh!)

 It's back to work tomorrow, still it's been a nice break, though a little hot so unable to achieve all we wanted to around the house.  My daughter has another week to go before school starts and we have the Australia Day holiday next weekend too, so something to look forward to.

Wanted to have a go at these 2 before time ran out.  Tricky colours these and in my head I wanted the colour to be in the cardstock rather than the stamping.  So all stamping is in grey and broke into my new SU colours for Summer Starfruit.  I did think about colouring in the flowers but glad I didn't, as it looks really pretty sitting here on my desk.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Real Red, white, Summer Starfruit, Melon Mambo

Stamps - HAPattern Hearts and Flowers, Year Round Sentiments

Ink - SU Basic Grey;  Memento London Fog

Punch - Fiskars

Gems - Kaisercraft

******

Now, this next one evolved rather than trying to fit in a couple of challenges .... Really!  I started out with my Hero Arts challenge with what I believe is my oldest HA stamp.  I used it in this post many moons ago.  So it was easy to visualise it in Dynamic Duo colours of red and black with a touch of Valentine.  But the design stumped me till I saw the latest Paper Players challenge.  Problem almost solved.  

Trying to be a bit arty, and not go down my usual framing route, I tried for off centre ... not tooo bad.  And finally it neatly fell into the Addicted to CAS embossing challenge.

I am happy with the finished product, especially the little hearts, a punch Jennifer McGuire has used many times to great effect.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Real Red, white, black

Stamps - HA Chandelier;  PTI Lighten Up

Ink - Versmark; Versafine Onyx Black

Embossing Powder - Zing Glitter Black

Die - Spellbinders Classic Squares

Punch - Martha Stewart

Glossy Accents

Blue Friday

 Guess who is completely hopeless at photographing very long cards.  Sorry.  I had SU Pacific Point out for The Paper Players challenge and thought it would work for this one.  Not my usual blue of choice but I think it works well with the butterflies.

What you need

Cardstock - SU white

DSP - SU Brights Collection

Stamps - The Craft's Meow Sewn Sentiments

Ink - Memento Bahama Blue

Die - Memory Box Kaleidoscope Butterfly

Gems - Kaisercraft

So, to the next challenge before I miss the deadline.  A tricky colour combination this one, so I have opted for the easy way out.  Predominantly grey with splashes of blue and yellow.  I have just realised that the sentiment is hard to see, but don't worry, it's the same as above.  Couldn't resist a bit of stitching either.

What you need

Cardstock - SU white, basic grey

DSP - Neutrals Collection

Stamps - SU Friends Never Fade;  The Craft's Meow Sewn Sentiments

Ink - SU Delightful Daffodil;  Memento Bahama Blur

Die - MFT Dizzy Doily

Ribbon - SU Satin Delightful Daffodil

Pearls - SU

Tomorrow, Saturday, is apparently meant to be a scorcher again, around the 37C mark.  Sounds like another great stamping day (or cleaning out cupboards).  Let's see what happens.

Perfect pastime on a VERY hot day

 The plan had been to attack some much needed gardening and general outdoor maintenance this week, but the weather here has conspired against us.  All around Australia, there are some very serious bush fires happening, we have had record temperatures fanned by high winds and low humidity. And there seems no respite in sight.

So, I couldn't think of anything nicer to do than attempt some challenges, particularly a new one on the scene.

I think I will just make the Dynamic Duos challenge deadline.  Island Indigo isn't a colour I have used much of but I do like it and now that it is out of the packaging (read languishing on my desk), I will endeavour to use it more.

What you need
Cardstock - PTI white;  SU Melon Mambo, Island Indigo
DSP - SU Brights Collection
Stamps - MFT Lovey Dovey Sentiments
Ink - SU Melon Mambo
Die - PTI hearts border
Gems - Kaisercraft


Now for the newbie - what avid card maker isn't going to love this one.  And what an endless source of inspiration.  I didn't think I would refer to it as much as I do, for all sorts of things.

The ideas I particularly liked on this card, and there is a fair bit of decoration going on,  are the colours and polka dots.  While I don't have a stamp set with several different circles, I did have one with stars so went with that.

What you need
Cardstock - PTI white, black
Stamps - HA Year Round Sentiments
Ink - Memento Pear Tart, Sweet Plum, Bahama Blue, Rose Bud, Tuxedo Black
Gems - Kaisercraft