? Christmas ..... already!

I have had the Festive Friday challenge sitting in my to do list for quite some time, but this is the first time I have attempted it.  So to go with that, the latest WMS Christmas card challenge, hosted by Charmaine Stack and the theme is Glitter.

So, lots of glitter and my favourite Christmas sweet treat - Gingerbread.  I am too lazy to decorate it but love baking and of course eating it (any time of year really).  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Glitter card - Bella! Glitz Rouge

Stamps - WMS Nutcracker Sweet, Candy Jar Christmas Fillers

Ink - SU Early Espresso

Punch - SU scallop

Stickles - Red, Diamond

*****

I missed the dessert option for Dynamic Duos, initially but I was determined to use a bear for this sketch.  Must be telepathic!  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white; SU Pacific Point

Stamps - PTI Baby Button Basics

Ink - VersafinStame Onyx Black;  Memento Bahama Blue

Copic T1

Various punches - SU

Glossy Accents

Goosebumps - K and Company

*****

And finally for this weekend - 2 colours I don't use much and 1 quite a bit.  And yes, you guessed it, another piece of 12 x 12 bites the dust - very satisfying!  I admit to a bit of recycling too.  The twine around the button came with my first (I anticipate many more) consignments of Cas-ual Fridays Stamps.  I had a very hard time limiting the number of stamp sets.  It's all Susan Raihala's fault, she has created some really great cards with these stamps lately.

I digress.  More baby cards, male or female this time I think

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white;  SU Calypso Coral, Island Indigo

Patterned Paper - Pebbles Inc Ever After (Sparkle)

Stamps - PTI Baby Button Basics

Ink  - Versafine Onyx Black

Die - SB classic scalloped circles

Pen - SU Calypso Coral

Button - PTI

Little Boy Blue .....

My Mum needed a baby card for one of her former students, now a long term friend.  As usual I had more girly stuff than masculine, so, never one to not use up another piece of my 12 x 12 pile, I came up with this one.  

 What you need

Cardstock - Gina K white; BB brown; X-press It blending card
Patterned paper - Pebbles New Arrival (Mommy's Boy)
Stamps - PTI Baby Button Basics, Star Prints
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa, Summer Sky
Copics - B12, B14
Silver Organza
Button - PTI (Spring Rain)
DMC thread

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

Cloud 9 #2 in ColourQ colours

Back again for the second Cloud 9 challenge.  The simplicity of the sketch really lends itself to the subject I had in mind.  One of my daughter's teachers announced she was pregnant with her second child.  Thinking completely selfishly, my first question was when it was due in the hope that she would see out the year, which hopefully she will.  

So, as we don't know whether it is a boy or girl, I thought the latest ColourQ colours were entirely appropriate. The one stipulation my daughter wanted was a teddy bear of some kind.

Well, a rabbit is pretty close.  Unfortunately, the new SU colours have not hit our shores yet (I think I will be in big trouble when they do),  so went with the colours on hand.

What you need

Cardstock - SU white; MME Lush 2 Navy

Stamps - Wplus9 Kisses and Cuddles

Ink - SU Old Olive, Certainly Celery; Memento Rich Cocoa

Copics  YR 12,15,18

Die - MFT Fishtail Stax

Gems - Kaisercraft

Hopefully I will be back with another challenge card, I am working my way through the SU DSP, mostly Christmas paper.  I should have enough cards for several years to come.  May need to do some birthday cards just to break it up a bit.

Tuesday Trigger

Sweet Surprise

Such a gentle, elegant photo.  I know I have picked the most obvious theme for my card but the idea was fully formed before I had time to have any other thoughts.  

It doesn't show up very well, and my close up photo was rubbish, but I have restamped the label and cut out the centre which is popped up to give it a bit more dimension.  The edges of the embossed layer have been sponged, not sure if that shows up or not.

What you need

Cardstock - SU white;  PTI Spring Rain

Stamps - WMS Vintage Labels 18;  Compact Sentiments

Ink - Memento Summer Sky;  SU Night of Navy

Die - SB Labels 18

Embossing Folder - Sizzix

Ribbon - SU gingham

Gems - 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

A Bundle of Joy

 It certainly has been a while since I blogged, unintentional, but if the motivation isn't there then there's no point pushing it - this is supposed to be fun.  It is school holidays now and my daughter and I are off to Victoria next week, so this week is my only chance to create and post.  I have a couple of birthday books to decorate before then so I may end up using card challenges for the covers.

This is one of my go-to designs for baby cards, I love the simplicity and gender neutrality (if that is the correct use of the word).  It covers 2 challenges, Just Add Ink - Just for Baby and Wee Memories - No Patterned Paper.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Sahara Sand, white, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery

Stamps - SU Eastern Blooms, Punches 3,  Polka Dot

Ink - Versamark; SU Certainly Celery

Filigree White Embossing Powder

Ribbon - SU Grosgrain Certainly Celery

This next card is one I did for a friend of mine whose birthday it was last week.  I hadn't used this set before and the inspiration was purely Maile Belles.  I think this set is going to take some practice but I do like how it turned out.

What you need

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics white, yellow

Stamps - PTI Gracious Vases

Ink - Memento Tangelo, Ladybird, Pear Tart, Cantaloupe

I have also been busy with the latest Papercrafts magazine submission, unfortunately none of mine were chosen, perhaps that may have reflected a lack of inspiration, but here is one that I really loved.  These sets really appealed to me, as I come from a chemistry background (thank you Deborah Fringes). 

 What you need

Cardstock - PTI white;  Bazzill Basics Orange

Stamps - There She Goes Chemistry, Chem 101

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics

Amber at Damask Love has a Reject Blog Hop running, so check out all the other beautiful cards that missed out.

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

PTI's Make it BIG and Make it Mondays #1 Challenges

As I was trying (unsuccessfully) to clean up my desk, I found this rather large snowflake and although Christmas is alittle way away, you can never start too early, and perfect for the make it big challenge

 I tried Melissa Phillips technique of chunky glitter adhered with spray adhesive but it still didn't work too well.  May have to make it abit wettter and press on the glitter.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Spring Rain, Pure Poppy, white
Patterned Paper - PTI Men of Life
Stamps - PTI Mat Stack 2 Collection, Tree Trimming Trio (Noel)
Ink - SU Real Red; Memento Rich Cocoa;  PTI Fresh Snow
Snowflake - Melissa Frances
Chunky Glitter - Doodlebug
Ribbon - SU
Pearls - Kaisercraft

Second challenge

I hope to participate in this one regularly so that my reasonably extensive (don't laugh Amanda) PTI stamp collection will get a workout.  This challenge was to use several of the same sentiments or on the same theme to embellish the card.

I wanted to do something other than birthdays etc so hit upon the baby theme.  I did it in the colours which were on my daughter's cot blanket (sigh!). It was deliberately non - gender but by far the colours we both loved.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white
Stamps - PTI All About You, Mega Mixed Messages, Baby Button Bits, Inside and Out:  Baby
Ink - PTI Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores;  Memento Tuxedo Black, Tangelo, Cantaloupe
Prisma glitter
Copic multi-liner
Ribbon - SU Pumpkin Pie taffeta

Waltzingmouse Sketch Callenge #32 dressed in Colour Cue #11

Yes another baby card, but the palette did lend itself to it.  I wanted to use SU Basic Grey as my neutral but used as the base card it looked alittle cold, so opted for Kraft.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI Kraft, Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush
Patterned Paper - 2008 Bitty Dot Basics
Stamps - WMS Vintage Labels 3;  SU Tiny Tags
Ink - PTI Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist;  Memento Rich Cocoa
Die - SU Beautiful Butterflies;  Spellbinders Labels 3
Impression Plates - PTI Giga guidelines, dots
Ribbon and Linen Thread - SU
Jewels - 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