JAI43 - Just Add Christmas ...

Yes I know I'm supposed to be packing aren't I? Just sneaking in a card again. Moving day was supposed to be yesterday but got pushed out to last Thursday so I had time for another challenge card. I actually started this card for last weeks Just Add Ink challenge, but didn't get to finish it on time so I was happy when they made this weeks challenge JAI43 Just Add Christmas.

This card uses an embossing folder I have had for a couple of years. I have embossed it onto Blushing Bride, and then I have brayered Early Espresso ink over the debossed side.

 

I have dressed the card up with A few adhesive pearls, Rich Razzleberry brads, Antique brads, lace and trinkets (the last 2 are a sneak peek from the new Summer Mini Catalogue coming soon!). My greeting is from Four Christmas, a new Stampin' Up! Christmas greeting set this year which I really like!

Other than a scheduled post a little later in the week, I'll be out of action on my blog for a couple of weeks until I am settled into the new house and unpacked my craft room. See you then!

Claire xx

Stampamemory Challenge #16

I do love Spring, so had to have a go a the current challenge over at Stampamemory.

I've used one of the new products coming soon - Presto Patterns DSP, which a speciality DSP you can customise! How cool is that? You can spritz it, sponge it, brayer it and do all sorts. I've used my Rich Razzleberry Marker and Colour Spritzer to colour mine, and then highlighted the pattern with some extra watercolouring.

 

Here's a closer look at the patterned bit with some of those lovely embossed butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die:

 

I also added some texture to the title (which is the Timeless Type alphabet cut out with my BigShot). I embossed it with the square lattice embossing folder, another 'coming soon' product!

 

I'm glad I captured this snapshot of Spring in my garden in 2010, especially the Sweet Peas rambling among the weeds bottom left. These were grown from 3 seeds Sam bought home from Kinder on St Patrick's day in a little pot. It's good luck to plant Sweet Peas on St patrick's Day, so we planted them out and looked after them (well all besides getting them to grow up the trellis, lol) and now they are lovely. I sent a picture in a card to the kinder teacher today as well. Sam is VERY proud of his Sweet Peas!

While we are on the Rich Razzleberry and green colour scheme, here's a quick Christmas card inspired by my lovely downline Sue Madex. I had an embossed ornament left over from my ornament cards I did a while ago, and came up with this in a flash.

 

Have a happy day and thanks for popping in,

Claire xx

Inkspirations Challenge #47

It's been ages since I have had a go at challenges on my blogs. I have 100 other things I should have been doing this afternoon, but when Paul took the boys out visiting and getting packing boxes this afternoon, I decided I needed to make something! Keesh has moved the Inkspiration Challenges to their very own home this week, so what better week to have a go at Inkspirations Challenge #47. I turned the sketch upside down like Renee's on the Inkspirations DT.

 

My colours are Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso. I've used a Stampin' Up! retired stamp as the greeting (from Echoes of Kindness) and it's very hard to see but I have also stamped off retired Stipple Rose in Blushing Bride beneath the greeting. These are two of my fave stamps and I couldn't let them go! The flower was purchased as is - it's gorgeous isn't it? Yes, another Antique Brad snuck onto the card. I love these gathered around the wide striped grosgrain ribbon (this one is Early Espresso).

 

and here's the lovely vase of roses from my garden that smell divine and had to be in the picture.

 

Someone asked me the other day was I going to miss my garden when I move. Luckily for me I have gorgeous new rose bushes to play with. Each garden is a new adventure for me and I plant so much in pots anyway that so much of it goes with me. Gardens are a living gift though, and it's always an aim of mine to leave them a little more lovely than I find them with some new plants for the new residents to enjoy. If you are a gardener you would get that!

Hubby's home now, so need to stop making cards and dreaming about gardens and get some dinner happening! Have a happy week and thanks for the inspiring sketch Keesh..

Claire xx

 

A double dose of Dasher ....

Time for some more Christmas cards, and who else to brighten up my blog than the adorable Dasher. This little guy is a single stamp from Stampin' Up! and can be adorning your Christmas cards for just $14.95! 

For my first Dasher card, I have embossed him in gold and teamed him with the Stampin' Up! Christmas Cocoa DSP (this is only available as part of the Dress Up Christmas promotion in the Welcome Christmas bundle until 30th November).

 

I love this Sleigh Bells ribbon, which was the free ribbon I chose as part of this promotion. Another Antique brad (I am keeping the economy booming along with these!) and my greeting is from Four Christmas. For the background stamping on the Always Artichoke layer, I have used the French Filigree background stamp. I really like this as it gives some coverage, without being too much. I thought it went nicely with the swirls on Dasher's antlers as well.

 
 

My second Dasher card has a multicoloured effect. I coloured the body using my Early Espresso marker and then the antlers using my Versamark pen. Because the dye ink on the body dries so quick, I was able to keep the gold embossing powder just on the antlers.

 
 

My colours here are Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso. I have carried that through onto the Tiny Tags, and used Medallion with Whisper White craft ink on my background. The greeting is from Christmas Wishes, and oh look - there's another Antique Brad :).

 
I hope you like Dasher's visit to my blog. Hope to be back soon. Even though things are a teeny bit crazy here as we are moving house very soon (just around the corner though :)), a girls still got to get a stamp in to save her sanity.

Have a happy week,

Claire xx