Caribbean Christmas

This card was made as a request and hopefully will be appreciated by the recipient.  Someone I used to work with has had a few personal cards made by me and she is hoping that this one brings flowers and chocolates!  The card is for her husband and they are going off on a Caribbean cruise so I have included a cruise ship ornament (made using shrink plastic), a sun, palm trees and waves on the background, plus suitcases under the tree. 

Inside I placed another ornament with a large version of the cruise ship.

I am entering the card in the Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge - sadly their last one. 

Bradley's Christmas

I combined two challenges for this card which I have made for our niece's little lad Bradley.  I think this year he might be interested in more than the wrapping as he will be two and a half - how time flies!  

The High Hopes challenge 156 was to make a Christmas card with very little red or green so despite the fact that his Dad supports Liverpool I used blue!  Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge 166 was to make a card for a child so what better than a cute mouse waiting for Santa.

Thanks for taking the time to pop by my blog and thank you to those that leave comments - I appreciate them all.  Hope you are having a good weekend.

Tempus Fugit

Does anyone else feel a little odd when the clocks change?  We got an extra hour last night when the clocks went back but today my body clock has been totally confused!  It was very apt when the Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge today was about time.  The passage actually contradicts my sentiment which says time flies and says God gives us all the time we need - "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven". 

I went with the flow and this masculine card was what I came up with.  I used a clocks mask, an embossing folder with cogs and a clock face plus two stamps.  The plane image is from Katzelkraft and the pocket watch and saying "Tempus Fugit" were a free gift with Craft Stamper magazine some time ago.  I used Antique Linen and Aged Mahogany distress inks plus Memento Espresso Truffle.

The Card

Thanks for looking and have a great week.

Showing some of the detail

 

You May Have Peace - Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge

Today is the first chance I have had to really get creating again after a busy time last weekend preparing for the hop.  Last Sunday the challenge at Stampin Sisters in Christ was Peace.  I am most at peace when I am by the sea, although I have no idea why and sometimes it can actually be rough and quite frightening.  In this scene I tried to make the sky look a little dark as though night is closing in (it is darker in real life than this flash taken shot indicates!).  I was considering peace from the view of that little boat and knowing it had the light house to guide him away from dangerous rocks.

The stamp set is called Island Life and it is from Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich company.

I hope you find some light this week to keep you out of harm.

Fall in a round

I love fall, or should I say autumn colours and I have to say the more I look the more colours I see.

Beate Johns recently created a tutorial over at Splitcoast for a Twisted Circular Easel Card so that is the design I chose for this one today.  My hands are multi-coloured now but it was quite fun with all those distress inks - nothing like Beate's clean design!

I used the tree from MFP Tree Selections, the maple leaf stamp from MFP Scenic Selections and the sentiment from MFP Daffodil Greetings. The circles were all cut with dies and the sentiment was cut with Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles.  The leaves were cut with one of my original Spellbinders dies.  Ribbon and fibres from my messy stash.  The border inside was punched with an EK Success wide border punch.

Front - detailed view

I am entering this card for the following challenges


Stampin Sisters in Christ 161 - use a tree
Jugs 158 - emboss resist technique used with maple leaf stamp
OCC - Fall in the Circle

Inside - detailed view

The distress inks I used were
Wild Honey
Spiced Marmalade
Peeled Paint
Dusty Concord
Aged Mahogany



Thank you for checking out my card - I really do appreciate your comments.

Penny Black Anniversary

I made this anniversary card to add to my box in the office.  Even though I have officially left my job I am back on contract and people are still asking for cards.  All the anniversary ones were gone from the box so this is one I added.  I sponged Expresso Truffle and then stamped with it too.  I added touches of colour with Copics and sheen on the butterfly wings with some painted on perfect pearls mist.  The card for the Stampin sisters in Christ challenge to feature music, looks much nicer in real life than in this photo.  Thanks for looking.

Count Your Winter Blessings

This card was born from an old button!  When we were in the USA recently our friends took us to an Antique Fair because they love picking up all sorts of collectables.  I wasn't too sure about it but it was a beautiful day and we could just browse so no harm done.  One of my recent "spur of the moment" purchases had been some Pebeo paints although I hadn't been brave enough to play.  I started looking round at the fair for old cheap things I could use to "play on" and I found some big buttons.  Well having created a "new button" I needed something to do with it and today's Speedy Fox and Friends challenge to use circles got me started.
The large snowflake is made with Spellbinders dies, carefully assembled and then sprayed with glimmer mists and perfect pearls.  The large button was added to the centre.  The card base was sponged with two shades of ink through a mask - I used Memento Lulu Lavender and Adirondack Eggplant.  The sentiment from MFP Snow Gifts was stamped in Memento Elderberry.

I am entering this card in 3 challenges
Speedy Fox and Friends - use Circles
Stampin Sisters in Christ - handmade ( I hope it counts)
CCC12 - another one for September!

Thanks for checking this out and stopping by - hope you are having a great weekend.

CCC12 The Rest

Here are all my remaining August Christmas cards - my CCC12 commitment plus a few extras in the last 3 posts.  All these like those posted yesterday use Penny Black images.  Some uses Splitcoast sketches and some are just simple.  I am also making another entry into Stampin sisters in Christ challenge to use dies and punches.  Thanks for looking

SC304

SC326

CCC12 July - Marathon

Sorry but this is one large collection - all 12 of my July Christmas cards for CCC12.  Some of them are also for other challenges so I will add the challenges to each photo.  None of the cards are fancy but I left it too late this month.  I have used dies, punches, alcohol inks and all sorts of stamps on this bunch.

OCC - Colours and Circles

Stampin Sisters in Christ 150

Sentimental Sundays - Ink or Paint - alcohol inks

WMSC108 based!

WMSC108 based!

VLVJulyWeek5

VLVJuly Week4

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Sentimental Sundays - Ink or Paint - alcohol inks

Simple Card after 33 Years

Most times I need to make a card for hubby I go for something complicated or intricate or something with lots of colouring.

This time I went clean and simple using this cute little dog stamp from Katzelcraft.  I am entering the card in this week Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge.  We celebrate 33 years of marriage tomorrow. 

We have decided to spend the evening at open air theatre performed by a small local group.  It should be fun.  This is what we will be seeing at Theatre Workshop Coulsdon.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the start of the Olympics.

Janine

Stampin Sisters In Christ - Sparkle

I am glad I made this card a day or so ago because I don't feel too sparkly right now.  Work is getting me down now that I am working for a company that I did not choose to work for and who I found out yesterday do not value my contribution.
Anyway on to the card which is for the Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge.  I have never made a pocket style card like this before but after seeing Marilynn's beautiful example I had to give it a go.

This is the pocket section with the inner tucked inside

This is the card with the insert fully displayed. You can see I have used pearls, gems, glitter and mica powder to add some sparkle.  The image and sentiments are from Kanban.

This is the sparkle on the sentiment.

 

Thanks for looking and hope you and me find some sparkle.

New Challenges over at MFP

In case you missed it there are all sorts of new challenges over at Marks Finest Papers Speedy TV as well as tutorials and ideas.
There is a challenge this week as part of Simple Salutations to use an animal.  Now I did not end up with a simple card as I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch and combined it with both Stampin Sisters in Christ and Sentimental Sundays challenges.  My card uses pink, kraft and lace (as well as flowers, pearl, stamp and die cut - if I had added some twine with a charm attached it would have been full house!).  I used 2 digital papers and embossed one with a Spellbinders M-Bossabilities folder and then used Frayed Burlap distress ink on the raised parts.  The fancy brown edge was done using Spellbinders dies. The flowers are sprayed with glimmer mists.  The image and sentiment are from a set by Marks Finest Papers called North American Woods.

 

Thank you for dropping in on my blog - I hope you like my card and that you have a good week.

Janine

Penny Black Metal

Hi - another quick post from me tonight.  This time I am using metal as per the Penny Black challenge this week.  I used a new Penny Black stamp too with the gilding flakes so as well as the Penny Black Challenge I am also entering this card in the Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge to use something new.  The gilding technique is also quite new to me as this is only my 3rd attempt.  I over-stamped it with Red Stazon ink to give it a bit more definition.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.  Brads were added to the corners and a Spellbinders die was used for the sentiment panel with some ribbon from my stash.

Thanks for looking.

Victoria says Relax

 This card was given today to my Osteopath who I sadly saw for the last time as she is concentrating her work closer to where she lives.  Victoria has helped me through some stressful periods and has been an encouragement to me as well as the one who fights to release my knotted muscles - I will miss her.

My card uses a cute Penny Black image of a cat in a lovely lavender scented bubble bath - something Victoria recommended often!  The mouse enjoys it too!

The card is using colours and theme from this week's Sentimental Sundays challenge and flags / bunting to fit with the Penny Black and Stampin Sisters in Christ challenges.  I have used Spellbinders dies, Memento ink and Copics.  I have captured a close up to hopefully show you the glittery bubbles - obviously went to Lush for the bath products!

Actions speak louder than words - 1 John 3:18

The challenge at Stampin Sisters in Christ is all about actions and God's love showing through them.  I have had this Hero Arts stamp in the drawer for some time but it remained un-inked until today.  I am sure with a group of children there is plenty of action in their dancing.  I know this should be a May image but with the strange weather we are having it could almost be April!
The image is stamped with Black Versafine and Distress Markers are used to add the touches of colour.  The flower is made with the smallest bitty blossoms die - yes I am trying to work these out - this is my first attempt!

May your dancing be this happy!

Your Time to Shine

Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge from last Sunday was about heavenly things and originally I was going to make a Christmas card using an angel.  However I went to the Glitter Pot that morning and watched Jane Gill demonstrating stencils with paste.  Now I knew I had a hardly used jar of stencil paste because I was never brave enough to go for it so I came home and had a play - this was my first attempt so I turned it into this card using this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  I know you need sunglasses to look at it but I wanted a really sunny theme!

Thank you for looking and maybe the sun will make an appearance for us this weekend

Not so chic but shabby

Pushed myself to make a shabby chic card - not really my style at all.  The result is below but to be honest I want to put some bright touches on it!


The card is for 2 challenges - OCC and Stampin Sisters in Christ

Thanks for dropping by.

Many Layers

Many layers - sounds a bit like marriage!  My sister and her husband celebrate 18 years of marriage on Monday so this card is hopefully the one my Mum will give to them.  I cannot share the one I made to send from us just yet!
The image is from a newly released Marks Finest Papers set (Oopsy Daisy) and it is coloured with Copics with some added distress stickles.  I have used Spellbinders and Marianne dies / folders.


Thank you so much for dropping by - I appreciate it.

May Blog Hop! - Flamingos on Vacation

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 
                        May Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Oopsy Daisy Featured May 15
Get Reel Featured May 16
Scenic Selections Featured May 17
Flamingos on Vacation Featured May 18

This last set was fun to play with because the images are so crazy.  I chose to use it for a card to go to my niece who has started working part time in one of the famous high street stores in the UK in the Women's Wear Department - she won't be able to say anyone looks fat there! I am also entering this one in this week's Stampin Sisters In Christ challenge - use a bird, animal etc!

 

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on May 19, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday May 18, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine (that is me!)
Mark's Finest Papers


 This second card uses several elements from the set and makes a fun card too.  I carefully masked some of the sentiment so I could put a message on this T shirt.

Hope you like the cards I have shared this week.  Thanks for hopping along with us and good luck in the prize draw. 

FOSTV - Paper Piercing

I decided to use this Paper Piercing challenge at FOSTV to add to my Christmas card collection.  I made 3 cards each using the Nuthatch image from the Peaceful Nuthatch set.  Another set featuring birds is the prize this week - the cute set called Flap My Wattles - you will want to try and win this one!

My images are coloured with Copic markers and the dies are all from Spellbinders with some sponging in Adirondack Mountain Rose ink.  The papers are all from my scrap trays.

Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge is to use a creature so I might just enter these 3 cards.

You don't need any fancy equipment for paper piercing - a ruler and a pin are the basics although rulers or templates with holes make it a little easier and quicker.  Please join us this week - we would love to see you.