Snowy House

I blame Jennifer McGuire for this card, I saw one she made last year and I had to buy the die set. It was my intention to make these for my neighbours but I only made the one and its for my Mum lol.

It took a lot longer than I anticipated and I also discovered that I don't have any white glitter card so of course I need to order that now lol. I found some old pearl card and I used that for the snow parts. In real life it works really well and I hope my mum liked it.

One more sleep and I hope that this year everyone gets to celebrate with their loved ones in person and not just via zoom.

Meowy Christmas

Sometimes you wish you had made a design first, this is one of those. I might have to use the other image in the set and make a card ready for next year.....who am I kidding lol

Ingredients
Image: Santa Paws from Kraftin Kimmie
Sentiment: Mama Elephant Stamptember 2019 set
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT
Background: snowflake stencil from Memory box with twisted citroen, mowed lawn and iced spruce distress oxide inks
card: 'cranberry" recollections from Michaels

Magical Christmas Wishes

I am still using the blueprints format for my cards, it had made thinking about a layout much easier this year.

I have also used a stencil I have had for about 5 years on this card. 

I hope you are all ready for the big day I can't believe its the 22nd already...eeek....

Ingredients
Image: "sweater weather in the woods" from MFT
Sentiment: creative stamping
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT and Crealies XXL inside out circles
Stencil: Birch trees from Memory Box with faded jeans distress oxide ink
Card: "red" recollections from Michaels

Happy Pawlidays

This one might not seem like a batch one but it was, I did add a different image and use different ink colours but the style and composition is the same and that makes it quick and easy and less stressful.

I coloured the image to match the dog owned by my friends and used the same layout as my previous cards, if it ain't broke don't fix it lol.

Ingredients
Image: Happy pawlidays from MFT
Sentiment: here comes santa from MFT
Dies: blueprints 20 and 29 from MFT
Background: snowflake stencil from Memory box with tumbled glass and iced spruce distress oxide inks
card: 'red" recollections from Michaels

Birthday Message Bears

I seem to be harking back to the start of my crafting journey more and more recently, I wanted these bears when they were only available in wood but I was useless at stamping so I knew they would sit in a draw unloved.

Ok so how have I used them.....well.....Penny Black just released them in clear. I do struggle to find penny black in the UK my main supplier closed last year and the other suppliers don't tend to carry the full range, I am hoping that changes but I am not looking to open a store myself lol.

Onto the card, I had an idea after seeing a card made with keys by the MFT design team and I have made a card with white on white die cuts before so I thought I could marry the two together. It actually worked better than I hoped and I am pleased with the results so maybe I should make more lol.

Ingredients
Image: "birthday bears" Penny Black
Dies: Blueprints 29 and "cause for celebration" both MFT and Alphabet soup from Memory Box
Card: "blu raspberrry" MFT

Copics
Bears - E40, 41, 42, 43, 44

Who Let the Dog Out

This is going to be a bit of a picture heavy post, I made this card for my good friend Kay and before I go any further I wanted to wish her a very happy birthday.

So this card was a bit of a labour of love, it took a while and was a project I did in between others and not all in one go. The first thing I did was the wall background, I used the brick stencil and paver red ink both from MFT and inked the whole back of the card. I didn't have a grass die so I used the icicle border and cut it from white card, used twisted citroen and mowed lawn distress inks to colour it and placed it around the outside. It looked a bit plain so I cut a fence and added that and then it looked better lol.

I cut the window using a memory box die and layered several with a layer of acetate in the middle. The hole on the card was cut by hand and is smaller than the window so I had something to adhere to.

It was a fun project and I hope Kay likes it. When I finished even Hubbie liked it and suggested making a christmas version for our neighbours, I said maybe next year lol.

Ingredients

Stencil: "brick" with "paver red" ink both MFT

Grass: "icicle" die from MFT coloured with "twisted citroen" and "mowed lawn" distress inks

Fence: "picket fence" mft

Window: "grand madison" Memory Box

Dogs: "lucky dog" MFT

Sofa, pictures and rug: "make yourself at home" MFT

Wallpaper: "damask" background stamp from MFT stamped with "blu raspberry" ink

Floor: "wood plank" from western backgrounds from MFT

Sentiment: "tiny tags" Our Daily Bread

Cushion: "playful pooches" Clearly Besotted

Fireman Sam

I can't believe this image was released in 2009, Mo's designs have a real timeless quality.

The colour scheme for this might seem a little random but there is a popular children's TV show here called "fireman Sam" and I used the colours of the uniform on the little guy.

I've used the same layout as this card, I was going to use the layout from the second birthday cards from last year but I was in the zone and it was made before I even thought about it.

Ingredients
Image: "playing Firefighter" Mos Digital Pencil
Paper: "toyshop" from Nit Wit
Card: "real red" from Stampin up
Dies: XXL stitched square from crealies, basic border, square stax and zigzag square stax all MFT, alphabet soup from Memory box and numbers from Papertrey Ink


Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000, E93
Hat - Y19, 15, 13
Badge - YR24, 23, 21
Jacket - B28, 26, 24, 23
Boots - N8, 6
Fire Engine - R29, 24, E37, W8, 6, N3, 1, B26
Blocks - B26, 24, 23, Y19, 15, 13, YG17, 23, 21, R29, 27, 24, 14
Ground - W5, 3, 1
Ladder and Dog - E35

Kady with Dollie

Finally the last third birthday card of 2016, I went with a different image for this one, think this might be the fourth birthday image for the girls next year. Its another Mo Manning, just love the expressions she manages to capture.

Not much to say about this one, different image, papers and card but the same layout as all the others. All I do know is next year I am making these much earlier as once I decide on the layout, which I always find the most difficult then I'm not going to procrastinate I'm just going to do.

Ingredients
Image : "Kady" from Mos digital pencil
Paper: "Tippy Toes" from Nit Wit
Card: "sour apple" from MFT
Dies: xxl stitched square and inside out circles both crealies, small scalloped circles from MFT, stitched hillside borders from lawn fawn, alphabet soup from memory box and numbers from papertrey ink

Copics
Skin - E21, 00, 000, 93
Hair - E23, 25, 27, 29
Cardigan - R22, 21, 20
Skirt - YG25, 23, 21
Doll - E34, 31, E121, 00, 000, 93, R21, 20, SK09
Ground - W2, 1

Blue Pram

Phew almost finished the third birthday cards, only one more to go. I coloured this one at the same time as "another Purple Pram" I wanted to use the same papers and didn't want to have to match the colours again.

I'm still liking the colour scheme, I was going to use the turquoise to mount the card instead of the grape jelly but the letters didn't show up so I stuck with the original design and colours.

Ingredients
Image: "twins at two" Mos digital pencil
Paper: "promises" from Nit Wit
Card: "grape jelly" from MFT and "tempted turquoise" from Stampin Up
Dies: xxl stitched square and inside out circles both crealies, small scalloped circles from MFT, stitched hillside borders from lawn fawn, alphabet soup from memory box and numbers from papertrey ink

Copics
Skin - E21, 00, 000, 93
Hair - E55, 57, 59
Pram - B04, 02, 01, 00, W8, 6, N4, 2
Top - V17, 15, 12, 01
Trousers - B01, 00, 000
Ground - W3, 2, 1

Worlds Greatest ...

I have previously mentioned my unused stamp stash and that I am trying to use them all before I add to them, this is obviously a loosing battle cos I couldn't resist this rosette stamp on a craft friend shopping trip, ok it was only a pound. The deal I made was that I had to make a card with it by the following week so I did, this has worked so far in making me decide if I really need/want something.

I was surprised how easily the card took shape and its even for a February birthday, strike whilst the iron is hot I say as otherwise I will loose the inspiration I had when I bought it.

Ingredients
Image : "Mr Mister - Rosette" Papermania
Sentiment : as above and Alphabet soup dies from Memory box
Paper :Papercraft Designs Collection 2
Card : "true black" Papertrey ink and "kraft" paper mill
Dies : Blueprints 1, 2, 22, and 27

Another Purple Pram

Last year I made all the second birthday cards at the same time in early March, it was my intention to adopt the same practice this year but unfortunately that didn't happen. I did decide however to use the same images and layouts and just change the colours exactly the same as I did last year. Sometimes if it ain't broke don't fix it. It does of course help that apart from two of the cards (one girl and one boy) all the others don't know each other and so never get to see the similarities.

I like these colours together, to my eye they look very fresh and appealing. 

Ingredients
Image: "twins at two" Mos digital pencil
Paper: "promises" from Nit Wit
Card: "grape jelly" from MFT and "tempted turquoise" from Stampin Up
Dies: xxl stitched square and inside out circles both crealies, small scalloped circles from MFT, stitched hillside borders from lawn fawn, alphabet soup from memory box and numbers from papertrey ink

Copics
Skin - E21, 00, 000, 93
Hair - E55, 57, 59
Pram - V17, 15, 12, 01, W8, 6, N4, 2
Top - B02, 01, 00, 000,
Trousers -  V17, 15, 12, 01
Ground - W3, 2, 1

Dino Roar - Gently

Another of the third birthday cards is made, this is the only boy card in amongst five girl cards I have to make. I was going to use the same layout as the dolls pram cards but I decided to go with a more angular feel.

I was very happy with the hair colouring on this one, I do love colouring the greeting farm stamps and mostly for the hair lol.

Oliver is into Dinosaurs but not the scary kind more the "good dinosaur" kind so I have tried to make his card non scary but still have dinosaurs on it.

Ingredients
Image: "happy days" the greeting farm
Paper: "dino friends" echo park
Card: "Pacific blue" stampin up
Dies: crealies xxl stitched squares, rounded rectangles and basic stitched edges both MFT
Words: "alphabet soup" memory box

Copics
Skin - E11, 21, 00, 000, E93
Hair - E34, 31, 30
Trousers - B24, 23, 21
Top - R29, 27, 24, W2, blender
Shoes - W2, blender
Ground - W3, 2, 1
Dinosaurs - BG13, 11, 10, YG17, 03, 01, R29, 27, 24

Big Sister

My friend for whom I made the baby card earlier this week already has a little girl and I thought it would be nice to make her a big sister card, Ive no idea if you can find these in shops but that is the advantage of making your own lol.

I went with a tried and tested, simple design and as my mojo is still on holiday I hoped it would turn out ok.

Ingredients
Image: "girl with Baby" Pure Innocence from MFT (sadly retired)
Sentiment: "alphabet soup" Memory Box
Paper: "pinky swear" Nit Wit
Card: "cotton candy" MFT
Dies: horizontal stripes and Blueprints 13 and 2

Copics
Skin - E000, 00, 11, 21, R20
Shoes - R89, 39
Hair - E49, 47, 29, 27, 25, 23
Baby - R85, 83, 81
Dress - W3, 1

Ice Princess

Before I bought the "secret stamp club" princesses from the Greeting Farm I bought this digi and she has been sitting in a drawer uncoloured ever since. She reminded me of Elsa from Frozen and when I found her this idea popped into my head and it worked, woohoo lol.

I seem to be using my stencils a lot at the moment and I am enjoying ink blending but I do think I might need to use some of the paper mountain that is taking over my room lol.

I couldn't find cardstock to match so I used peacock feathers to colour some white again I like this look but its not reducing my card stock mountain lol.

Ingredients
Image: "ice princess" The Greeting Farm (digi - can't find it anymore )
Dies: blueprints 13 and 2 both MFT
Stencil: "snowflake flurry" Memory box
Distress inks: peacock feathers, cracked pistachio and tumbled glass.
Sentiment: "keep it simple - birthday 2" Papertrey ink


Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000 R20
Hair - E42, 41, 40
Dress - BG18, 15, 13, 11, 10
Cloak - B23, 21

Inlaid Diecutting

I recently joined two friends for a crafty evening and I was surprised that they expected me to not only make something but finish it and bring the card the following week lol. I had loads of fun with this Memory box poppy die and I decided to push myself a bit and do some inlaid die cutting. The whole image was cut in white card stock then cut again with a circle die. I then coloured with pro markers the poppies and the background with "tumbled glass" distress ink. Sticking it back together was more challenging then I thought but I was pleased with the finished result.

Now the challenge of making it into a card in less than a week, eek, challenge indeed. I was stumped for a few days then I saw this card on Barbara's blog and inspiration struck.

I used some translucent embossing paste on a small white panel with the circle Stampin Up mask. For the grey panel I used the stripe stamping up mask and my mini blending tool and matching ink.

I decided it looked like a thinking of you card so I found the perfect sentiment and the card was done. Now I need to see what we are going to make next, of course by the time you see this post I might have made several things lol.

Ingredients
Image: "poppy die" Memory Box
Card: White 110lb from Michaels and "steel grey" from MFT
Dies: Spellbinders circle, MFT circle stax and Pierced flagstax
Sentiment: "sweet little sentiments" Clearly Besotted
Ink: "tumbled glass" distress ink, versa mark and "steel grey" from MFT
Stencils: "circle and stripe" stampin up

Have cart will travel

I've used this card by Lisa as inspiration but until I went to link it I hadn't realised how alike they were. I saw her card and got an idea in my head and it's taken more than 6 weeks to actually make the card. I lost my mojo, my own fault, I decided to change my stamp storage and I became very overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff I have. I've gotten rid of a bit but once I've decided which bits to find new homes for I will add a for sale page on here.

I'm pleased I organised it as I know what I have and can find them easily, now the task is complete I feel invigorated and wanted to make some cards.

I've also been trying to use up all the printed card and paper scraps, it's a slow process but I'm hoping that eventually I will make a dent in it.

Ingredients
Image: "boys toys" digistamp boutique
Paper: "chevron" and "fluffy clouds" both pink petticoat
Card: found in snippet folder
Dies: "golf landscape" memory box, blueprints 13 and 2 by MFT

Copics
T9, 7, 5, 2, E19, 13, RV99, R39, 37

Challenges: Snippet playground

Sewing Peep

I can't believe I have had this stamp so long and its just been inked, I feel like I say that a lot but I get caught up in the must have this and never get round to the must use this lol. I made this card for my cousin who used to sew a lot, she doesn't as much now but it still reminded me of her. I actually bought the needle die to use with this stamp and actually remembered I had it before I posted the card....a minor miracle....does anyone else do this or am i alone.

Anywho on to the card, not much to say except I used my new wink of luna on the needle and it is lovely and luxurious in real life, this was another of those have to have items but not sure now I have it how much use it will get.

Ingredients
Image: "Sewing Peep" Stamping Bella
Papers: "Happy Days" Papermania
Card: "Blueberry Sky" Papertrey Ink
Dies: Pierced oval, oval stax, button border all MFT and Needle is Memory Box
Senttiment: "Keep it simple - birthday" Papertrey Ink

Copics:
Girl - E00,11, R05, 08, E09, E23, 25, 27
Sewing machine - E43, 42, 41, 40, YG03, N3, 2, 1, R05, 08, B05, 02