Wednesday 30 March 2016

CC52 - Thank You



Today is the 2nd Anniversary of The Card Concept Challenge and I am so honoured to have been asked to be GD in this special month.


I completely dropped the ball and forgot to get my card to Lesley on time, but here it is. I'm so embarrassed because I hate to let people down - I am usually much more organized than this!

I focused on the colours, the black ribbon with the rhinestones and the text to make this clean, colour-blocked card.

I used an old Hero Arts sentiment

Tuesday 29 March 2016

CASology 191 - Washi


This week's CASology Cue Card is Washi!



I found this neon washi at Staples and new it would make a brilliant card! I spaced them out evenly and then cut a square. I cobbled together a sentiment from Right at Home Stamps (Simple Sentiments) and A Muse Studio (British Invasion).

Bold, bright colours work in CAS design - having lots of white space and a neutral card base keep it clean and also let the colours stand out!

Now it's your turn! We can't wait to see what you come up with! Don't forget to drop by the rest of the DT for more inspiration:

Monday 28 March 2016

MCV37 - Warmest Wishes


Here's my card for this week's Muse: ChristmasVisions challenge where Emily gave us this adorable Yeti-themed Holiday card:



I focused on Emily's:
-colours
-diagonal black stripes
-coloured sentiment

I used:
-Simon Says Stamp Jolly Snowman
-Ellen Hutson Tis the Season

Sunday 27 March 2016

Happy Easter!

Scroll down for my Featured Stamper post.


Papertrey Simply Spring Borders
Clearly Besotted Sweet Little Sentiments
Impression Obsession Egg die

FS477 - Thanks


This week's Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper is Jenn Shurkus. I chose this card as my inspiration:



I focused on Jenn's:
-black outlined diecut roses
-pink and black colour scheme
-theme (thanks)
-black sentiment

I changed:
-added green
-added white
-one less flower
-diecut sentiment

I used:
-Ellen Hutson Bold Blooms
-Hero Arts Thanks

When I finished that card, I made another. This one turned out to be a blend of this week's Muse (stone base) and the Featured Stamper (black base) as well as an experiment in how different backgrounds can make the card look completely different. Which one do you like?



For this one, I used:
-Ellen Hutson Mondo Hydrangea (with one blossom popped up)
-Ellen Hutson Fancy Thanks

Saturday 26 March 2016

Muse 158 - Thanks to Waltzingmouse



Here's my card for this week's Muse Challenge, where Tracey has given us a lovely spring inspiration:



I also made this as a tribute and thank you to Claire at Waltzingmouse Stamps. I'm sure by now you've heard that Waltzingmouse is closing at the end of March. Over the years I've collected a number of Waltzingmouse Stamp sets and many of the images and sentiments have become old favourites. This set was long on my wish list but for some reason never made it into my cart. When I heard that my time was limited, I purchased it right away and it seemed fitting to use it for today's card.

I focused on Tracey's:
-colour scheme (I popped the colours up a little)
-layout (I inverted it)
-black sentiment
-floral theme

I used:
-Waltzingmouse Simple Sprig
-Waltzingmouse Free Spirit Sentiments

Thursday 24 March 2016

Abstract Florals


So my Right at Home stamps came the other day - I ordered Abstract Florals and Simple Sentiments after seeing some amazing inspiration on their blog and from other stampers. I dove right in and these sets play well together!

I created a set of cards that could be a gift set or just used individually. I used the same layout (white square focal panel, soft stone card base) and played with some of the flowers.

Love the versatility of these stamps - solids, outlines, flowers, stems, leaves - the possibilities are endless!


Wednesday 23 March 2016

Dedicating Baby Joy


This past Sunday was my niece's dedication. Joy is about 6 weeks old and a real sweetie!

This is the card I made for her. I've been dying to use the new Lawn Fawn plaid DP and this seemed like a perfect occasion!

I used:
-Simon Says Stamp He Is Risen
-Clearly Besotted Brushed Greetings (it appears that there is now a second edition which has a different font)
-LawnFawn plaid dp
-Avery Elle Double-pierced square dies
-Stampin Up pearl

Tuesday 22 March 2016

CASology 190 - Weather



This week's CASology Cue Card is Weather.




I decided to be inspired by one of my favourite musicians - here we are together a couple of years ago:


I stamped a Waffleflower (Rain Check) lightning bolt in red and then masked and stamped a thin stripe of blue. The sentiment is from Inkadinkado.

Now it's your turn - March is definitely a month where weather is on our minds a lot (at least here in Toronto - it's always changeable, but hopefully on its way to warming up to a lovely spring!) Be sure to stop by the rest of the DT blogs for more inspiration:

Monday 21 March 2016

MCV36 - All is Calm


Didn't Cornelia amaze you with her debut as the newest DT Member at Muse: ChristmasVisions? Those amazing rich colours make for a dramatic, gorgeous card!



I focused on Cornelia's
-colours
-general layout

I used:
-Neat & Tangled Winter Wishes (I cut the main stamp so that I could make the snow white)


Sunday 20 March 2016

Fusion Challenge - Happy Birthday, Kim!


This is my second post today - scroll down for my Featured Stamper post.

Today is a very, very special day! It's Kim's birthday! Kylie is hosting a 2-week link-up so that you can join in (those Aussies, really know how to party, don't they? lol!).

I decided to use the current Fusion challenge as my inspiration:



I absolutely adore these little birds! I would never have remembered that I had them but because I have all my stamp sets catalogued in Evernote, I just typed 'birds' into the search function and these guys came up - in a Christmas set of all places!

As you can see, an old favourite has made another appearance - the sentiment has been used many, many time!

Happy Birthday, my friend! Wishing you a very happy day and a wonderful year!

I used:
-Simon Says Stamp Jolly Snowman
-Papertrey Birthday Bash
-MFT Wonky Squares die

FS476 - Thanks so very much


This week's Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper is Camille - (shortonideas, which is a play on her surname, she is absolutely NOT short on ideas!)

This is the card I chose as my inspiration:



I focused on Camille's:
-colours (turquoise, white and yellow)
-circle background
-white flower
-general layout (flower to the upper left)

I changed:
-number of circles in the background
-added a sentiment
-left out the gold
-different techniques - sponging and masking rather than die cuts

I used:
PTI Beautiful Blooms II Number 3 die
Reverse Confetti Posted Note Sentiments
MFT pierced square die

Saturday 19 March 2016

Muse 157 - Happy Birthday


Here's my card for this week's Muse Challenge, where Anita has given us this pretty, edgy inspiration:



I focused on Anita's:
-floral theme
-colour scheme
-general layout

I used:
-Papertrey Birthday Bash
-Lizzie Anne Designs flowers (retired)
-Simon Says Stamp Lots of Dots
-Hero Arts Neon Ombre Ink

The 'enamel dots' are stamped and then coated with Glossy Accents.

Wednesday 16 March 2016

Card Concept 51 - Happy Easter


Here I am for my second challenge as March GD for The Card Concept. Here's the new inspiration:




I fell in love with this Easter set from Sunny Studio when Stephanie brought it to Stamp Day on Saturday. I simply stamped the egg carton image, coloured with copics and stickles and added a Papertrey sentiment.

Lucky me! There are 5 Wednesdays in March so I get one more turn as GD - see you back here on March 31!



Tuesday 15 March 2016

CASology189 - Doodle



This week's CASology Cue Card is Doodle!



It's easy to keep one-layer cards CAS. It's even easier if you only use one colour and leave lots of white space.

I wanted my card to look hand-doodled but without the stress of getting it 'right' (meaning I stamped it rather than trying to actually doodle! lol!).

I thought blue ink would make it look authentic - often the pen I have in my hand when I doodle has blue ink!

I also used repetition - another doodly trick. For the flower, I chose an outline stamp and stamped it repeatedly, ensuring slight movement each time. For the sentiment, I chose one that looked handwritten.

I used:
-The Stamps of Life Daisies4You
-Simon Says Stamp Lots of Thanks
-Concord&9th Love you. Mean it. (flower centre)

Now it's your turn! Be sure to drop by the rest of the DT to see what they've come up with and then have some fun!

Sunday 13 March 2016

LT66 - Happy Birthday


Today I'm playing along with the current Little Tangles Challenge - Ombre. At our stamp day the other day, I had the opportunity to play with Emily's Scandinavian Prints (it's sold out as I write this, but what a fantastic, versatile set!) and my new Hero Arts Ombre Neon inks. I used Photo Booth for my sentiment and cut one flower with the matching die and popped it up for added interest.

I also tried a new trick I learned at our Stamp Day on Saturday, from Stephanie. Stephanie doesn't like to see the holes in sequins, so she puts a tiny dot of silver stickles in the centre - isn't it pretty?

FS475/ABNH - You Are Amazing


Congratulations to this week's Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper:  ju012835 (Julie). I chose this rainbow card from her amazing gallery as my inspiration:



I love using rainbow colours (linking up to ABNH's rainbow challenge) and I had some fun with a simple row of dots, lots of inks and some sentiments. In fact, I had twice the fun (see below for my second card).

I focused on Julie's:
-rows of rainbow colours
-black sentiment on the right
-'natural' image (star vs cloud)

I changed:
-did not separate my rows of colour
-added layers
-size and shape of card

I used (for both cards):
-Hero Arts Thanks (DC152)
-MFT Whimsical Greetings


For this one, I bent the row of dots (one of the benefits of using clear stamps!) and stamped a pattern to create this rainbow.

Yesterday was stamp day at my house! Look at all the talent in the room:


that's me (taking the selfie from a chair in my kitchen), Stephanie, Tracey, Tasha, Kate, Meredyth, Emily and Lindsey.

And on the deck (it was a great day!)


We had a Minc demo from Stephanie (and now we all need to foil all the things!) and played with all the new goodies we had all ordered since our last stamp day. And ate. And laughed. Mostly laughed! We've done this a few times now, so we're getting pretty good at being productive as well - I have a couple of fun cards coming up this week that I started during the afternoon. What a fantastic start to March break!


Saturday 12 March 2016

Muse156 - Thank You


I had a very productive afternoon on Wednesday and made 5 cards! I hadn't made any for a few days, so I clearly had some pent-up creativity just bursting to get out!

This one is for this week's Muse challenge, where Michele has given us this fresh inspiration:


http://icardeveryone.blogspot.com/2016/03/muse-card-club-challenge-156.html

I focused on Michele's:
-colour (I added black)
-sponged, blended area
-themes (floral, thank you)
-lots of white space

I used:
Papertrey Be
MFT Pierced Circle die
Twisted Citron and Mowed Lawn distress ink.

Friday 11 March 2016

MCV35 - Season's Greetings


I'm getting a head start on my Christmas cards by playing along with this week's MCV challenge, where Chriss has given us this classic, pretty inspiration:



I focused on Chriss':
-theme (holly)
-script sentiment

I changed the layout by turning it 90 degrees and adding one more sprig of holly.

I used:
-T and A Holly (retired)
-Simon Says Stamp Big Scripty Greetings
-Copics
-Wink of Stella
-Glossy Accents

Tuesday 8 March 2016

CASology 188 - Laugh


This week's CASology Cue Card is Laugh!



I don't have a lot of joke (or even punny) stamps, so I decided to go with a famous laugh.

When you look closely, this card really has quite a lot going on - die cut panel. Die cut & coloured image. Plus another solid, dark image/sentiment which grounds Santa. By limiting the colour palette to (mostly) red, white and black, and preserving white space, the card still feels clean and simple.

I used:
-MFT Jingle All the Way
-Simon Says Stamp Circles for the Holidays
-Avery Elle Double-pierced squares
-Copics
-Stardust Stickles

And now it's your turn! We can't wait to see what you come up with! Be sure to drop by the rest of the DT for more inspiration:

Monday 7 March 2016

MCV34 - Good Will to All


This is my card for this week's Muse: ChristmasVisions Challenge, where Kimberly gave us this dramatic, beautiful inspiration:



I focused on Kimberly's
-winged image ;-)
-gold embossing
-addition of colour

I used:
-Stampin' Up Dove of Peace
-Avery Elle Joy to the World

There is still time to join us - the deadline is 8 am on Wednesday.

Sunday 6 March 2016

FS474 - Merry!


This week's Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper is genistamps. She has a huge gallery of so many fun cards! I chose this one as my inspiration:



I focused on Geni's:
-patterned background
-die cuts
-two overlapping trees

I changed:
-background pattern
-used kraft instead of white die cuts
-added a sentiment

I used:
-WPlus9 Merry die
-WPlus9 Fair Isle backgrounds stamps
-Lawn Fawn Tree dies