The Male Room #20

The last challenge for September begins at The Male Room today. And it's definitely a very seasonal theme this fortnight.

I had such an enjoyable time creating this card with one of my treasured Lili of the Valley stamps. In my opinion they do cute like no-one else and I love the added challenge of trying to make their stamps fit my preferred CAS style. Do you think I managed it?

I had this image of one of my grandsons having fun riding his bike throught Autumn leaves and making a huge tidal wave of them shoot out from behind. And that's what I tried to create on my card.

Some of the leaves are second generation stamping and I kept all the colours for both the leaves and the bike image to autumnal shades. Boy oh Boy!

Supplies:
Stamps: LOTV, Boy-Oh-Boy; Clearly Besotted, Design A Tree
Inks: Memento, rich cocoa, cantaloupe, tangelo
Promarkers: blush, dusky pink, satin, ivory, cool grey 1 & 3, marsh green, mustard, raw sienna, spice, caramel, cocoa, umber

My fellow teammies have done a fantastic job with their interpretations of this theme - check them out here.

So pleased you dropped by today, thanks so much. And keep crafting!

AAA Cards #49 - Word Play

A theme that is very much a favourite of mine is the new challenge at AAA Cards this fortnight. We want you to play with words. I love cards where the words take centre stage.

And I absolutely adore the meaning behind this quote - it's something I try very hard to remember. I'm guessing online shopping is not really in the true spirit of this quote either!

I wonder what the little bit more means to you. For me it has to be family getting together and the sparkling eyes of my grandchildren every time!

I stamped the horizontal grungy lines several times before overstamping with the quote and little holly leaves. I just added a bit of a statement with the red mat,  I think it lifts the colours and draws the eye to the main image.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU, Gorgeous Grunge; Kaisercraft, Christmas Feeling; Uniko, Background Builders Vines Winter Additions
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black, cottage ivy; SU, cherry cobbler
Die: Lawn Fawn, large stitched square stackables

Have you seen the amazing cards made by the AAA Cards DT? Well hop on over and check them out!

Thanks for looking at my blog today. I hope you've been inspired. And keep crafting!

Saturday Snippets

So I'm back today with my second scrapbook page that I created last weekend. Once again it's for a challenge at Scrap Our Stash, but this time it's their second challenge of the month and it has to include at least three school items.

There are a couple of hints included in the sketch, but I did manage to use a few more. Check this out and see if you can spot them!

I'm not sure if the two school boys (on holiday) count, but here's my list of what I included:

• exercise paper
• notebook top
• paperclip
• staples
• ruler washi 

When my oldest grandson was quite small I dug him a sand car to sit in and now every time we go to a beach it's almost mandatory to dig a car or boat. Today it was a sport's car!

And being the generous sharing type he built it with enough room for his brother and even let him have a turn in the driver's seat.

And to me this is magic to sit on a warm sunny day watching them have fun and get along - well at least long enough to snap a pic!

Supplies:
Papers & stickers: Simple Stories, Say Cheese & Say Cheese II
Punch: ek success, notebook top
Embellishments: washi, staples, paperclips from my stash

Thanks for your time today, I do appreciate it. And keep crafting!

Uniko Challenge #25 Reminder

Have you played along with the current Uniko challenge yet? It's all about Autumn with the optional twist of 'thanks'.

I was so taken by this card created by Hannelie that I just had to CASE it. And any excuse to use that fabulous new Uniko thanks stamp is not to be missed.

And don't those new matching gerbera dies from Uniko with their ease of placement work so well?

I'm so loving the gerbera in these autumnal colours!

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Pure Florals Gerbera, All Occasion Sentiments #6
Inks: SU, whisper white, early espresso
Promarkers: tulip yellow, mustard, raw sienna, terracotta
Die: Uniko, Pure Florals Gerbera
Embellishments: Papermania gems, sunshine

So are you ready to play now? If you need more inspiration pop over to the Uniko blog and check out the rest of the DT's creations.

Thanks for dropping by today. And keep crafting!

CAS Colours & Sketches #143

Can't believe it's already time for the final CAS Colours & Sketches September challenge. Pinch me, but won't it soon be time to start thinking about that C word!

So of course my card had to made with that in mind! A bit of a modern twist to the usual though and it could be used for an anniversary too.

I die cut the three different sized stars and popped some rainbow patterned paper behind the holes. I did intend to stop there, but then I had this idea that the actual star die cuts might look cool placed just off to the side of each hole. What do you think?

A simple greeting from that fab new Uniko set and I was done.

Supplies:
Stamp: Uniko, All Occasion Sentiments #6
Paper: Doodlebug, take note
Die: Xcut, stars

I'll hold you up no longer, but if you need more ideas for this sketch check out the DT creations here.

Thanks for visiting. And keep crafting!

Wednesday Words

As well as the cards I shared on the previous two posts I've found time to make a couple of scrapbook pages over the weekend. I'm feeling quite impressed with my craft room creativity time!

Today's page is for Scrap Our Stash Challenge #30.

        

I knew the three photos I wanted to use as they tell a little story, a bit like film reel stills. But that L-A-Y-E-R-S part, well that really had me thinking and I have to say borrowing ideas from the DT samples.

L - letters used in the title
A - arrows, ampersand
Y - yellow
E - enamel dots
R - red pen used for circles, red dots
S - stripes, splats

I used a tin and a red pen to draw several circles and repeated this using a smaller tin at the bottom right.

We all stood on the river banks waiting for him to fall in, but no agile and fit he skittered across sure footed and confident as only a child is.

Supplies:
Papers, alphas & stickers: Simple Stories, Summer Vibes
Dies: Avery Elle, pinked; Xcut, spiro circles; Die-namics, ampersand; Technique Tuesday, That Arrow Card; Ppaer Smooches, cardbooking
Stamps: SU, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink: SU, crushed curry
Embellishments: Doodlebug sprinkles, ladybug, spring & bumblebee asst.

I'll be back on Saturday to share my other scrapbook page and tomorrow and Friday with DT cards to showcase.  Thanks for looking today, hope to see you again real soon.

And keep crafting!

Monday Moment

Hi I'm back today to share the other card I made over the weekend and it's for Addicted to CAS where the code word is leaves.

So, of course it just had to be those gorgeous new leaves from Uniko.

I used a large acrylic block and swiped four Autumnal colours onto it. I then sort of dabbed the stamp around to pick up and overlap the colours.

I'm loving the smudgy uneven effect this technique gives and of course it stops any muddying up of the individual ink pads.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Natures Treasures II, All Occasion Sentiments #6
Inks: SU, delightful dijon, tangelo twist, sherry cobbler, baked brown sugar

Great to have you visit me today, thanks so much.  And keep crafting!

Sunday Slot

I've found a little time this weekend to make cards for a couple of challenges - seems ages since I've entered a challenge just for fun, so it was fun and relaxing.

Today's card is for The Card Concept and uses their fresh and pretty inspiration photo.

 

I adore that aqua blue colour and how the daisies look so stunningly white against it and that's what I tried to create with my card.

I decided to make my card strictly CAS and used just one image adhered flat with a simple sentiment.

And doesn't that Uniko die cut gerbera look amazing? I just added a little pale grey shading to the petals which you can just about see if you look very closely. It adds a touch of dimension and shows up better in real life.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Pure Florals Gerbera
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black
Promarkers: tulip yellow, cool grey 1 & 4
Punch: Xcut, corner rounder

Thanks for spending time looking at my blog today, it's much appreciated. And keep crafting!

Uniko - September Release Day & Bloghop

Yahoo! Release day at Uniko has finally arrived! And here's what you've been waiting for - the full reveal.

Bet you're finding it difficult to choose which one(s) will be jumping into your shopping basket! Well here's a little more inspiration for you and a chance to see just how beautifully the new sets will mix with those already in your stash.

My first card showcases Nature's Treasures II. I did originally plan to add a flower to the leaves - after all they do match perfectly with Beautiful Blooms II and Flower Power #6 - but then I decided a butterfly would maybe be just as good. And I'm thinking it does look so right - what do you think?

I stamped, coloured and fussy cut the smaller butterfly from the set and added a generous coat of sparkle. Then I stamped the butterfly again straight onto the card so that it didn't lose its antennae.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Nature's Treasures II, Simply Said Birthday, English Country Garden Butterflies
Inks: SU, pistachio pudding, wisteria wonder; Memento, tuxedo black
Stencil: Memory Box, texture mesh
Promarkers: violet, powder blue, bluebell
Embellishments: Wink of Stella, clear 

My second card uses both of the other new release sets and couple of smaller sentiments from Flower Power #5. I always love the look of mixed sizes and fonts on card sentiments and I think these ones work really well together.

Don't you just adore the new THANKS stamp? So bold and striking!

Do you keep all manner of bits and pieces 'just in case'? Well I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to White Stuff clothes labels and that's where the twine came from.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, All Occasion Sentiments #6, Background Builders Triangulate, Flower Power #5
Inks: SU, mint macoaron, watermelon wonder
Card: SU, mint macaron
Embellishemnts: twine, taken from a White Stuff label

Ok I'll stop my rambling and let you get on with the important stuff of blog hopping and maybe winning all of the new release. Here's the hop order:

Beverley

Deborah

Jane (that's me)

Nicki

Sarah G

Sarah P

Good luck! And keep crafting!

Uniko - Introducing Natures Treasures II & Challenge #25

Today sees the final introduction of the Uniko September release and also the start of a new Uniko Challenge. The theme for this month's challenge is Fall/Autumn with the optional twist of THANKS.

So this final set is a bit of a gift really allowing me to combine the two things in one card.

I've been loving all the cards I've seen around blogland recently that have a vertical strip created by masking off an area of the card, so I thought I'd give it a go. I used colours that I think are quintessentially Autumnal and blended them together with my Inkylicious duster brushes.

I removed the mask and stamped the two large leaf stamps from this set so that parts of them just overlapped the vertical strip. The addition of another sentiment from that new set - introduced here - finished off my card perfectly.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Natures Treasures II, All Occasion Sentiments #6
Inks: SU, daffodil delight, tangelo twist, real red, baked brown sugar 

We have two fabulous Guest Designers joining us for Challenge #25 - Ardyth and Pauline. Be sure to visit their blogs for outstanding inspiration and leave them some love while you're there.

So that concludes the introductions of the Uniko September release. Be sure to come back tomorrow when the entire release will be fully revealed and check out all the DT cards and join in the blog hop. As always there will be the chance to win all the new stamp sets just by visiting and leaving comments along the way. Put it in your diary, planner, phone notification, on the kitchen board or whatever you use!

Thanks for visiting today, I'm so pleased you spent some time here looking at my blog.

And keep crafting!

CAS Colours & Sketches #142

This is my second post for today. If you're looking for the Uniko new release introduction please scroll on down.

Today sees the start of a new colour challenge over at CAS Cards & Sketches. Once again they're chosen by Lizy and don't you agree she has a really good eye for combining colours?

Here's my card - and yes it's another thank you card. Just couldn't resist using the new Uniko All Occasion Sentiments #6 set which I introduced yesterday - here - and will be available to buy on Saturday.

In fact my whole card uses Uniko stamps and I love how the vertical elements balance out the bold horizontal sentiment.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Background Builders Flower Power, Background Builders Squared, All Occasion Sentiments #6
Inks: SU, wild wasabi, chocolate chip, lost lagoon

Thanks for your time today, I really appreciate your visit to my blog.

And keep crafting!