House Mouse in the Rain

I'm sure this House Mouse is enjoying his cool shower - just the thing while the weather is so hot.  Matching backing paper was used and the image was cut out using a label die from Stampin' Up (Sizzix framelit) with a largerone in a similar colour with pricking detail using a matching template.  This was then popped onto an embossed Top Note die shape and finished off with a Marianne corner, greeting and some flowers with Memory Box die cut leaves. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and take care in the extreme heat.

Daisies

The card I'm sharing today was made using Heartfelt Creations matching set of dies and stamps which I must say were a touch fiddly to cut out but I think I've worked out a fairly foolproof way. The daisies were coloured with Distress markers; backing paper is from a pad which lost its cover due to being around for so long and the label shapes (Sizzix die for Stampin' Up) were cut from pieces from the famous bits boxes.

Clean and Simple

The new challenge blog which launched last week at House of Cards has a monthly theme and within that month each week offers a different style or technique.  We are still with the colour theme set for July but this week the style is clean and simple which my 'regulars' will know isn't really a favourite of mine but then if we stick to what we know and enjoy it wouldn't be a challenge would it?

Working within this colour scheme I've made my clean and simple card with lots of 'white space' by die cutting a label in light blue using a Sizzix die (Stampin' Up) and cutting off part of it before running through a dots embossing folder.  I then stamped some flowers using a retired SU stamp set called Raining Flowers, cutting several layers and adding a gem together with a leaf using a Marianne die.  Greeting was produced on the computer, punched using a SU punch and popped onto a strip of rich razzleberry card to match the stamping.  Apart from the base card, all the components were made using oddments of card from my bits boxes - will they ever be used up - I doubt it!!

Balloons

The theme this week on the Make My Monday challenge is BALLOONS  of any type so I have chosen to go with an olde worlde hot air balloon using a stamp from Crafty Individuals.  It was stamped twice and the balloon layered up after colouring the white card by 'mopping' up some mixed Distress Stains from a glass mat. Background paper is from the Papermania Chronology range and I've raided my bits boxes for other items to include - luckily I had this die cut clock, the scrap of card stamped with cogs and the ticket so was able to colour them with distress inks to match.  I stamped the words and cut them out to resemble the chit chat stickers so apart from the backing paper the rest of the card has utilised things I already had around - they just needed finding and putting together.

I hope you are all enjoying the lovely weather although I must say that when you get really hot just sitting still it is a bit too much for me and I would prefer it slightly less warm - fussy aren't I??

Extravaganza Day

Yesterday I attended a Stampin' Up Extravaganza day with the talented Jenny of Stamping Moments  to showcase their new catalogue which launched on Tuesday.  It was a very 'full on' day with some lovely projects as usual.  Jenny always does us proud with great ideas and everything so well prepared for all of us which must be a mammoth task for her as there were around 30 people there.  I'm posting a general picture of the projects we made (now it is on screen it seems a bit blurry - sorry) but if you want to see more detailed pictures there are some to be found here on Karen's blog and also some images on Jenny's blog too..  I didn't completely finish any of the projects yesterday but carefully brought home all the bits and pieces and this morning I've finished them off.  I have a couple of family birthdays this month so the birthday organiser wallet and card/box containing chocolates may well be part of a couple of gifts.  That is of course unless I'm tempted to eat the choccies although don't really fancy them in this hot weather when I'd rather stick to salads and fruit. The tin contains five little notelets/cards with envelopes and the small gift card on the left is a little wallet which could hold a voucher or money.

4th July

The theme given for this month on the Chocolate Baroque quintiles swap was just this - 4th July which really had me stumped for a while and my original thought was to do something just using the colours until I saw some ideas on the Tim Holtz blog in keeping with the date.  I've made a rosette more or less as he had done using a Sizzix die and some tissue tape.  My next thought was celebrations, then fireworks, but of course no CB firework stamp until I remembered there was something which might do the job amongst my collection of their stamps.  I eventually used just the flower heads from a stamp in the Wisteria Lane collection and then sponged the card to look like night sky.  A Cuttlebug embossing folder was brought into service to make some red stripes and a silver star cut out for the centre of the rosette. A couple of words in the style of Tim's chit chat stickers and there it is - 4th July.  We submit two quintiles each month and I usually try to make them different but I'm afraid this month they are both almost the same which doesn't matter because when they are sent on to the other participants they will go separately to two people.  This monthly challenge is brilliant in that it makes me consider what stamps and other items I have which can be pressed into service for the various themes and often leads to quite a bit of 'thinking outside the box' and/or improvisation - sometimes even using stamps within a set which maybe haven't actually been inked before!!

Sweet Home Alabama

This song title is the theme of the Sunday Stamper challenge this week and Hels is asking for something relating to home.  I've used a quirky house stamp designed by Sam Poole, stamped twice and part of it cut out to add some dimension.  It was clear embossed and then coloured with Distress stains and Distress ink pads. The background was made using the same colours and was embossed using a Special Touch mask which I inked with the darker colour to transfer some colour to the white card before adding more ink after it was embossed. (colours used were Seedless Preserve and Mustard Seed).  The 'graffiti' was sponged through another mask using black soot ink and a text stamp also by Sam Poole was put onto a scrap of torn card, a little punched and coloured flower just finishes the grungy homely look. I must say my hands needed a good scrub after all that inky play!!