Unity Flowers

Hello hello! Hope you all had a lovely weekend and that Monday has been going smoothly for you. I'm playing along today with CAS-ual Fridays' Flowers or Trees challenge and Virginia's View Challenge #4 at Lily Pad Cards.  I've used images from Unity's April 2012 KOM and done lots of embossing and fussy cutting.  Have you ever tried stamping while you have the hiccups?  If not, try and avoid the situation if at all possible because it's a real pain in the butt!!  Makes for some really squiggly lines...
And since the challenge at Simon Says Stamp is still open I'll be adding this to their Anything goes gallery!  Have a lovely evening!

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Flower and plaid from April '12 KOM - Follow Your Own) Unity, (Sentiment from Mat Stack 3 Collection) PTI
Inks: (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Pure Poppy) Stampin' Up
Embossing Powder:  (Blakc) Ranger
Gems:  (Ladybug Assortment and Beetle Black Assortment) Doodlebug

Mother's Day In Bloom

Good morning, all!  Just came back from a lovely walk with the hounds and am ready to start the day!  Tonight we're having a few people over for a Mexican dinner for my Uncle's birthday so there's lots to do to get ready for that.  For now though I'm sneaking in with a last minute entry for the challenge at Jay Gee's Nook (and one more for Simon Says Stamp of course!).  As usual all the inspiration pictures are gorgeous and bring lots of ideas to mind but I was particularly drawn to the top right picture this time.  I really like those black and orange stripes and I used my new (to me) In Bloom stamp.  Love this flower image!  I used the rock and roll technique to make the edges a little darker which I don't think I've really tried before but I like the result.  Okay, off to start prepping the chicken enchilada casserole.  Yummy!!  Have a wonderful day!

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Orange) Bazzill, (So Saffron) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  Doodlebug
Stamps:  (Flower and leaves from In Bloom, Sentiment from Fillable Frames #4) PTI
Inks: (Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi, Always Artichoke) Stampin' Up
Copic:  E08
Gems:  (Bon Bon Assortment) Doodlebug

Twinkle Twinkle

I haven't played with Unity's Friends With Flair in ages so I'm excited to join in this week and especially excited to be using such a new stamp.  I find that my latest purchases tend to sit for ages before I ink them up which is really silly so I've used the star stamp from April's KOM.  It's such a sweet image and could be used for so many occasions but my first thought was for a baby card.  Handy since I needed one for a baby shower!  ;)  I've matched it up with one of my favourite Hero Arts background stamps and a Paper Smooches sentiment.  And this is another one for Simon Says Stamp's Anything Goes Challenge!  

How cute is this little sheep?  I admired one that the wonderful Kirsty of 365 Days of Pinterest Creations gave away a while back and she very kindly sent me my own!  Also included were candies for Luis and I, treats for the hounds and some beautiful chopsticks that Kirsty's lovely mum brought back from her travels to visit Kirsty's sister.  If you've never checked out Kirsty's blog then you must go now!  Not only does she share a fabulous new recipe/craft/home decor/etc idea every day but her brilliant, funny family is also fully involved in the Pinterest mania.  There's never a dull moment in the Colquhoun household!  :)  
Cardstock:  (White) Handy Hippo, (Rustic White) PTI, (Yellow) Bazzill, (Night of Navy) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Stars from April '12 KOM - Follow Your Own) Unity, (Background) Hero Arts, (Sentiment from A Little Lovin) Paper Smooches
Inks: (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Clear, Seafoam White) Ranger
Dies:  (Die-namics Stacking Stars) My Favourite Things
Copic:  Y17
Gems:  (Bumblebee Assortment) Doodlebug

Chevron Vase

**This is my second post for the day.  Please scroll down or click here for my Retrosketches/JUGS post**

As promised I'm back with another post. This card is for the latest Embellish challenge - this time to use chevrons and this sweet colour palette in your design. I've seen this layout around a lot lately - and used it once before - and really like it's versatility.  For this card I pulled out 4 Papertrey Ink sets to ink up and dressed up the flowers with some bling.  I'll also be sending this card over to the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge to meet up with it's friends from my last few posts!  :) 


I'm trying to make lots of Mother's and Father's Day cards as I have an Art in the Park event coming up next weekend and figure these might be handy to have.  Should really make some graduation cards too...  


Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Perfect Plum, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Vase & flowers from Asian Fusion, Oval from On My Couch Additions, Chevrons from Background Basics: Chevron Stripes, Sentiment from Fillable Frames #4) PTI
Inks: (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Blushing Bride, Pool Party, Perfect Plum) Stampin' Up
Gems:  (Cupcake Assortment) Doodlebug

Peace

After working at the last minute on Monday I ended up having today off which is pretty sweet!  I got to catch up on challenges that I otherwise would have missed so I'll have another post later this evening.  This card was made using the fun sketch at Retrosketches and the bright and bold colours at Just Us Girls.  I decided that the peace sign from Market Street Stamps and this sentiment die from Papertrey Ink were made for each other so I teamed them up for some bright cheerful fun.  :)  This card will also be joining the fun at Simon Says Stamp's Anything Goes challenge.  Okay, off to walk the hounds and then I'll be back with another post!

Cardstock:  (White) Handy Hippo, (Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Peace Sign from Hippie Chic) Market Street Stamps, (Background from Polka Dot Basics) PTI
Inks: (Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade) Stampin' Up
Punches:  (1 1/4" circle & 1 1/2" circle) EK Success, (1/8" hole punch) McGillDie:  (Wonderful Words: Holiday) PTI
Gems:  (Tangerine Assortment) Doodlebug

Vroom Vroom!

I'm playing along with three challenges for this card.  I started by using the sketch from The Paper Players.  I flipped it 180 degrees and simplified it a bit - no element across the top of mine (so it might be out of the running but so be it).  I stamped and  paper pieced the scooter instead of colouring it (because I prefer paper piecing) and so this is eligible for Young Crafters Unite's challenge - No Colouring Allowed..  How perfect for me!  And finally, of course, this is going in for the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge.  
That scooter reminds me of my first bike.  Here in Bermuda you can get a bike license when you turn 16 (no car license until you're 18).  You can also only have one car per household so most families have a car and a few bikes on hand.  I made a Father's Day card because more often than not the moms around here commandeer the cars so dads go off to work on their scooters in their Bermuda shorts with their ties flapping in the wind.  :)

Cardstock:  (Cream) Pacon, (Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Marina Mist, Soft Suede) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Scooter & smoke from Spiffy Scooters, Sentiments from Birthday Buddies, My Guy, & Alphadots) Paper Smooches
Ink: (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

How've You Bean?

My attempts to complete a CAS-ual Fridays entry before 10pm on a Wednesday night continue to be thwarted.  I was called in to work last minute yesterday and so lost my most productive crafty day of the week.  I did manage to get a card made this afternoon though so I am squeaking it in at the last minute once again!  This is the first time I've used that Paper Smooches coffee cup although I don't know why I waited so long.  I love it and it's so perfect for paper piecing!  I have no idea who makes those fun patterned papers as they came in a grab bag that I bought.  I especially love the orange sheet and wish I had more!  The sentiment is from Purple Onion Designs' Coffee & Tea Set.  Simon Says Stamp is having another Anything Goes Challenge - sponsored by Paper Smooches no less - so I'm going to enter this over there as well.  I really could use a gift certificate!  :D

Cardstock:  (Textured White) Bazzill, (Rustic Cream) PTI
Stamps:  (Coffee from Hot Concoctions) Paper Smooches, (Sentiment from Coffee & Tea Set) Purple Onion Designs
Ink: (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up
Die:  (Nesties Classic Scalloped Squares Large) Spellbinders
Gems:  (Tangerine Assortment) Doodlebug

Rainbow of Smiles

Hello, all!  I have another entry here for the Paper Smooches Sparks design team call.  I went very literal with this one as I love the vertical rainbow and the little heart in the inspiration picture.  I paper pieced the I's and the heart and popped it on an Island Indigo background.  I'm really digging that colour right now - it's an awesome blue!


We had another gorgeous day here of walking, swimming and playing ball with the hounds.  Atticus almost got ahold of another chicken this morning and was really not best pleased that we thwarted his efforts.  The government is actually trying to cull the feral chicken population at the moment and I'm sure Atti would love to volunteer to help!!  


Cardstock:  Cardstock:  (White) Pacon, (Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Heart from Falling for You, Sentiment from Giddy Bugs) Paper Smooches
Inks: (VersaFine Onyx Black)Tsukineko
Punch:  (Corner punch) Marvy Uchida

Embossing Bonanza

It has been a glorious day here and it almost felt wrong to spend most of it in the Craft Cave but I had quite a few special orders to get finished.  I did get out for a bit to play ball with the hounds and hold the ladder for Luis while he did some more painting so it wasn't a total loss. :)  
This card is for the April Paint the Town challenge at Market Street Stamps.  It was an embossing bonanza and not a speck of excess powder was spilled in the process!  I even dared to open the windows.  (It can be dead calm outside but if I open a pot of embossing powder then a gale is sure to start blowing so the windows generally stay firmly shut).  Today was too beautiful not to open them though and thankfully it stayed calm. Okay, must get a few things done before I'm off to a baby shower.  Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

Cardstock:  Cardstock:  (Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Make a Memory, Paisley background) Market Street Stamps
Inks: (VersaMark Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger

Die:  (Nesties Labels 14) Spellbinders

Copics:  R29, Y02, G02, B02

Die-cut Flashback

Yikes!  Almost missed out on entering the latest Flashback Friday Challenge - first project using a die cut.  This card is from December 2010 and the original post can be found here. I remember that when I finished and looked at it I wished I'd embossed the card base - looks a bit plain - but I wasn't going to pull it apart and start again.  I also (according to my post) had some trouble figuring out how to open my first Stampin' Up ink pad!  LOL!  My blondness really gets the best of me some days...  

Feather Flowers

***This is my second post today.  Please scroll down or click here to see the Best RAK Ever!**

Hi again.  Popping in with an entry for the latest Paper Smooches Sparks challenge and the Paper Smooches Design Team Call.  It also qualifies for the CAS-ual Fridays Opposites Attract challenge to use opposing colours on the colour wheel.  I was inspired by the colours from this fabulous quote (I'm right there with you, Dorothy!) and I used one of the feathers from My Peeps to create the flower petals.  The sentiment uses a combination of words from Word Up and Sentiment Sampler.  Off to walk the hounds.  Have a good evening all!  

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Rustic Cream) PTI
Stamps:  (Feather from My Peeps, Mom from Word Up, You're Special from Sentiment Sampler) Paper Smooches
Inks: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko,  (Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo) Stampin' Up

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Copics:  YR07, BG05, BG09

Button:  Craft supply

Best. RAK. Ever.

You may remember a couple of months ago that CAS-ual Fridays challenged us to make cards inspired by movies.  In this post I talked about how my two favourite movies are "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Love Actually" and how "Silence" was perhaps not so inspirational in the card department.  The fabulous Jessi of OneCraftyMama apparently shares my love of this movie and said she wanted to make a "Lotion in the basket" card.  I told her if she made one she would be my favouritest person in the whole world.  Well, she did and now it's official who my favouritest person is.  Check out this brilliant and hilarious creation!

How awesome is this??  The fabulous weaving on the basket, the extra long twine for lowering it into the well, the wonky letters (perfect for an extremely wonky Buffalo Bill) and most of all the skin vest which you have to feel to believe.  And not only did Jessi slave over this amazing card but she also sent me a ton of pearls (because I lamented having none) and some of her fabulous crochet mats.  Our little blogging community continues to amaze me.  I am always stunned by the caring and generosity of everyone out there.  Erin of Homemade Cards by Erin is another example of how generous bloggie friends are.  She saw a comment I posted on someone else's blog about needing to get my hands on some SRM stickers.  So what did she do?  She sent me some.  Just because.  I just want to say thank you to all of you wonderful ladies out there who I am so grateful to have had the chance to get to know.  I am so thankful that some cardstock, glue and computer magic has brought you all into my life!  Have a wonderful day! 

Let's Patch Things Up

I was absolutely thrilled to bits to be asked by Arielle to be a guest designer at ColourQ this week.  It has long been one of my favourite challenges and I've been honoured to be a Colour Queen on more than one occasion.  :)  I love the colours and the inspiration photo this week and after perusing my Unity binders I came across this cute patch stamp and sentiment.  I initially planned to cut and paste all the images but then I decided to be brave and try some masking.  I figured the simplicity of the shapes would make them good to practice with.  Now, go on over to ColourQ and check out what the rest of the fabulous DT has cooked up this week.  And be sure and stop by here tomorrow to see the brilliant RAK that I received!


Cardstock:  (White) Gina K
Stamps:  (Patch and sentiment from July '09 KOM - A Pocket Full of) Unity
Inks: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko,  (More Mustard, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up, (Terra Cotta) ColourBox
Copics:  E08, R05

Birthday Fishes

The Opposite Attract Challenge at CAS-ual Fridays this week involves using opposing colours from the colour wheel.  I went for the blue/orange combo and used these cute Paper Smooches fishies and created waves using a scallop die.  


Have you seen the list of new design team members at CAS-ual Fridays?  I was excited to see that they're all bloggers whose work I follow but I was SUPER EXCITED to see my friends Lynn and Jenny on the list.  Whoop whoop, ladies!  Can't wait to see your first projects!  :)  


Cardstock:  (White, Blue, Oranges) Bazzill

Stamps:  (Fish & sentiment from Birthday Buddies) Paper Smooches

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Pumpkin Pie) Stampin' Up

Die:  (Medium scallop die) PTI

Stack o' Birdies

I love this week's Tuesday Trigger Challenge at the Moxie Fab World.  It's clean and graphic with a lovely, cool colour palette.  There are so many fabulous bird dies out on the market that would work perfectly here but I don't own any of them.  However, the three stacked birdies made me think of this Hero Arts stamp which hasn't seen any ink in a while so I stamped, embossed and paper pieced my way to this little card.  I've seen some awesome takes on the Trigger so far and I'm going to go check out the list and find some more.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!


Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Certainly Celery, Marina Mist,Lucky Limeade, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Three Birds, Sentiment from Birthday Sayings) Hero Arts

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear, Seafoam White) Ranger

Thanks, Teacher

Another yummy colour palette from Arielle this week over at ColourQ - not to mention the cool, graphic inspiration picture!  I tried a few different graphic ideas that didn't really cooperate with me so in the end I went with this idea for a teacher thank you card.  I love stamping in VersaMark (and not embossing) to create backgrounds.  Simple but effective.  


I went to yoga this morning which I'm very proud about.  I'm not normally one to stick with exercise routines but I've been going to boot camp on Tuesday nights and yoga on Saturday mornings for a few weeks now.  I'm actually enjoying both as they are small groups and the instructor is lovely while still kicking our butts!  It's exciting to finally be sticking to something.  Long may it continue!  :)

Cardstock:  (Black) Bazzill, (White) Pacon, (Lucky Limeade) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (All from School Time) PTI

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade) Stampin' Up

Punches:  Corner punch) Marvy Uchida, (1/8: hole punch) McGill

Just Chicken In

Popping in with a last minute entry for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge to use something you would find in an Easter basket.  Chocolate eggs, bunnies, chicks, even lambs all come to mind when I think of Easter baskets.  Also that crinkly plastic grass stuff.  I made a card with the grass and a chocolate bunny in mind but wasn't thrilled with the result. Unfortunately I screwed up the sentiment and dithered about how to fix it until I ran out of time.  I wasn't going to show it but now I think I will.  We all screw up cards once in a while right?

The reason I didn't have much time in the Craft Cave is also the reason I haven't been around in a few days.  I got sucked into a TV show.  I very rarely watch shows when they're actually airing because if I miss one then I can't watch anymore because I'm a little bit AR/OC that way (I know, I know - Tivo would solve my problem but that's not happening). So what I do is buy boxed sets once a series has finished completely and then watch them all at once.  (Same with books - I didn't read Harry Potter until they'd all been published). This means I'm usually pretty behind but hey, it works for me.  So on Saturday night I broke open Moonlight.  Did anyone watch that?  It only lasted one season (2007-2008 I think) and it was a bit cheesy and no one was gonna win any acting awards for it but boy did I get invested!  (It didn't hurt that Alex O'Loughlin is so easy on the eyes either).  Needless to say every spare second since Saturday night has been lost to Moonlight.  Thanks goodness it was only one season long!  Can you imagine what might happen when I start watching ER???  I may never be heard from again! 

Cardstock:  (Kraft) PTI, (White) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  (Bottom strip from The Green Stack) DCWV, Yellow & Oange) Le P'tit Bloc
Stamps:  (Chick from Chubby Chums) Paper Smooches, (Letters from Smitty's ABCs) Lawn Fawn
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Die:  (Medium Scallop Edge) PTI

Back in the Cave

I spent yesterday loading everything back into the Craft Cave and sorting and reorganising it all.  I love doing that!  It looks so much brighter and more spacious now and I'm not tripping over things every time I turn around.  Despite how lovely it is I still felt a bit rusty when I went in there today - I always do after a few days off.  I managed to put together a card for a few challenges though.  Today is the last day to play along with the Practical Solutions for Paper Crafters challenges at the Moxie Fab World and my card fits into two of the categories:  The Don't Throw It Away Challenge and the DIY Embellishments Challenge.  Some of Unity Stamp Company's packaging has these perfect polka dots on kraft card.  I die cut one of my flowers from it (Don't Throw It Away) and layered it with a bigger flower, some buttons and twine to make a DIY Embellishment.  I used Lynn's sketch from Retro Sketches for my design and, since I used two of my favourite tools (my Cuttlebug and heat gun), I'll be entering this over at the Simon Says Stamp Favourite Tool Challenge. 

Cardstock:  (Early Espresso, Pool Party) Stampin' Up 
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye

Stamps:  (Flower from Beautiful Blooms II, Sentiment from Birthday Bash Sentiments) PTI
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Dies:  (Double-Ended Banners, Beautiful Blooms I #1) PTI

Buttons & Twine:  Craft supply