A birthday card for Lily & a sneak peek..

Hi Guys,

I am so loving having 5 days off. I forgot to mention yesterday that I had a fabulous time at the wedding on Saturday. It was a beautiful venue and it was great to spend the day with friends.

My mate Trace asked me to make a 'girly' card for her cousin's daughter who is turning 5. I have met Lil a few times and she is very cute, and quite precocious. I so enjoyed using Keesh's sketch last week for this card that I thought I'd have another play.

Another look at the sketch:

And Lily's card:

I have used some 'contraband' SAB product from the US The DSP and a sneak peek product from the new mini which starts on the 1st April. The scallop punch is in the current mini so get in fast! The number is from a non-SU die. I, of course, had to add some 'Champagne Mist' glimmer paint :-)
The CS colours are 'Pacific Point' (not so dark IRL), 'Melon Mambo' and 'Peach Parfait'. Can you guess which is the sneak peek  product???

Must run as have a lot to do. I am putting up shelves, rather unsuccessfully I must say. Think I'll need to get the plasterer out to fix my mistakes, oops.

ETA: I decided that I didn't like the 'Pacific Point' Scallop Circle so I changed it to 'Peach Parfait' and added a 'Melon Mambo' circle. I also popped on some 'Melon Mambo' sprinkles.

I think it is much more 'girly' now. What do you think?

Have a great day, and, Happy Birthday Dad xox
Cheers, Fi x

Another card for Dad!

Hi Guys,

It is Dad's birthday tomorrow. I'm pretty sure we're going to introduce him to the delights of Max Brenner, (Dad is a chocoholic). I made a card tonight for Mum to give him. He not only likes VW's, he loves steam trains. I've had this stamp for a few years and bring it out every so often so he doesn't get bored with it.
 For my layout I've used the Sweet Sunday Sketch #109:

Here is my card:

I've used some retired SU DSP and retired 'Kiwi Kiss' CS, as I figured I couldn't really use my 'Travel Journal' DSP again just yet ;-)
I inked the train in 'Basic Black', 'Basic Gray (sic)', 'Sahara Sand' and Old Olive' markers and then did some sponging in those colours, plus some 'Bashful Blue' for the sky. I stamped the sentiment (non SU) in 'Basic Black' ink on twill ribbon. Have been meaning to try some patterned stamps on twill as patterned twill ribbon is everywhere in the shops right now.
I added the Jumbo eyelets, these are my 'go to' embellishment for male cards as the look a lot like rivets. I swear Dad has received hardly any cards from me without them LOL.

I must admit that i am pretty happy with how this turned out, I think it looks better IRL.

I better head off as there is a thunder storm coming. This, combined with the night road works down the street is proving to be less than restful.

Catch you soon,
Fi x

I get to go to a wedding!

Hi Guys,

I haven't been to a wedding for about 18 months so am really looking fwd to going to Dave & Trish's tomorrow. It is cocktail dress so a fun excuse to get glammed up (or as glammed as I can). Also a good excuse for a pretty card :-)

I saw a pretty wedding card on Marelle's blog and decided to CASE it, as it was so lovely.

Here is my CASE:

I stuck to the main idea only I changed from 'Sahara Sand' to 'Crumb Cake', which I daubed with 'Champagne Mist' shimmer paint. If you've been popping by this blog lately you'll see that I am a fan of this stuff!

Here is a close-up of the shimmery effect:

I had recently bought a  set of stamps from PTI and thought it looked sufficiently 'weddingy'. I used it for main panel which is cut from SU's lovely 'Shimmery White' CS and stamped in 'Crumb Cake'. The sentiment is from SU's 'Teeny Tiny Sentiments', a great 'go to' set, and is stamped in 'Rich Razzleberry'. I added some non-SU pearls and popped it up on dimensionals (didn't realise the pearls were so crooked til I saw it here LOL). The 'Rich Razzleberry' layer is scored on my Scor-pal. The edging is punched from more 'Shimmery White' CS with the scallop edge punch. The ribbon is 'Rich Razzleberry' satin, just beautiful ribbon, and it is finished with a 'Vintage Brad'. I loved how the brad is nearly identical in colour to the 'Crumb Cake' stamping. I just hope the Bride likes it. They are having a wishing well so there is no gift to wrap prettily.

I hope you have a great weekend. I'm sure I will as I now have a beautiful 5 days off, yippee!!!!

Cheers,
Fi xox

Quick card for Dad

Hi Guys,

My Dad had a bit of an 'incident' involving a gas bottle and some flames recently. He was very lucky to get out of it with some 1st and 2nd degree burns to his arms and face and the loss of his eyelashes. Could have been much, much worse. Gas bottles are now strictly banned by my Mum!!!

I put together a quick get well card to put with some chocs, Dad loves anything with dark chocolate.

I started with this piece of, now retired, DSP, and took the colour scheme from it. I stamped the tree from the 'Thoughts and Prayers' set in Baja Breeze and then rimmed it with Not Quite Navy. The sentiment is in Not Quite Navy. I added 3 brads and layered it onto NQN CS. Simple but sufficiently 'blokey'. It is Dad's b'day on the 22nd but I made a more detailed card for that (see yesterday's post).

Ta for popping by,

Cheers,
Fi x

Blog Award

Just a quick post.

The lovely and talented Nikki Spencer gave me a blog award! Thanks Nikki, that is lovely of you.

I now have to share 8 things about myself:

1. I am sitting here with hair dye (temporary) on in preparation for attending a wedding this Saturday.
2. I work permanent night shift as I love the other night staff and it keeps me away from all the dramas of      the day.
3. I quite like doing handy stuff around the house but have to call on my friend's hubby's, or my Mum, for a hand at times
4. I am a shop-a-holic, clothes, shoes, stamps (no surprise there). I'll never be rich at this rate.
5. I love France and want to go back again, however, due to point #4, it is not likely to happen soon.
6. I am a churchless Christian, who needs to buck up and get churched!
7. I wish I was a better cook, cooking for 1 though is very boring and not a good practice ground.
8. I would be lost without my Mum!

Now to pass it on to a few other bloggers, in no particular order:

1. Petronela
2. Helen
3. Genelle
4. Andrea

Would love to mention more blogs but have to go and rinse my hair and cook my tea!
Cheers,
Fi x

An Inkspiration for Dad's birthday

Hi Guys,

Are you shocked by the number of posts this week? There is even one scheduled for tomorrow. Don't get too used to it LOL.

It is Dad's b'day on the 22nd and I have long wanted to have the PTI VW stamp as Dad had bugs when he was younger and has a soft spot for them. I finally gave in and ordered it when I was getting a few other things ;-)
When I saw the latest Inkspiration sketch I knew it would fit the bill perfectly (thanks Keesh & Inkspirations team).


The sketch:

And my card:

I used the Travel Journal DSP (from the soon finishing Summer Mini). I love this paper for blokes. Maybe I should stock up?!? I took the card colours of Not Quite Navy (NQN), Bashful Blue and Pumpkin Pie from the DSP. The circles were cut using my Circle Scissor Plus. The sentiment is from the PTI set. Thanks Kirsty for the inspiration for the 'Happy Birthday' banner.

I'm 100% certain that dad won't be looking at my blog. Mum probably will but she won't give it away (hi Mum *waving*). I probably should make one for her to give him too. I have a pretty cool train stamp I could use...

Must go and have a kip before work. Days off are oh, so short.

Cheers,
Fi xox

A Fiftieth

Hi Guys,

I have been having fun using my number dies. First it was to make my cousin's 40th card (here) and then it was time for a beautiful workmate to turn 50. She is one of the loveliest ladies you could meet and always a pleasure to have at work. I wanted to recognise that with a pretty card which was for all the staff to write in. I saw this FTL sketch on the 'Clean and Simple Stamping' blog and thought it would be great to use with my number dies.

I turned it on it's side and omitted the bow. I also made it into a rectangle. I also took inspiration from this card by the fab Maile Belles.

I used a background of textured Baja and added a piece of punched Crumb Cake. The very gorgeous Lavonne has sent me another stash of gorgeous contraband from the US (love ya Lavonne MWAH!). I adore this piece from the Springtime Vintage DSP in the colours of Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla and that is what I used for the main panel. (The other papers are yummy too, in Rose Red, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizazz and more...). The die cut and numbers are from PTI dies. I added the damask from the SAB set, Bliss, behind the numbers, stamped in Crumb Cake ink. The numbers are Marina Mist CS painted in Champagne Shimmer Mist (love the effect it gives). I also added some stick on pearls (idea borrowed from Maile's card) stick-on pearls. Finally a PTI sentiment was stamped on Vellum CS (also taken from Maile's card) and added using glue dots. Am thinking some brads might have been nice on each end of the vellum piece, oh well. The work girls were happy with it and I hope Dorothy liked it. I must admit, I was quite chuffed with it myself ;-)

Better go & get something done with this gorgeous day.

Ta for popping by,
Fi x

An engagement card

Hi,

Another post already??? The shock! I am enjoying a lovely day off and thought I might post another card. Mum needed an engagement card and I did a blog search for the 'Always' stamp set. I liked this one on Splitcoast. I changed it a little by using 'Marina Mist' instead of 'Bashful Blue' and changed the 'Whisper White' to 'Shimmery White'. I love it for weddings and engagements or any fancy occasion really. I also added a piece of 'Marina Mist' DSP from the Subtles Pattern Stack. I also only wanted two hearts.

I also took a close up to show the 'shimmer'. I 'painted' the 'Marina 'Mist' CS around the edges with 'Champagne Mist' Shimmer Paint, I love effect that it gives. It got quite a bit of use on my Christmas cards last year.

The sentiment is from 'Well Scripted'. I added a 'Marina Mist' button tied with a piece of 3.2mm VV Taffeta ribbon. Finally a stick-on pearl to finish it off. Mum seemed quite happy with it, which was the whole aim really.

I need o make a wedding card & a b'day card today, but really need a cuppa first ;-)

Have a great day,

Cheers,
Fi x

Quick Post

Hi Guys,

A very quick post as I wait, impatiently, for the mowing guy to finish so I can get to bed. Already got home 1.5 hours late after a big shift, so keen for bed. Also, had the adventure of no water last night, had to prevail upon a friend so that I could actually shower before work. Very glad to see that it is back on this morning :-)

I had a go at this week's 'Sweet Sunday' sketch. It seemed perfect for my cousin's 40th b'day card.

The sketch:

And my take on it:

I based it around the 'Sentimental Journey' DSP from the Summer mini, some great male papers. My cousin rides pushbikes over long distances so liked the map images. The base is 'Not Quite Navy' Cs topped by 'Bashful Blue'. The rectangles squares are mounted on 'Pumpkin Pie' CS. The diecut shape is cut from 'Bashful Blue' CS and stamped with 'Pumpkin Pie' ink.  The shape die & number dies are by PTI.

Must go and have a cuppa.

Have a great weekend,
Cheers,
Fi x