Kid's birthdays

Hi again,

Don't faint at me being here two days in a row! Several of my friends and my cousin have kids with December or January birthdays. Thus I not only made quite a few Christmas cards but had to come up with birthday cards as well. I showed some from early December on here but still have a few left.

Dominic was on 27/12. They spend a lot of time on the water so thought he might like the Extreme Surfer image. I inked up the background 'Splat' image from 'Extreme Elements' in white and the 2 different blues to create a bit of an 'oceany' feel. I was inspired by this card but the image seemed to suit better with the stripes vertical rather than horizontal. As I'm sure you've noticed, I love Pacific Point & Real Red for boys.

Next was Curtis, my friend from Tamworth's youngest. I can't believe that he is 7 already! I can't remember where I got the inspiration for the layout, it is pretty generic I suppose. I was going to use the 'Extreme Skateboard, but I was chatting to his Mum on the phone as I was preparing to make his card & she said the 'Extreme Guitar' would go down better. I inked up stamps from the 'Extreme Elements' set too (can you tell its a fav??) and used my fall-back for boys cards, Celebrations DSP. The '7' is a chipboard number, inked in white, then Pacific Point & covered in Crystal Effects. After all this I forgot to take it to the PO when I sent the parcel & had to post it separately, duh!

Finally, for now, a card for my good friends' '8' year old Zach. They are great kids and always open the card and really seem to appreciate the work that goes into them. Could be because their Mum is a scrapper...

I CASEd the same layout as the first (Dominic's) card but had much more time to play.  Celebrations DSP, check, 'Extreme Elements', check, "Pacific Point' & 'Real Red', check, 'Extreme' stamp, check, must be a boy's card LOL. I used my Big Shot to cut out the '8' and placed on a star cut using the large star punch. I love the 'Wish Big' stamp from the fab 'Word Play' set. So many great sentiments in this set. Anyway Zach was suitably impressed, and his Mum was amazed that I'd stamped the background behind the Skater, she thought it was DSP. My mission was complete!

Must get going. Need to have a cuppa and then consider going back to bed as I am working tonight. Got up for the plumber but bed is calling.

Cheers,
Fi xox

My nephew's birthday.

Hi Guys,

Things have been a bit subdued here. Two of my work colleagues were killed this week in a freak accident. Rebecca worked with us, mainly on the wards but occasionally in Delivery Suite, and Jan did her midi training with us and was working in the Early Childhood Clinics. They met for lunch and were waiting to cross the road when a van veered out of control, hitting them both. Rebecca had worked in ICU and her partner also works in the hospital, so it has affected everyone greatly. It is a reminder to value and care for one another. I also mildly injured my back on Thursday night and have been sitting on the lounge with hot & cold packs for two days. It is one of the few times I can truly say I would've rather been at work. The way everyone is pulling together and supporting each other is truly a blessing.

Enough sadness, I have made 2 cards this week but the layouts come from two different sketch challenges so will put them in separate posts. Firstly I have used the latest sketch challenge of Keesh's (#43). I had already planned on using my 'Extreme Guitar' and 'Extreme Elements' in a challenge this week as I needed to make a card for Jake, my soon to be 15y.o. nephew. I saw Kirsty use the same set but decided to go ahead anyway.

First, the sketch:

And now my card:

I've based the colour scheme on the 'Greenhouse Gala' DSP as Jake's fav colour is (or at least it was) orange. I've used Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizazz (love this green, must get more CS in this colour) and Baja Breeze CS. I've distressed the edges in keeping with a rock/boy look. Maybe i should add some black around the edges to grunge it a bit and add some definition?

The pic quality is poor as I took it tonight under my desk lamp. It has to get to Russia by the end of the month so need to post it tomorrow. Thank goodness that I can drive again. My sore back has mainly been in my left hip and the pain radiated down my left leg, thus making it difficult to use my clutch. I see the osteopath tomorrow so she should get me sorted.
ETA: am changing things around to try and get link on Keesh's site to work with no success :-(

Will go & write my 2nd post
Love Fi x
RIP Rebecca & Jan, you'll be sorely missed

How can my nephew be turning 16???

Hi again,

As the title suggests, I can not believe my nephew could possibly be that old. Hardly seems any time since he was a baby. He lives in Russia and wants money for his b'day but we are sending over cards (of course!). I made one from Mum & Dad & one from me. I am pretty sure I am safe to post it here before we send it as he's not likely to be perusing my blog LOL.

Firstly the one from the Grandparents:

I took the layout & basic idea from here and the grunged it up a bit and moved the stars around. I love stars for male cards. I finally got 'Wonderful Favourites' when it was on sale earlier this year and it is such a handy set. Perfect for a card from Grandparents. I couldn't use 'favourite' as there are 2 grandsons. I took inspiration for the colours from the 'Sweet Pea' DSP, again sent to me by Lavonne (wow Lavonne, you're a life-saver!!!). While I really love our Aussie DSPs it has been a bit 'light-on' for male papers (the 'Urbans' & 'Windsor Knot' have been the main ones with suitable 'boyish' papers). I really like this stripe from the 'Sweet Pea' papers for guys. I used the fabulous alphabet sizzlits (exclusive to SU) with the 'Big Shot' for the '16' and the 2 star punches. The silver embossed star uses a PTI stamp set that co-ordinates with our star punch. The little stars are from a retired SU set that is too handy to give up. The colours are 'Taken with Teal', 'Pumpkin Pie' & 'Basic Grey'.

Now for the card from me:

I must be honest & say that I was thrilled with how this turned out. I took the layout from a past Inkspirations Sketch challenge, #29 (se below) and inspiration from this fab card by Louise Ryan. I have been meaning to CASE it for ages, but then really liked this layout.

I have once again used SU 'contraband' from the States. I love, love, love these 'Extreme' sets. I think there might be a riot if these don't turn up in our next Catty. There is a large number of demos who have been asking for them for a few years now. They are so good for teen boys. There is the 'Extreme Elements' set used for the background image on the circle, & then individual stamps, this guitarist, a skateboarder, snowboarder, surfer & dirt-bike rider. Who couldn't find a use for at least some of those images????

Anyway, back to the card. I started with 'Night of Navy' CS and stamped it in Silver Encore ink using a retired stamp set (Starring You???). I stamped my background from the 'Extreme Elements' set in 'Night of Navy', 'Pumpkin Pie' & 'Kiwi Kiss' & black embossed the guitarist image over the top. I cut out the image, plus 2 more circles in 'N of N' & KK CS using my 'Circle

Scissors' (with lots of Dotto, that is absolutely essential in getting great circles). I cut two rectangles of CS in KK & PP & distressed the edges using my 'Cutter Kit'. I stamped them with 2 of the 'Extreme Elements' images. The Circle is raised up on Dimensionals. I used yet another contraband stamp from the US set 'Four Square', inked in N of N on Whisper White CS. I loved this stamp for boys cards. (thanks again Lavonne!). I backed it with a square of 'N of N', using my square punches.

Well, that is about it for today. I have a few more cards up my sleeve so hopefully will post a bit more frequently. Thanks for popping by. Must have a cuppa & then face cleaning the bathroom (uugh). Then I'm off to take Dad shopping for Mum's b'day (you never read that Mum, LOL).

Cheers,

Fi xox