Two challenges in one day!

Hi again,

I was going to set this to post tomorrow but then I forget to come back and link it to the challenge site, so you get 2 posts in one day (it's either feast or famine with me LOL).

I really liked the simplicity of this week's sketch over at Just Add Ink. I'm not sure, but this may be the 1st of their challenges that I've entered.

Firstly, the sketch:

And now my interpretation:

As usual, I am pretty literal with sketches, some people get so creative but I'm pretty much a 'take it as it comes' 'KISS' sort of stamper.

I inked up my 'Very Vintage' jumbo wheel in 'Rich Razzleberry' ink and stamped onto 'Very Vanilla' CS. I love this wheel, I should reach for it more often. Would like to try it in 'Marina Mist' on 'Very Vanilla' as well, hmmmm. I stamped the section of the wheel with the butterfly onto some scrap VV CS and cut it out (so much cutting today, at least more than I like to do LOL).  I stamped the flowers from 'Very Vintage' in RR and added some pearls, the smaller is from the new, fabbo, stick on pearls, the larger is from my (retired) Pretties Kit. Finally I finished off with a sentiment from the classic 'Sincere Salutations' set and added some (retired) RR ribbon. I can't wait to put it my next order (patiently, or not so, waiting until the new SU quarter) and get some of the new 'Rich Razzleberry' satin ribbon, yummo!!!!

Must head off, I desperately need a haircut and to buy some groceries, so must leave the land of stamping fun & go back to the real world :-(

Cheers,
Fi xox

The birthdays keep a-coming!

Hi,

It's been a while again. What with spending my days off making cards there is no time to edit & blog them. Also I was sick last week and Mum had an op this week (Hi Mum, MWAH!) so life has been rather busy. I work tonight but woke up early so have been madly loading pics to my computer. This will be a quick post but thought that was better than my usual 'no-post' LOL.

Firstly, Mum's b'dy card. I finally borrowed it from her. The photo is not vey good as I took it tonight, but it gives you the idea. I CASEd it from the fabulous Nancy Riley who unfortunately is taking a break from blogging as her daughter was in an accident. Thoughts and prayers to you Nancy!

This was a labour of love as you know how much I love cutting out (not!). I want a punch for these flowers! Mum likes the colours in the Cottage Garden DSP (as do I, will miss it so much when it retires) so I stuck with that. I love the 'Vintage Vogue' set too, hope it hangs around for the next few years. The sentiment is from 'Well Scripted' a US SU set. I love the Little Leaves Sizzlet die. My Big Shot has been used so much more since we got the SU dies over here :-)

My good friend Ang turned 30 in August and she made me a beautiful card for my birthday. I agonised over her card, wanting something special. Ang seems to make cupcakes for all their occasions and made her 1yo a giant cupcake for her b'day, so went with that for inspiration. I made a Side-step card, based on ones I found on Splitcoast, esp this one which directs you to a great tutorial, and this one.

And this pic shows it more side-on so you can see the 'steps'.

Sorry, the pics have come out a bit dark, problem with quick editing! I am going to miss this Sweet Always DSP, it is especially great for girly cards. Maybe I should order one last pack before it retires (in 9 days!!). I used the lovely 'Crazy for Cupcakes' stamp set & the cupcake wheel. The numbers are chipboard inked in Regal Rose & then liberally covered in glitter. Does anyone else find that they are as sparkly as the project after using this gorgeous glitter??? I added 2 little tags using 'Teeny Tiny Wishes' and the little tag punch. Love these little tags, you can add them to any project.

Anyway, this has turned out rather long for a 'quick' post so I better get moving. Hope you've had a great weekend. I am hopefully getting to catch up with the lovely Lavonne (my US stamp 'dealer' LOL) tomorrow. She is out here visiting her family. It is always wonderful to catch up with her.

Cheers, Fi xox

Birthdays keep on coming

Hi again,

Thought I'd better show some more cards before the pile becomes insurmountable. One of my best friends, Jenn, has a daughter who turned 12 on the 3rd. I saw this card by Andrea Walford & knew I wanted to CASE it. I didn't have the patience to do multi-coloured glitter and as we don't have the icecream stamps, I used my old faithful 'Crazy for Cupcakes'.

Am thinking some chunky glitter might have been better than the 3 'sprinkles' on the cake but all in all I was really happy with it. The DSP is from 'Sweet Always', the scallop edge is from a US only punch (but hope it is in our new catty) and the sentiment is from the 'Heard from the Heart' set (Autumn mini). The glitter is sprinkled over a piece of 'Sticky Strip', cool idea. The numbers are cut using my Big Shot & the alphabet die from the Autumn mini & then covered with glitter glue. A 12 y.o. can never have too much bling!

Next card is for my friend Pete's 30th, which is on Thursday. Once again I have CASEd Andrea. She makes great cards. Her original is far better than my CASE, would love to have a go using the 'Cottage garden' DSP but think of my mate as a blue rather than mauve sort of girl.

I have used the gorgeous, but sadly retired, 'Parisian Breeze' DSP and the co-ordinating colours of Kraft (soon to known as Crumb Cake), Baja Breeze and Close to Cocoa. The stamp sets are Vintage Vogue & a non-SU Happy Birthday. I added non-SU rhinestones. Once again I cut the numbers using my Big Shot (it is so handy!!!) only this time I covered them in Crystal Effects. A touch of Kraft taffeta ribbon & it was done.

I hope they like them,

Cheers,

Fi xox

Keesh's Sketch Challenge #20

Wow, two posts in one day. This getting up early makes me quite constructive LOL. I had a play with Keesh's latest sketch challenge. I used some of the lovely products out of the new Autumn-Winter mini (see this post for more details of mini cat). This was a lovely sketch.

I brought out my new Rich Razzleberry CS and combined it with Orchid Opulence CS. I used the new Cottage Wall DSP (love it!) and the beautiful Vintage Vogue stamp set. I also had a play with my new Sizzlits 'Little Leaves' and "Lots of Tags" Dies for the Big Shot. They are exclusive to Stampin' Up! and so cute. The ribbon is Rich Razzleberry and is plain on the reverse side (which maybe I should've used).

Here is my card:

I saw the idea for the ribbon trim on this blog and have been wanting to try it (just realised I've also used the same paper and stamps, didn't mean to, just remembered the ribbon detail from seeing it a few weeks ago). This is probably the happiest I've been with a sketch challenge card. Just love these colours & stamps.

Must go & do something, have to work tonight so I hope the roofing guy finishes in time for me to have a nap, otherwise I'll be up for about 26 hours (uugh).

Catch ya,

Love Fi xox