Baby Boy

I had to make a card for a new baby boy and rummaging through my card box I came across this one.  I had only to add baby's name and date of birth - I printed these details out on Tesco Finest paper, towards the end of the page, snatched the page from the printer as soon as it emerged and dumped Cosmic Shimmers Silver metallic embossing powder on fast before the ink could dry.

Image: Paws-fur-a-moment
Spellbinders scalloped circles
Card sponged with Broken China distress ink
Outline stickers, ribbon from stash

Sorry about the dark photo - the light is so poor these days.

Ger x.

Cardz n Scrapz Challenge

The challenge was to use Paper Pleats, Distress and Lace.  I rushed this like mad because I needed to photograph it before the daylight went and I thought the deadline ended that day, in fact I had another two days!

I used a resist techique for the background from Jennifer McGuire's Thinking Holiday Inking series.  Glossy paper is stamped with clear ink, heat set, then distress inks applied and buffed on top.

Flourish stamp and bauble stamp: Hero Arts
Whiff of Joy snowflake die
Paper and sentiment: Papermania
Lace, stickles, brad, ribbon from stash

Cardz-n-Scrapz Challenge Paper Pleats, Lace, Distress

Thanks for looking

Ger x.

wee Memories Fantastic Blog Candy

Have you seen this massive blog candy?!

Even better, have you seen wee Memories blog?  I began following lately and have had a wonderful time looking through this inspirational blog.

This fabulous blog candy ends November 30th so there's still time!

Ger x.

Kraft

The Chinese say, 'May you live in interesting times.'  Well I decided to give my voice a rest and leave the others shouting at the TV News, and retreat to the kitchen.  Pulling out the Kraft cardstock that arrived yesterday I was soon in a more philosophical mood ('Ah sure it's only money') while I crafted away.

Lovin the Kraft cardstock with Christmas colours!
Papermania A6 Kraft card blank
Papers Forever Friends Cosy Christmas
Anita's Outline Stickers white lacy sticker
Craft Planet Funky Felt
White gel pen
X-cut corner rounder
docrafts Glitter Glue
Glue pen and white embossing powder
Red & White Baker's Twine

Pink Christmas

Hi all, very chilly and foggy here all day.

I made this card using Papermania Classic Christmas crafting pack, plus some glitter glue, gems and lace.

I am entering this into Clare's Sketch Challenge 9th-16th November
also Creative Inspirations Challenge 86: Pink Christmas

Hoping to get some more Christmas cards made today!

Thanks for looking

Ger x.

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge: Autumn Colours

The technique used for the leaves is great fun!  I found it at Linda Cain's blog, take a look!  You need the packaging from Tim Holtz Alterations - I'm so glad I didn't throw out my Tattered Florals packaging last week.  Alcohol inks are applied, then when you use your heat gun it starts to curl and while it's warm you can manipulate the plastic.

For the acorn I used the method described here by Sheila Haliwell of docrafts

After all that, I decided to keep the rest simple.  I applied the same alcohol inks used on the leaves to the felt and swiped them across the card in a stripe.

I am entering this into Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge Nine: Autumn Colours
Stamp Insanity: Punches
Lexi's Creations: Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion 31: Two of Anything
Top Tip Tuesday: use an image/sentiment
Thanks for looking

Ger x.

Glossy Cardstock
Adirondack Alcohol Inks: Caramel, Red Pepper, Lettuce, Gold Mixative
Tim Holtz Alterations plastic packaging
 Brown Cardstock
Flower Punch
Glitter Glue
Sentiment: Creative Expressions 

For You

Had fun getting pink and girly.

I'm entering this into Sparkle Dreams 2nd Challenge which was to follow a sketch.

Paper: docrafts Henbury Lane
Pink Core'dinations card
Letters: docrafts
Marianne Creatables die
Ribbon, charm, gems from stash
Martha Stewart punch
Stamp: Moments in Time, Just for You, coloured with Promarkers

Thanks for looking

Ger x.

Thinking Holiday Inking

Have you checked out Jennifer McGuire's new Thinking Holiday Inking video series?  It's now in Week 5 and so inspirational.

I had never thought of using alcohol inks on watercolour paper before.

The bauble stamp is clear ink stamped onto watercolour paper, heat embossed with clear powder, then alcohol inks with gold mixative and blending solution pounced on top.  The inks sink into the watercolour paper leaving the mixative on top.

The bauble was stamped again with olive green ink onto white card then clear embossed several times to give a glossy finish.

This has been entered in Thinking Holiday Inking Week 5 - Alcohol Inks and Watercolour Paper

Paper: docrafts Forever Friends Cosy Christmas
Scalloped border: docrafts Hampstead borders and icons
die-cut sentiment: docrafts Henbury Lane paper pack
Stamp: Hero Arts cling bauble stamp
X-Cut Scallop Scissors, Large
Glitter glue, string

I am also entering this on:
One Stop Craft Challenge 105 - Embossing
Make it Monday - Share your Creativity!
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge: Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge 30: Anything Goes

My very first blog awards!

I'm really thrilled to get these awards!

The first is from Sally Atkins.  I've been following Sally's gorgeous blog for some time and I just love her colourful creations.

The rules for this award are:

• Thanks the person who gave me the award - Thanks, Sally!
• Put the award on my blog
• List three things I like about myself

1. I'm generally cheerful and optimistic.
2. I'm a big softie and cry far too easily (not sure if I like that after all LOL!)
3. At 51 my hair is barely going grey!  Superficial, moi???

Post a picture I love:

I know the quality isn't great. I tried to adjust the brightness.  This is me with my two sisters on a weekend in Glasgow last November and we had a blast. Sisters are wonderful and I have the two best sisters ever!

Now, to pass the award on to 5 other lovely bloggers with that little bit extra: (this is hard, there are so many inspirational blogs out there!)

1. Edna
2. Deirdre
3. Pinky
4. Eileen
5. Chris

The second award comes from Dianne who I began following recently.  I struggle to make a card some days and she makes HUGE batches!  You go Dianne!  Wish I had your mojo!

Beautiful Blogger Award

The rules for this award are to tell you 10 things you'd probably not know about myself, and to pass the award on to 10 more Beautiful Bloggers.

1. I was born in Scotland.
2. I married at 19, that was 31 years ago.
3. I have six children.
4. I love to cook and prefer cooking at high speed to the leisurely type!
5. I am more energetic in the mornings and not worth tuppence after 10 p.m.
6. I love cats.
7. I'd love to own a very talkative parrot.
8. I believe every single person is creative but everyone expresses it in different ways - it might be their home or garden or baking a yummy loaf of bread.  
9. We have moved house more than 10 times since we got married!
10. My favourite drink is dry white wine.

My 10 Beautiful Bloggers are:

Debbie
Val
Jackie
Lulu
Julie M
Julie
Sandra Dry
Sarpreet
Wendy
Leann
 
Ger x.

Hampstead

How did I not notice these lovely paper packs and embellies before?  Had fun making some quick cards last night.

Papermania Hampstead Papers and embellishments
X-Cut Scissors Scallop Large
Tim Holtz Tattered Florals (arrived yesterday! Yay!)
Brad from stash, altered colour with alcohol inks

Thanks for looking

Ger x.

Bon Voyage

Sometimes, the idea you have in your head translates straight onto the card.  This was not one of those times!  I'd be ashamed to tell you how many sheets of glossy card ended up in the bin, or the names I called the brayer which very nearly went into the bin as well.

In the end I went for the fake brayer technique with Big and Juicy Mountain Meadow.  The sentiment is computer generated and embossed by dumping embossing powder onto it as soon as it came out of the printer, then heating. This is a Bon Voyage card for my sister who's off to Abu Dhabi shortly.  I'd also like to enter this card into this week's Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge - Tick Tock.  Then I think I better go to bed before I do any more damage.

Thanks for looking!

Ger x.