Another male birthday

This one is for my brother in law.  I had the use the watch to let him know that time is ticking on for him and he is getting OLD.  The background is embossed with a non-SU folder that has lots of gears, cogs and wheels on it, quite appropriate for the watch.  Tried to turn it into a pocket watch with a bit of chain and have added a few flags, which seem to be all the rage at the moment.  

I may not be able to post on Friday.  My big sister is coming for a visit and we should be too busy.  Back next week. 

Something a little different

I haven't done much scrapbooking lately, but thought you might like to see a page done for my daughter's album.  I have used the shimmer paint in a spray bottle with a touch of re-inker to tint the colour.  Some areas have been "shimmered" a little more than others to give the page some depth.  Have then stamped the butterfly and mofif from my favourite Bliss stamp set as embellishment.  Add a beautiful photo of my daughter and a little border edge and I think it looks pretty good.  

 

Teenage birthday

Why is it that just when you get in the mood to be creative someone wants to eat?  Get it yourself, I'm not hungry.  So had to be reasonably quick with this one.  Have just used a Darice brand embossing folder and the pinwheel die for a simple but bright birthday card.  And on the inside I have randomly stamped the pinwheel from the Sweets for the Sweet stamp.  Forgot to take photo of that though.  

 

2nd version

Now for the second attempt.  I wanted to stick with the black and white theme and found a pre-stamped version of the truck from Countryside in my stash.  Just kept it very simple, sponged up the edges and matted on black.  

So, apologies to the recipient - this slow old truck is not really your style, but it was all I had.  See I do need more stamps.  Happy Birthday anyway. 

 

Hearts a Flutter

I needed to make a couple of cards on the weekend for upcoming birthdays; one  male and one female.  

I don't really own any stamp sets suitable for 20ish males so had to fall back on non-SU stamps that I own.  This is a Penny Black stamp that I couldn't part with.  Originally I inked it up and just had a black and white version but it looked to bland.  So I used some of the dies from Hearts a Flutter in the latest catalogue, but still not right, so I watercoloured bits of the chickens.  I quite like the chickens, but wasn't happy with the flowery alphabet stamps I used, and nor did I think it really suitable for a male.  See what you think.

Hmmm!   Will show you the final card later this week.

Remember pinwheels?

I have made this card using the new Pinwheel Sizzlits Die from the latest Seasonal Catalogue.  It's a cute little thing, and I do mean little.  Have taken a photo of the die and finished pinwheel with my mobile phone for comparison.  It's very fiddly to make but so pretty when done.  

 

The embossing folder in the background is one of the Sale-a-bration specials - Vine Street.   I had gotten it for one of my sisters, but thought I would just try it out before they got it.  

Add a bit of ribbon, and a relatively easy and effective card to make.  Not sure how you would go posting it though.  This would have to be one of those cards that are hand delivered.   

And a little bit of bragging - I have had another card printed in the latest edition of Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft magazine in the Reader's Section.  It's a card shown on here previously, a pink one with a parasol stamped on it.  I sent four cards in using the same stamp set and the one they chose wasn't one of my favourites.  Still I suppose everyone has different tastes.

This is another Postage Due card.  

Still a very girly card.  Can you see the beautiful embellishment on the card?  It's a Designer Builder Brad, something new from the latest catalogue.  You can add a tiny circle of patterned paper or stamped image in the centre and then pop on of the epoxy bubbles that come with them on top to personalise it.  I tried to get a close up picture, but camera didn't like to be that close, so blurred image it is. 

 

Postage Due

Sorry for my absence.  Have had a few other things going on.  My father is back home again, feeling very tired but pleased to be home.  He has had three stents inserted and all is well from a cardiac point of view.  Has had a few other things not quite right, but hopeully he will keep on improving.  

You may have seen on the right hand side the new holiday catalogue and sale-a-bration catalogue have been put up.  A lot of vintagey and romantic things for Valentine's Day, if you happen to celebrate it.  Not really my thing, but I am working on a few Valentine cards anyway. 

We have 10 birthdays in February for family and friends so I have been creating, but I just can't show you much yet.  I had planned to send this card for one of those birthday girls, but went with Plan B instead.  This uses a recent addition to my stash, Postage Due.  The older I get, the more I like the vintage look, perhaps cause it's from my era the kids would say.  I brought this for the men in my family, but it suits both sexes equally well I think.  

I love the look of the embossing folder on the left, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.  And the cute little buttons too.  Another one on Wednesday.  

 

 

Another Christmas card

I completely forgot about this one when doing last week's posts. This was my 2011 card and like all the rest it was a last minute one.  I start thinking about the cards in November but they usually don't pull together until about halfway through December.  I remember being completely uninspired by everything I put together and then I received an email from an American Demonstrator, Sandi MacIver, who showed how this card was made.  This one was a hit with friends and relatives.

Lots of cutting, scoring and folding involved, but a very clever card.  Thanks Sandi.

Cards of Christmas Past 3

Last two Christmas cards to show you.  I still like both of these ones, but obviously I would do a few things different if I made them again. 

This was the first Stampin' Up set I ever bought - Crazy for Christmas, must have been back in 2008.  I remember I threw out a lot of cardstock cause I couldn't line the stamp up properly - obviously before I bought a stamp positioner.  Lots of colouring in here with a water pen and gel pen.  

  

This one uses Baroque Motifs, a set I have kept despite it being retired.  I just love the swirls.  I remember cutting out all those little blue flowers (madness!) to glue on and tracing the shape for the tag punch cause I didn't own it at that stage. 

Well that's all we have been able to find so far.  Maybe another couple will turn up soon after another clean out.  Hope you have enjoyed seeing them.  It's interesting looking back at how styles, techniques and tools have improved over the years.  Check out a few of your old cards too and see what you think.