An Accidental Pocket Card

Happy Wednesday, fellow crafters! I have a card to show you today that took me 3 days to make and post. Why?  I entered a doofus zone and made sooo many mistakes ... it's embarrassing to recount all the details. But I'll say this: it all began with a tri-fold card.

Our fortnightly offering over at the Christmas Card Club show-cased a variety of tri-fold cards. I made a simple one (see HERE) and decided to give it another go, this time with an Easter flair. It was supposed to be a concertina card, until I cut the angles wrong. Then I thought kimono-style card... until I stuck the flaps down. Now it's a pocket card that doesn't open, with an ill-fitting tag. And if that weren't bad enough, some spammer knows I've got stretch marks where the sun don't shine! Can the day get any worse? Here is my card ... critique away, my friends!

My stash clearance is still on, so I'm using off-cuts from Daisy Days by Doodlebug. All the twine  (yellow, green and orange) are also by Doodlebug. 

The basket and  flowers are from WMS Spring Basket set, stamped with Memento Espresso Truffle and coloured with SN markers.  (Blooms OR1, CT4, CT2 ; leaves CG4, LG3). Then I fussy cut the flowers and used pop dots for dimension. To finish the flowers I adhered 3 yellow blings in the centres. For cutting and layering I used Spellbinders Standard Circle and Scalloped Circle dies.

Here's the "tag". I used Spellbinders Label 23 to cut. The sentiment by WMS is stamped with Memento Morroco. To stamp the bumblebees, I used Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured them with SN markers LY3 and LY1. In the pocket of the card base I did some stamping with a greeting and butterfly from the same WMS set. I used Memento Rich Cocoa to stamp and to colour I used SN markers in CT4, CT2 and LY4. 

It's one of those cards where you make things up as you go along because you have no idea what you're doing. Still, I'm going to try my luck at the following challenges: Dutch Dare Challenges #205 "Tag You're It"; Top Tip Tuesday "Tag You're It"; Loves Rubber Stamps #41 "Tags"; Eureka Stamps #28 "Flower Power"; 365 Cards Day 57 "A Certain Sentiment - Happy" and  Divas by Design "Anything Goes".  

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon...with news on a long overdue Blog Candy. Yes...it's finally here! See you on Friday, my friends!

Beijinhos!


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Jaffa cakes and 

Bravo!

Well hello there! This is going to be a fly-by post. A basket of laundry is leering at me... daring me to make a wash. How can I not call it's bluff?! As soon as I'm done here, I'm heading off to the river to beat some sheets.

Back in the 21st century, this is my 76th consecutive MojoMonday card. It's the one sketch challenge that I have played without fail. I'm going to see how long I can keep it going. But I digress. Today's card is for my choir mistress. She's having a concert next week and I thought I'll send her a note. And here it is:

I'm using up my stash. These are SU! papers from way back when. I think this is another one of my CAS My Way cards.; but my friend Sandie will have a thing or two to say about that bold statement! 

The greeting is from MS Fancy Phrases and the musical heart is from Chocolate Baroque's Music Fanfare set.
All stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black.  

For embellies I have 3 black pearls and ...

...  some yellow Doodlebug Twine wrapped around and tied in a bow.

On the inside I stamped the clef from CB's Musical Fanfare and the sentiment is from WMS'Compact Sentiments 2.

Here's the MojoMonday #282 sketch that I used to make my card. As you can see, I went with the square. Some of the challenges that inspired me: Sunny Stamps Challenge #37 "Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Basic Black"; Whoopsidaisy Challenge "Add A Sentiment"; Cards In Envy "Dots and / or Stripes" - just dots on mine; Love To Create Challenge "Wrap It Up: String / Twine / Fibres" - just twine on mine and Stamps + Fun = Creativity #140 "Heart" .

So that's it for this evening. I'll be on my way to the river now. Thanks for dropping in and I'll see y'all soon.

Beijinhos!

Christmas Card Club #3: Tri-Fold Card in Traditional Colours

Welcome to the 3rd Christmas Card Club offering. Our hostess this fortnight is the lovely Debi of Debi's Joy and she has come up with an interesting challenge: Tri-fold Card in Traditional Colours. 

There are several ways of making a trifold card and you can make it as simple or as fancy as you wish. Of course, I went for an easy version. Partly because I'm feeling lazy... and partly because I want some mail-friendly cards in my stash. Traditional Christmas colours? Got to be red, green and gold...what else?! Here's my festive contribution... hope you like it!

My card base is red and the papers are from Bo Bunny's Mistletoe 6x6 pad.

This bauble is from Chocolate Baroque's Pears and Baubles stamp set, which I heat embossed using Versamark and Sticky Fingers Fine Metallic Gold EP. After fussy cutting the bauble I added some green bling and gold twine to dress it up. Finally, some foam tape to give it a lift.

My trifold card is a simple one, with the 2 flaps overlapping.  To jazz up the card,  I've thrown in 3 gold brads, red ribbon and did my stitching in gold embroidery thread.... it is Christmas after all!

On the inside, this is what you see under the top flap...

... and this is what you find under the 2nd flap. The greeting is from the same Chocolate Baroque set, stamped in Memento Rhubarb Stalk.

All closed up the card looks like this. I used Xcut's Leafy Lace Decorative Border Punch on the top flap.  

This easy peasy tri-fold card folds down well and isn't bulky for posting. The sketch for this card is from Tuesday Morning Sketches #186 and ideas came for these challenges: 365 Cards #52 "Fussy Cutting and Stamping"; Paper Crafter's Journey Bingo - Gems + Embossing + Twine; ABC Christmas Challenge: D for Designer Paper; Holly Jolly Christmas Card Challenge "Tic Tac Toe" - Designer Paper + Brads + Embossing; Crafting by Designs "Anything Goes" and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Feb.

That's all from me today. Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed Sunday. This is a scheduled post, so I'll see ya when I get home!

Beijinhos!

Biker's Birthday

Good morning, my crafty cronies. It's time for another eclectic extravaganza and it's the Pink Team's turn inspire you. This week over at Eclectic Ellapu Challenge Blog, we're celebrating the men  in our lives: fathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, butchers, bakers and candlestick makers....  Our hostess, Clare, has decided that Eclectic Ellapu Challenge #18 will focus on Masculine Cards.

Cards for men... not easy for me. Boys are easier to deal with, but men?! But needs must when the devil drives, or in this case, when the biker rides. I made this card for one of My Mad Biker's riding buddies. Together, these biker-boys have dirty weekends away ... going off-road, rolling down hills, riding across streams and wrestling in mud.  Oh well, if that's their idea of fun, this is my idea of a birthday card:

In my stash I found this 6x6 pad by Paper Cellar called "Men's". I can't remember when I bought it nor the last time I used it. The stamp is by Prima Cling called "Craftsman", stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black. I also inked the edges with TH Dusty Concord.

Minimum embellies here: just some Black&WHite Doodlebug twine and black eyelets. I don't think he'll see past that cool bike, so what's the point, eh?

And here is the inside. I used a very manly black card base and very little white space on the inside. These are men of few words and of many grunts. The greeting is by Dovecraft, stamped in Memento London Fog and I also stamped the gears from the same the Craftsman set using TH Black Soot. 

I'm also playing with these fun folks: Broken Box Challenge #70 "Happy Birthday"; Card Makin' Mamas #It's Birthday Time"; Creative Corner Challenges "Brads / Eyelets"; and Aud Sentiments "Show Your Inner Sentiment".

Now it's your turn. Create a masculine card and link it up. For inspiration and ideas, visit the rest of my EE teamies. I look forward to seeing your man cards. Thanks for stopping by!

Beijinhos!




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Apple turnover and 

A New Baby Girl

It's Friday!!!! I cannot tell you how happy I am. Firstly because the week is almost over and secondly, because we're going to sneak away for the weekend. I've had enough of this cold weather, and like Canadian ducks, we're headed south to catch some sun... hopefully. Keeping my fingers crossed because the past 2 days we've had hail, rain and more hail. Needless to say, I'm not venturing out after dark, not since my last acrobatic fiasco. Me and my tail, we're playing it safe.

In the meantime, a good friend of mine, decided to have a baby in this terrible weather. The little bundle of joy arrived yesterday and I thought I'd make Mummy and Baby a card before we skive off for the weekend. Here it is:

The patterned papers are by From Me To You. I just love Tatty Teddy. Here he is bringing a pile of pressies for the new baby.

In keeping with the lots of layers theme, I went bonkers with my foam tape. Tatty Teddy is  perched on on Spellbinder die-cuts in Classic Oval and Lacey Oval.

All new-born baby girls love pink gingham and twine. Ok, I made that up. But us big people sure think they do. And for the baby I threw in a bottle charm....which I think is just adorable! 

Here's the inside. The sentiment is from WMS Say It Loud set, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black.
In my enthusiasm to get it all done, I wrote my message before taking picture. A little cover-up is in order... but not enough. So, yes, Carlos is the name of the man I lovingly refer to as Conan (the Barbarian), Mr C or My Mad Biker. So that takes care of the numerous e-mails about his real name!

Now for the challenges. Here's my list, you might want to have a gander too: 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #130 "Twine"; Milk and Coffee Challenge "Make It Cute"; Moving Along With The Times - sketch; Dare to be Sassy Thursday #165 "Stitch It Up" ; Inspire Me Fridays #97 "Anything Goes"; Crafter's Circle #63 "Teddy Bears On Parade" and Shelly's Image Terrifically Thrilling Thursday "Sew Much Fun".

I also want to say hello to my new followers: Margaret, Christine, DebiJ, Esther and Ardilla. Welcome aboard, ladies! 

That's all for today. We're off bright and early tomorrow. The sitter is will arrive at the crack of dawn tomorrow and she'll will take of home and hearth while we're away.

Watch out for some scheduled DT posts over the weekend. Normal visiting will resume late on Sunday. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

Beijinhos!

 

Bright Easter

Here's another late night post for you, my friends! I made this quick little Easter card using an image I had coloured a while back but got lost, buried in the organised chaos of my craft table. Quite unexpectedly, it resurfaced this evening. So I grabbed and stuck it on a card before it went walkies again. Here it is:

I embossed the blue CS with Crafts-Too Daisy folder and used up some scrap patterned paper from Basic Grey's Hello Luscious 6x6 pad, which I've had like,  forever.

The egg is a digi by Robyn's fetish which I coloured with SN markers. No fancy shading here - I was going for a bright and bold look. I've got some Red Stickles on the bow and to finish, a button and some Doodlebug twine. 

The greeting is from Chocolate Baroque's "Butterfly Easter" set, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black. And  just for fun I added some green bling.

And for the inside, another left-over bit of paper form the BG pad.

Challenges? Well, why not.... Crafting by Designs "Anything Goes"; Papertake Weekly "Buttons & Bling"; Bearly Mine #74 "Lace / Ribbon / Twine"; Oldie but Goodie "Bright Colours" (BG Hello Luscious, now retired) and Our Daily Bread Designs #174 "Easter".

Thanks for stoping by. I'm off to bed now. Have a beautiful day / evening and we'll catch up soon.

Beijinhos!



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We Love Him

Hello there, my friends! Can you believe how fast the weeks are flying by? What can I say? Time flies when you're having fun. Speaking of fun, it's time for Tuesday Throwdown challenge #135: Monochromatic.   This week the DT is playing with some gorgeous images so generously provided by Sweet n Sassy.

I used this beautiful butterfly and flowers image to make a card for my friend's daughter who has started her preparation for Confirmation. Of course, the actual event is scheduled for just after Easter but there's no harm in reminding her why she's doing it. I've chosen shades of turquoise for my card... so vibrant and uplifting, no?

The patterned papers are bits and pieces from Echo Park Dots & Stripes 6x6 and Crate Paper Toy Box 6x6.

Here's a close-up of the image. I used SN markers to colour: BT1, BT2, BT3, BT5, BT6. And to tie the bouquet I used some baker's twine by Doodlebug .

The sentiment is a word art from a previous WordArt Wednesday challenge. I think that scripture verse will answer her question "why?". 

On the inside, a simple message from WMS.

That's my card for today. For more ideas and inspiration visit the rest of my Tuesday Throwdown Teamies: Kim Sherrod; Carol Gill; Ceal Pritchett; Davi Reid; Joyce Lofton; Julie Wells; Nana Connie; Sally Dube and Vicky Fortier. 

I'm also playing with Lexi's Creations #84 "Monochromatic"; ABC Challenges #17 "All Stitched Up"; Cards In Envy "Polka Dots and/or Stripes"; Created with Love #29"Things That Fly" ; All Sorts Challenges #194 "Things with Wings"; Paper MakeUp Stamps DigiMakeover #76 "Anything Goes" and WordArt Wednesday #67 "Love/Anything Goes".

Thanks for stopping by. I'm looking forward to seeing your monochromatic creations, so get crafting and link up your projects!

Beijinhos!

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Chocolate eclair and

Silver Easter

Hello Monday! And guess what? I made a card! Oh yes I did! And to keep things nice and consistent, I made an Easter card. We're under 40 days away and I really don't want a repetition of  Christmas 2012. No sireee. Easter 2013 is going to be a calm and organised affair. Continuing my quest for serenity, here's another non-trad Easter offering, sung to the tune of my favourite Monday challenge.

The patterned papers are from First Edition's "Isabel" 8x8 pad.

That pot of flowers is from WMS Spring Basket set. The circles were cut with Spellbinder dies, I arranged them and then stamped the image with Memento Rich Cocoa so it falls in 2 of the larger circles. Then I coloured it with SN markers  BT1, BT2, BT4.   On the smallest circle I stamped a greeting from the same stamp set. You will note that my flowers are kinda hovering above the pot... that is what happens when you don't use your glasses! Shove the ol' vanity aside and put the darn things on before doing detailed work.  

For embellies I have silver card candis and silver ribbon.  Silver is so not an Easter colour....I never really understood that. I'm taking a stand here. Let's put an end to seasonal discrimination... it's just plain wrong! 

For sparkle and shine, I've got Crystal Stickles on the petals and Kuretake in Silver and bling to highlight the centres.  The background paper is also textured and has shimmery stuff.  

The inside.... plenty of room for my Pascal pondering! 

You've probably already guessed that the sketch is from MojoMonday #281. For colours and inspiration I turned to The Shabby Tea Room #154 "A Silver Lining"; Crafty Cardmakers #85 "Blooming Images"; Ooh La La Creations #124 "Sparkle and Shine"; Pretty Little Ribbon Shop #19 "Anything Goes" and Paper Playtime #4 "Sentiment Stamp".

So there you have it! Thanks for stopping by. I'm off to see to our dinner and I hope you see you tomorrow for Tuesday Throwdown. ..it's going to be a fun challenge... you'll see!

Beijinhos!


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M&Ms...don't ask me how many

Happy Birthday!

Good evening, blog-buddies. Popping in very quickly to show you a card I made earlier today for a dear friend's birthday. I need to get this in the post bright and early tomorrow if she's to get it on time! So here it is:

The papers are from Basic Grey's "Sweet Threads" 6x6 pad. I layered the image  on some grey CS that I cut using Spellbinders Postage Stamp die.

I need to mail the card so it's got to be flat. No bulky embellies on this one.... except for that bow in yonder corner.

The digi is from PolkaDoodles Cherry Blossom Lane CD. This CD is chock full of gorgeous spring themed  digis, papers and embellies.  

On the inside, I picked sentiments from WMS Say It Loud set and stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black.  

I'm taking my card to the following challenges: Pink By Design "Birthday Challenge";  Shopping Our Stash #89 "They Say It's Your Birthday"; Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings #66 "Spring Colours & Ribbon"; Spark Your Creativity Now! #6 "Anything Goes"; One Stitch At A Time #151 "Make It Girly"; Challenges 4 Everybody #14 "Anything Goes"; CD Sunday Challenge "Spring Is In Air" and Make It Monday #128 "Anything Goes".

So there you have it - a quick and easy card in a short and sweet blog post! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. I'm off to bed 'cause it just past midnight here... and at my age every minute of beauty sleep crucial. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see y'all tomorrow! Nighty-night!

Beijinhos!


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