Greg and David's birthdays - a twofer

 Hi all, roll on Spring... apparently we've had the wettest January in almost 150 years, and February is shaping up not much better.  We'll be going rusty soon!  Anyway, here this wet evening to share a couple of cards for Greg and my brother. Their birthdays are close and I was chasing time, so they ended up the same but different!  I've dug out this 20 year old stamp from Whipper Snapper - isn't it fab when you still love them after all this time!  

For Greg's card I went to the bother of masking off my stamp and double stamping it so his neck would be even longer ... and then went and and stamped it in virtually the same place 🤣. Oh and I was delighted to come across some lost googly eyes on a recent hunt through my stash! 

Cut it up #349 - this makes me happy - my stamp and googly eyes!

Addicted to Stamps #510 - dies +/or stencils

For my brother's card I used this nice blue and silver shiny card and run it through an embossing folder.

Word Art Wednesday #738/739 - anything goes 

Simon Says Stamp Monday - add some texture 

Cards for Renee, Andrea, Edmond and Shona!

Hi all! I'm caught out every year with all my June birthdays, you'd think I'd know better by now and not have such a mad rush every year!  Anyway, apologies in advance for the long post....

First up is this one for my Aunt using this Gina K stamp, which I love but it does take me an age to colour.  I hadn't intended to have sparkly butterflies but I lifted clear gloss instead of glue (they're decanted into the same design bottles), made a mess so just went for it and got my glitter out instead! 

• Allsorts # 825 - what makes you happy - I find 90% of my pleasure in making cards comes from colouring the images
• Addicted to Stamps #494 - any occasion 

Next up is for my Uncle's 80th birthday, using a Penny Black yacht, a couple of stencils and some sparkly silver die cuts.

• Just Us Girls #779 - word week - number 
• Cut it up #332 - masculine 

Third is this Whipper Snapper cutie for my sister-in-law with a few die cut flowers to finish it off...

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - fur, feathers +/ or flowers
• Fab'n Funky #618 - use die cuts
• Word Art Wednesday #702 - anything goes 

And lastly some Gerda Steiner chickens for my friend.  The dude in the middle is popped up and a few clear sequins to finish.  Not adding it to any challenges as it was inspired by one I saw on Gerda Steiners blog, but wanted to post it for my own record.

Embossing 2 ways

 Hi all!  I seem to be in a blue phase at the minute, I need to get a different colour palette going LOL

First up is this little sailing boat from Penny Black - coloured with polychromos and popped up on foam pads. I've used a new slimline embossing folder that I thought would kinda work as the sea and added a few metallic paint splatters to give a splashy feel.

Penny Black Saturday challenge May - monochrome or anything goes

AAA Birthday #73 - any birthday 

Cardz for Guys #371 - body of water

This one is similar to one I made a while back, using this pretty Altenew flower stamp. I used the same embossing folder in the background along with a few white dies to use up some leftover white card.

Cut it Up #329 - so sorry

As You Like It - - soft or bold colours? - well, it depends what I'm making! For sympathy cards I definitely think more subtle colours work best

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - beautiful blooms 

And just for some brighter colour!... Here's a wee photo of my lovely Rhododendron - it usually gets hit by the frost or rain, but we're enjoying a lovely sunny dry spell this past couple of weeks so it's looking fabulous this year!! 

Greg's birthday card (and Chris and David's too!)

 Hi all! I struggle with masculine birthday cards, and thought this Gerda Steiner stamp would be a useful one to have.  My brother and brother-in-law and Greg all have birthdays pretty close to each other so they all got variations of this card!  I hadn't quite intended to add the clouds originally, but had made a rubbish attempt to draw some 'go faster' lines in the sky to give the car some movement, and the clouds and stars were a good cover up LOL

Coloured with polychromos; clear gloss added to the window and their glasses.

My Time to Craft #552 - masculine 

Snippets Playground #499 - my clouds were cut from leftover white card after cutting my card base

Sparkles challenge #184 - monochrome blue

Addicted to Stamps #485 - dies/stencils 

We survived Storm Eowyn unscathed, but it brought down a LOT of trees round the country.  I guess it was a good job they didn't have their leaves yet or it would have been a whole lot worse!  We have a lovely walk down through our estate that we do most days so it was very sad to see 10 trees down in the one spot, they would have been 50+ years old.  I wonder if it was the same gust of wind felled them all at the same time. It was definitely a good call for the government to request that folk stayed home that day!

Ryan's birthday card

 Hi all, here this evening with my nephew's birthday card.  Unbelievable that he's 21 already, it's no time since he was only a wee nipper!  I was totally stumped what to put on his card so got out my star dies and got a bit carried away LOL 

The blue card has a bit of sparkle in it and the shiny numbers are double mounted and popped up on foam pads.  I also added some metallic paint splatters to the background, and a few red gems for good measure.  

Seize the Birthday #292 - celebrate 

Addicted to Stamps #478 - birthday 

Word Art Wednesday #667/668 - anything goes

Some fishy cards for David & Greg

 Hi all, here this blustery evening with a few fish themed cards. This first one is for my brother - he keeps tropical fish so I thought these dudes from Simply Graphic would do the trick.  I stencilled in some bubbles using my snow stencil and added some metallic silver splatters too. 

Layout from AAA Cards #258 

My Time to Craft #526 hobbies

Allsorts #766 - from the grid I've used stencil / red / green 

And this is Greg's card ... I hadn't realised my stencilling was so wonky until I took the photo

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes 

Addicted to Stamps #460 - dies / stencil (sorry I can't remember the brand name of either)

For Greg's birthday I treated myself to a couple of days off work (let's face it, any excuse is a good one 😉).  Here's a wee photo of beautiful Ballycastle on a day out - the waves were so rough I could have watched them for hours.  Unfortunately it was blowing a gale and we had an urgent date at the local chippy LOL

Cards for Alison & Ben

 Hi all!  I've a couple of cards to share this evening.  I've never really enjoyed making special request cards, and as I get older I seem to enjoy it less!  Anyway, here they are.

This one uses some of my new Penny Black stamps, various dies, and a stencilled background.  I did have it all planned out, then my spacing kinda went awry when I was sticking it down and ended up running out of room!  Grrrrrr.  That 'N' on her name really annoys me, I hadn't even realised it was so wonky until it was well stuck and then there was no shifting it

Addicted to Stamps #444 - any occasion 

Creatalicious #257 - stencil

For this one, I was told the wee boy liked tractors or anything with wheels.  I don't have any tractor stamps, so a bicycle it was!  This is an oldie from Lili of the Valley.  It was a struggle as well, I always find it so difficult to colour this one!

Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #582

Word Art Wednesday #591/592 - anything goes 

Crafty Calendar April - die cuts

I have to confess though, I looked at this card for a while and figured it needed a wee something, so ended up sticking some stars on and I'm much happier with it!

And finally (this is a long post tonight!), here's a photo of our lovely dandelions!  I don't know if it was our mild winter or constant wet weather but they have been amazing this Spring!  Every road verge and field round us are absolutely covered in them!!

Birthday Bear

Hi all, I'm back with another Guest Designer post for Just Us Girls, and this week it's a colour challenge.  Pop over to their blog for lots of inspiration and hopefully you get a chance to play along too!

For my card I've used this oldie from Penny Black - he's a bit bigger than my frame but I think I got him squished in ok 😉. Coloured with polychromos, sparkle added to the ribbon and glitter to his pom-pom.  The scrap leftover from cutting my frame was just big enough to cut my sentiment and stars which always pleases me LOL

 Seize the Birthday #249 - faces, human or animal 

Cardz for Guys 306 - teddy bear

Word Art Wednesday #565 - anything goes 

Penny Black Saturday October - anything goes 

Perching Pelican

 Hi all, hurrah for long weekends, I love a Bank Holiday Monday especially when I treat myself to a wee Friday off work too! 😉.   AND it looks like summer is on its way with some sunshine and warmer temps due! (not before time, our weather has been pretty rubbish this year so far)

Anyway I've used a golden oldie stamp this evening (from High Hopes) 

I inked up this swirly stencil in an effort to look like water, I think it kinda works?

My dotty edge is from a set of new dies from Simply Graphic, I love their little accent pieces.

• Cards4Guys #271 - create your own background
• Papercraft challenge #70 Anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• AAA Birthday #25 - Happy birthday
  
  
  

Another weightlifter

 

Uurgh it feels like it's been raining solid for days here, I see from the weather app it's due to dry up on Saturday afternoon so I'm looking forward to that!!  Mind you I'd rather have rain than snow, so it's not all bad ;)

I've had a wee request in for another weightlifter card, not sure why the colours are odd in my photo - that orange card is actually red in real life.  I used my sunburst stencil for the background, added clear gloss to his weights, some splatters and some googly eyes.  I dug out a really old embossing folder as the swirls reminded me of his curly 'tache.

The beard craze of the past few years seems to be leading to more moustaches on show!  I saw a guy recently with one just like this, all curled to perfection and little round Harry Potter glasses ... And yes, he did look silly 🤣

Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch #527

Cards 4 Guys #263 - sports

Just Us Girls #569 - masking ... Where's mine?  Well my splatters were an afterthought so I had to mask off my kitty and the red c/s as they'd all been stuck down

Ryan's birthday card

Hellloooo I'm back!  Sorry I've been MIA again, I've just had zero mojo but I've decided just to make myself get crafting seeing as it's International Card Making Day and hope my spark comes back!

I had to get crafting anyway, it's my nephew's birthday shortly.  I'd no idea what to put on a 17 year olds card, so just made him a daft one using these Gerda Steiner stamps.  I haven't stuck down the spaceship properly yet as I know I have some of those 'boingy' things somewhere, they just need finding first! 

• 
  Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch #509
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Gerda Steiner October challenge

And just thought I'd share a pic of our fabulous sunset from my walk this evening, unfortunately the pic doesn't do it justice!  It was a nice end to a dull, damp and dreary old day.  Rubydoo has barely budged from her snoozing position on the sofa virtually the entire day, it's deffo a dog's life!

Birthday Doggie

I have looked for this doggy stamp for such a long time, and I mean months and months, and he's finally turned up!  I'd started to believe I'd imagined him!

Actually now I think of it, it's Rubydoo's big birthday soon.  She was rescued from a puppy farm and the vet thought she was about 6 months old so we reckon her birthday must be September ... and she'll be the grand old age of 15!  She's getting old and creaky (like myself), and loves nothing better than snoozing the day away (love a wee sneaky snooze myself!).  Maybe we'll get her a new bed for her birthday, will have to have a wee think.

Layout from Atlantic Hearts #381
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - midsummer blues
The Male Room #141 - birthday
Your Next Stamp #145 - celebration

A monster birthday wish

Just a quickie post tonight with my brother's birthday card as I need to get it in the post tomorrow.

I've used an old Whipper Snapper stamp - coloured with polychromos, sparkle added to his spines and clear gloss to his eyes and nails.  My circle background is a really old embossing folder, I think it was maybe one of the first ones I bought and it still gets an airing now and then.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch #474
• Monster theme inspired by the Library Challenge #52
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

No-line colouring and Uncle Ivan's birthday card

My crafty New Year's resolution this year was to try some new techniques, so I thought I'd have a go at no-line colouring.  Hmmmm.  I don't think it's for me, I think I prefer the black lined version!  I kinda wish I'd picked an image to practice on that didn't take a couple of hours to actually colour in though!

• Crafty Catz #490 - flower power
• Word Art Wednesday #422-423 - anything goes

This one was a nice wee quickie for my Uncle in Canada, minimal colouring required! I've used one of my doggies from Tim Holtz (of course I chose the 'Ruby' one!) and the MFT porthole die.  Silver stars and line stickers from stash. Clear gloss added to the dog's nose and eyes, and sparkle to the collar.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch #473
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - besotted with our pets
• Watercooler Wednesday #255 - masculine

Big yellow truck and a snow dude

Ha, I remember the good old days when I used to come up with witty post titles, now it's just straight in with no messing about ;)

I've been struggling with my mojo recently but Marina's lovely book cover over at the Library Challenge #45 was just what I needed to get me going again.

I've used my old truck set from Stampin Up - I remember when I bought this I wasn't sure if I'd ever use it or not, but it's turned out to be one of my most inked stamps!
Coloured with polychromos, clear gloss added to the windows and chrome work, and then popped up on foam pads.  I've also used a little plane die from Gummiapan that I bought in the sale ages ago and hadn't tried till now.

• Word Art Wednesday #410/411 - anything goes
• Crafty Catz #480 - anything goes

And here's this season's snow dude again - coloured with polychromos, sparkle added to his scarf and pocket, clear gloss/glitter to his nose, and then popped up on foam pads.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch challenge #460
• Cute Card Thursday #605 - sparkles
• CHNC #461 - Christmas + make your own background

Apologies for the rubbish photos, we're back into the dark nights again :(  It always takes me a week or two to adjust to the clock change!  We'd the most gorgeous sunny autumn day - we were down in our local park this morning and it looked like the world and his wife had the same idea!  I don't think I've ever seen it so busy!

Some personalised cards - Betty, Derek, etc

I've been busy this weekend with a load of personalised card requests, so apologies for the long post tonight!

This first one is for my  Sister in Law - I usually make her something floral so thought I'd make something daft for a change!
Kitty from Penny Black - coloured with polychromos and clear gloss added to their beaks and his nose + tongue.  Snazzy rainbow DP is some super-old stuff I had in my love-don't-want-to-use pile!

• Less is More #406 - rainbow challenge
• CASology #353 - feather
• 
  

This one was a request from a work colleague for her friend.  This one's an oldie from Lili of the Valley - I added some sparkle to the blooms and to the '80'

• As You Like It - fave stitching style - mine's most definitely these stitched dies, I love how it frames your image with zero hassle! 
• The Flower challenge #37 - CAS

This one's another work request, this time for one of our client's, hope she likes her big sparkly age! 

Again another oldie Penny Black - I added some shimmer to the kitty's apron and hat and lots of glitter to the icing.  The card candy in the left corner are the wee snips from the numbers.

• Addicted to Stamps #362 - make your mark
• Daisy Chain Challenge #35 - I chose the Pink option
• Penny Black and More October - pretty in pink
• Layout from Stick it Down October

And this one's the card I sent to my Uncle - not entering it into any challenges as I 100% copied it from the Stampendous blog, but just wanted to post it to have a record of what I sent him!