Leaves and Hedgehogs

Happy World Cardmaking Day!  Just a quickie visit to blogland tonight.  I've still got a stinker of a cold, just can't get it shifted, but had a couple of projects I needed to get made.

I'm already a few days late with Mum's calendar page this month, oops ;)  I used an oldie from High Hopes and then cut out another few of the leaves as extra embellies.  I'm thinking I should have chalked in a few clouds or something, it's a wee bit boring.

• Love to Scrap #114 - fall back
• Creative Inspirations October - Autumn glow
• Crafty Calendar October - Autumn
• Allsorts #488 - leaves

 And here's another wee quickie, using an oldie Penny Black.  Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss and glitter added to the snail's shell and the flower centre.

• Penny Black Saturday October - spooky colours
• Crafty Animals #19 - any animal
• CASology #315 - gratitude
• CAS on Friday #143 - thank you card

Doggy Birthday

Just a quickie post tonight, Bake Off is on telly and I need to get a cuppa made and check the cupboards in the hope of 'something nice' hiding there.  Could be slim pickings as I didn't actually buy anything nice at the weekend haha ;)

This is based on Chrissy's card over at the Splitcoaststampers featured stamper challenge.
I used my old Katzelkraft doggy and MFT heart die, and I'm not entirely sure of the sentiment make.

• Make my Monday #81 - animals
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Creative Knockouts #265 - anything goes

Two-fer Christmas

It struck me today that Eeek, it's the end of September already and I'm way behind with my Christmas card stash.
So Chriss's card over at Muse Christmas Visions #109 was the perfect inspiration.  I used her bear theme, snowy sky and snip of holly  My bear is an oldie from Stamplorations (I think - 'Vanity Fair' is on telly at the minute otherwise I'd get up and check!)

For my sky I used a stencil from Simon Says Stamp and just coloured through with a white pen.

And while I was on a roll I made another with silver sparkly card instead.   That's 2 off the list now :)

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Sweet Stampin - spots
• Addicted to Stamps #311 - anything goes

I think I prefer the one with the coloured sentiment.

Visiting Librarian at the Library Challenge.

I'm delighted to be the 'Visiting Librarian' for the new challenge over at The Library Challenge - one of my favourite challenges ... books and stamping, what's not to like!

Anyway I was the lucky one who got to choose this week's book and I've gone for The Woman in the Window.  Have you read it?  It would be great if you played along in the challenge - you can be inspired by the cover or the story or the title, whatever takes your fancy!

As you can see I took my inspiration from the lit window and the bricks on the cover.  I've stenciled up a brick background and then used my cute kitties from Eat Cake Graphics.  I used sparkly card for my sentiment and then finished with some gold star sequins.

• Fab'n Funky #409 - all creatures great and small
• Crafty Creations #375 - anything goes
• Word Art Wednesday #354/355 - anything goes

Playing with new goodies

I had a wee shopping spree recently at Swedish House Crafts who had a fab sale on, so I've been busting to have a play with my new goodies :)  I've a stinker of a cold, but I'll be back tomorrow too with a special Guest Designer post.

So this heart die was one of my purchases, isn't it so pretty.  I've used a couple of the cut outs as extra embellishments, along with a few pink stars and sequins.  Layering dies like this isn't my usual style but I do like how it turned out!

• General card layout based on Rebecca's gorgeous card at Less is More #381
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• PINspiration #225 - try something new

I've used an oldie Lili of the Valley stamp for this one, along with my new hanging hearts die.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss to highlight a few elements.

• JUGS #460 - stripes
• Dream Valley #187 - pearls or gems
• Through the Craft Room door - anything goes

Stars and flowers

Ack I've no mojo :(  Just life and work getting in the way I reckon and when I'm tired I've zero creativity.  Ah well at least it's nearly the weekend and I've a couple of days booked off work next week - I'm planning on doing a bit of painting round the house but we'll see how that goes!

This first card is super CAS ... though I'll not confess how many stars I cut out before I ended up with these so it definitely wasn't a quickie!   I stencilled in the background, popped the little stars up on foam pads and added a few blue star sequins to finish.

• Layout inspired by CAS Colours & Sketches #291
• Tuesday Throwdown #411 - complimentary colours

I'd coloured this image back in the heatwave which already seems such a long time ago.  You definitely wouldn't be colouring outside this evening.  Apart from the fact that it's dark hahaha ;)

Coloured with watercolour pencils, sparkle added to the flowers and clear gloss to the little ribbon on the box.

• I thought this worked well with Michelle's lovely card inspiration over at the Muse challenge #284
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - monochrome
• Time Out #119 - friendship / one layer
• Less is More #380 - one layer floral (I know I used a white base but my card isn't the best quality so have to add a top white layer)

Ryan's Birthday Card

Ahh I struggle with boys cards, this one's for my soon-to-be-15 nephew.  Seems like no time at all since he was a wee nipper!  Do you think it's grown up enough for him, I'm just not sure!  I guess he'll be more interested in the £££ inside the card anyway ;)

I've used my Jane's Doodles stamps - seagull, boat and fish all popped up on foam pads.  My Taylored Expressons ric rac die is a real oldie - I think it was one of the first dies I ever bought and then had no clue what to do with them!  Anyway I've used them here as waves - the dark strip is a dark blue colour.

• Layout from CAS(e) this sketch #290 
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - bling it on
• Cardz 4 Guys #203 - all at sea
• Stamping Sensations September - I spy - B for Blue, boat, birthday
• Allsorts #486 - water or blue