Just heading out the door

and forgotten to make a birthday card in advance, so just whipped a really quick one up – god bless Blending Blox.

Nothing really impressive, but I’m way too short of time.

We’re off to a friend’s surprise birthday party, which has been arranged in secret and at the last minute by her 10 year old daughter.

Spamalot

and that wasn’t the rubbish that I had to endure in the meeting in the morning!

As a reward for that particular torture, we were taken to see Spamalot at the Palace Threatre in Shaftesbury Avenue…..it was the most excellent thing, and I laughed so hard through it all.

I would definitely recommend it if you get the chance – in fact, I’m going to take Lydia and Mum to see it later in the year.

I’ve been really poorly recently, so if you’ve been wondering where I am, or why I haven’t done something, that’s the reason.

I feel a wee bit better today, so hopefully I am turning the corner.

Sad:Happy layout

the pre-class challenge on the Design Collective was to produce a layout using things that weren’t on your favourite list.

I had stamps, inks and paint on my list, so they were out – usually though, this is exactly what I would use on my layouts – so I used some K & Co Studio K papers with bright orange, dark pink and pale green cardstock. The stickers and metal are K & co too, rub-ons are by Kopp Design & Making Memories, flowers are by Making Memories, and the blue ribbon was from a Scrap Goods kit.

Apologies for the shadowy scanning – lumpy pages to blame I’m afraid.

Wednesday Stamper – Eyes

my entry for this week’s Wednesday Stamper is “the eyes see everything”, and it is a belated tri-fold card for a friend who’s birthday was last week.

I used my Keepsake Card Craft score board to create a tri-fold, and then cut along a diagonal line over two of the folds, and folded in the opposite direction on two of the folds.

The covered the longest panel with the watercolour pattern, the second panel was covered with the hearts, and the third with the watercolour pattern again. Next I inked up my Oasis French Manuscript stamp with Timber Brown StazOn, and stamped on plain copier paper. I then sponged on Peeled Paint and Tattered Rose Distress Inks with cut’n’dry foam and torn, and added to opposing sides of the second and third panels.

Stamped the eye (in Peeled Paint) and the face (in Tattered Rose) on the longest panel.

I prepared a plate of pale green cardstick with one of my favourite Non-Seq stamps (the lady with the tear), coloured with my new metallic penciles, and added glossy accents to the jewels, tear and lips. Added the French Manuscript around the edges, and matted onto gold cardstock.

Placing this plate so that it overlapped onto the first panel.

“the eyes see everything” from Paper Artsy Femme Plate 2 was stamped, scanned, re-sized and printed out on to plain copier paper – then coloured with the Peeled Paint and Tattered Rose Distress Inks. After tearing out the words (except for “everything”) I added a tiny amount of Versamark around the edges and Galactic Gold EP and heat set. This was added to the first panel. “everything” was coloured with the Distress Inks, and just aligned on the second panel with the wording on the first one.

Peeled Paint Distress Ink was just then run around the edges of the card.

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping…

so that’s exactly what I’ve been doing after work!

I zoomed over to pick up the Scor-it board that Sharon’s Card Crafts had put by for me, and also decided on the Keepsake Card Crafts Bowmaker, one of their Glitter Ball tools and the Xmas and More Board……you’ve got to admit that’s quite restrained for me on a spree, but I had to keep in mind that I will be craft shopping on Tuesday, so needed some spondulicks for then.

I’ve been mega busy at work today, and after ensuring a very long (and boring meeting), found out that the lunch meeting in London planned for 17th April is going to be way more exciting still – they’ve planned a trip on the Duck and then lunch at my favourite place TGI’s – woohooooo!!!!

30 Minute Challenge on Design Collective….

obviously, there is no way on god’s earth that I could do a layout in 30 minutes, but after factoring in paint drying and the chipboard UTEE letters, this took me about 120 minutes in total.

So, for a girl who usually takes over a week to do a quick layout this was super-speedy.

I’m so glad that I joined the Design Collective, it’s given my mojo a huge kick up the knickers!

I cut round the green circle, and made a pouch on the reverse side for the tag (with handwritten journalling – and that’s why it’s hidden) to sit in. I really love that cheepo ice cream stamp I picked up a while ago, and IRL the image zings out because I painted it with Twinkling H2o’s and then put glossy accents over the top.

All in all, I’m really pleased with this layout of my baby girl’s little hands in the fountain (la fontana) in San Genesio last year on holiday…fingers crossed there will be many more layouts to follow, as I have soooo many photos to get through.

Mother’s Day Card (No. 2)

Really quick card (under 10 minutes). Ready made card blank stamped with Hero Arts Wavy Graphic Border stamps in Vilolet Versacolour and Wisteria Fluid Chalk ink.Stamped onto left over glossy cardstock which had been DTP’d with black Stazon and then heat embossed several layers of clear EP to create the tiny tile (Blue Cardigan Mother’s Day Sheet), cut out and added to card blank.

Tied green organza ribbon round spine.

Life is beautiful

and so is my darling Mother………really super quick Mother’s Day card for her.

Central Lily image is by Blue Cardigan (Mothers Day Sheet) stamped on cream card in Black Stazon, then several coats of clear EP over the top. Matted on to an Ecoline (580 & 416) background, and then onto blue vellum and tied round a piece of cream ric rak.

“Life is Beautiful” quote is by Magenta, and this was stamped in versamark on to the same cream cardstock and embossed with Galactic Gold EP. I then coloured it with Majestic Blue (652) H20, cut out and then edged with Violet Versacolour ink.

The card blank was stamped with Savvy Dahlia (449c) in a mixture of Violet Versacolour and Azurite chalk ink.

Design Collective……..

because I’ve been very poorly, I’ve not had a chance to mention the wonderful venture that Clare Brown, Jane Dean and Kirsty Wiseman (and loads of other really talented girlies) have started…it’s called the Design Collective.

I’ve already subscribed, and am really excited about the whole thing…here’s wishing them every luck with this venture….I am sure it’s going to be a flyer.

Yoohooo, new Aud Design Stamp sets……..

how marvellous……..Aud has just released some lovely new stamp sets.

Like all of her stamps, these are going to be really useful. I am head over heels in love the with Cat sheet already.

We have them on pre-order at the Galaxy, and I will be finalising the order probably next week.

Actually, whilst I’m on the subject of Aud’s stamps, big up (and big hugs and thanks too) to Clare Brown who gave them and the Galaxy a mention in the latest issue of Scrapbook Inspirations….if you haven’t check out Clare’s fabbie article on the Spring Minibook, go and get a copy….it was a wonderful project, and I’m going to make my own version.