Shimmery Snowflakes

I don't make many cards with snowflakes .... just doesn't seem right to receive a snowflake card from a tropical island.  But I will send this one to my brother in Canada ... although I'm sure he would prefer sunshine and warmth in December.

A close up to catch the shimmer of the holographic embossing powder.

My entry for Addicted to CAS : Holiday Challenge.

Diamond Stitches

I so wanted to use real stitches for the Addicted to CAS Challenge : Stitched. Something simple. Nearly went the way of those string art designs we used to do as kids with nails in wood, but that would have taken quite some time.

Decided to go with a basic diamond shape and used the lovely shimmery thread from May Arts. Very difficult to capture the real holographic shimmer on camera. I embossed the sentiment with Sparkle embossing powder and the blue card has a soft matt shimmer too.

Trying a close-up to capture the shimmer ...

I will also enter this to the Less is More : Diamond Challenge.

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Autumn Leaves

When I saw the colours of the Color Throwdown Challenge, I knew I wanted to use the layout of Susan's card (which was taken from Tracy May) again. Such lovely rich colours that work so well with the leaf of WPlus9 Autumn Leaves set.

Frames and Flowers 3

I still had a piece left over from my last card and wanted to use it before it joined the HUGE stash of "leftovers" and bits and pieces.

Still going with the lovely inspiration by Jenni Murray at Muse Challenge, and the CASology Frame Challenge. Plus I have loved and CASE'ed Susan's layout from HERE and HERE and will enter it to her Thanksgiving Challenge 2016.

I popped up the frame on foam.

Which of the three appeals to you most?

I think it got better as I went along - my favourite is this one. So it goes to show that you don't always get it right the first time. 

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Frames and Flowers 2

Continuing with the inspiration from the lovely inspiration by Jenni Murray at Muse Challenge, and the CASology Frame Challenge. 

This time I went with the same colour combo of blue and yellow, having a frame and a flowers.

I will also enter this into Susan's Thanksgiving Crusade 2016.

  

Frames and Flowers 1

I have not made it to my studio this week ... my daughter had her tonsils out on Monday. Not a fun thing when you're an adult! Today was day 3 and she says it's like having razors in your throat all the time despite the painkillers. Apparently another few days of bad pain and 10 days at least to feel better. In the meantime it's only mango sorbet, jelly and water. Sounds like fun, but it's amazing how your body also wants salty!

But I got some cards done this evening - had to destress a little.

This is my first take on the lovely inspiration by Jenni Murray at Muse Challenge, and the CASology Frame Challenge. 

I went with her blue frame, two tone blue flower and layout, even though mine was a lot smaller. My first thought was to use this funky frame from Simon Says Stamp.

 

Beautiful Birthday Wishes

I think that the Altenew Beautiful Day stamp set is one of the most versatile beautiful ones in my stash at the moment. Can't get enough of it!

I stamped 2 flowers using the "middle" colouring stamp and the outline, then I cut one to be just the inner circle of petals and layered the two. On the inner circle, I also cut into the lines going towards the centre so I could turn up some petals more than others.

My entry for the Altenew Ultimate Blog Hop Challenge.

The layout was inspired by the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge.

Rainbow colours

I can't resist rainbow colours. I was using a watercolour postcard that I bought on my last trip to the UK. It's not as wide as the card base so I added two strips of washi.

My entry for the Freshly Made Sketch #253 Challenge

Dies as stencils

A great way to expand the use of your dies, is to use them as stencils. Anita at the Muse Challenge #182 gave us a wonderful card using this technique.

Here is my take, inspired by ...

... her colours

... the flow of her elements (would have been exactly the same if I had not messed up and need to cover a splotch)

... mixing the sentiment with stamps and dies

... some embellishments (she used enamel dots, I used dimensional pearls)

Here is Anita's card

Hello

Happy colours for the Color Throwdown Challenge.

Watercolour happiness

Just love the inspiration photo at Addicted to Stamps this week. Swoon!

Here's my first take ... [I cannot get my camera to pick up the fluorescent fuchsia of the flower and dots - and I mean it is REALLY fluo! Just like the picture. If I get it right in the daylight tomorrow, I'll update it. Any suggestions or tips appreciated.]

and my second ... still had lots of ink on my craft sheet so kept going ...

The turquoise strips have been embossed to give a quilted look.

Which one do you prefer? Funky flower from Craft Asylum (in my start up kit for my Big Shot Plus) or Fresh Daisies from Simon Says Stamp?

Beach Days

My brother's birthday is coming up and he loves the sea. When he was a teenager, he spent so much time in the sea that we said he was "water-logged" and we'd have to hang him upside down to dry out! Hard to believe how the time has flown by and he'll be 50 next month. But he's still my little brother.

Some more colour foam mounting. 

My entry for CASology Challenge #214 : Beach.

My happy place

My craft room is definitely one of my happy places, so what to joy to have "craft room" inspiration from Altenew this month.

Altenew September 2016 Inspiration : Craft Room Challenge

I used the Altenew Daisy set for the flowers and leaves; and the Sentiments and Quotes set which had the perfect message for this challenge. I went with the colour scheme of red, blue and yellow; circles and stripes and even got to add some washi tape too.

I will also enter this to the The Paper Players : Circles Challenge.

Enjoy ... more

I love it when you can get 2 cards when using dies ... the positive and the negative spaces. So this the card using the negative space left over from my last card.

Just couldn't resist this background from MFT! I can see myself using it a LOT as it's so versatile, fresh and light.

My entry to ...

... Addicted to Stamps and More : CAS Challenge

... Darnell's NBUS Challenge

... ColourQ Challenge 

Enjoy

Been getting inky today! So glad my mojo's finally coming back.

My entry for ...

... Freshly Made Sketches #252 Challenge 

... ColourQ Challenge #357

Smile

The inspiration card by Sarah at Muse Challenge is just up my street. 

I took the following elements ...

... the colours : blue, green & yellow. Just love this combo - so fresh

... the watercolour look mixed with black outline

... the striped border

... mixed font sentiment

... general layout

This is the first time I have used this WPlus9 stamp and die set, so I will also link this to Darnell's NBUS Challenge.

Also and entry to Time Out Challenge : Words. My leaves are lovely and fresh ... just like a new start.

Mauritian Flag ....

Whenever I see the green, yellow, blue and red colours, I think of our Mauritian flag, so I just had to play in the Color Throwdown Challenge!

The heart is stamped on the inside of the card with glossy accents added. Inspired by the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch. Also entering it to the Inspirational Challenge : Primary Colours.