Aqua, white and glitter

The next challenge over on "the Lili of the Valley challenge site" is aqua, white and glitter. The glitter is not obvious on my card but it is on the stole...promise!

Vintage Typewriter

My next set of Creative Expressions stamps was waiting for me on the mat this morning so much of today has been spent mounting them and cutting them out. This month I have Sam Poole's vintage typewriter set to play with. A bit nostalgic for me as I did a secretarial course before going to college and for one of our classes we had to use typewriters like these. We did have electric typewriters as well but we had to learn on the old ones too. I guess this was just in case we ended up working for a company that wasn't so up to date.

For my first card using these stamps, I have kept things really simple. I love the way that the paper on the typewriter is sized so that the text stamps in the set will fit. I decided that I wanted to do a very simple card and thought that a thank you card would be the perfect thing....sometimes we all need a quick Thank you card and you can't get much quicker than this one.


I stamped the typewriter and sentiment in Ancient Page on smooth white card stock. Then I punched the spiral holes down the edge with an SU punch. I layered this on black card and then mounted this onto a square white card. I did play around with some black and white ribbon and paper clips, but decided that the card really didn't need anything else.

Sometimes less really is more.

I would like to enter my card into several challenges:

Alphabet Challenge "Quick and Simple"

Corrosive Challenge "Punches/and or Dies"

One Stitch at a Time "Punch it"

Sentimental Sundays "Monochromatic, must include a sentiment"

Stamptacular Sunday "Just Saying"

Silver and Blue

The next Tanda Teaser is to use Silver and any shade of Blue for your project.

For my card I stamped the heart panel (Tanda Romance set 2) in Versamark and then heat embossed with silver ep. I then painted over this with turquoise brusho ink. I used the same ink to colour some hand made paper (for the tag) and a short length of seam binding. (The seam binding takes the water based ink just as well as alcohol inks....it just takes a little longer to dry).

I cut the stamped panel out and mounted it onto hand made paper then I wrapped the seam binding around this and tied a bow at the front. This was then stuck onto a DL card. The sentiment was stamped using Tumbled Glass distress ink.

The tag was embossed using the divine embossing folder and the numbers were cut from mat silver card using Tim Holtz Vintage Market die. Having cut out the numbers I covered them in glossy accent before sticking them onto the tag.

I made this card for my next door neighbours....it was their 25th Wedding anniversary a couple of days ago. I would like to enter this card into the "Stampin' B's - Anniversary Challenge"

Sunday Day Trippers....

This is my next Ethel and Murray creation using stamps from Creative Expressions' witty, Wrinkles don't Hurt plate.

I used chipped Sapphire Distress ink to stamp the image and to distress the edges of the circle and label. The dies were all Spell binders dies. The patterned background paper was actually made using a huge background stamp that I found recently...it is soooo big that it hangs over the edge of my largest acrylic block, but it still seems to stamp out large enough for a 5 x 5 inch card! Exactly what I need.

The colour, the check, the simple lines and the sentiment all give this a very humorous masculine feel.

With that in mind I would like to enter it into several challenges.......

"Fairy Fun Holidays - Masculine"

"Just Add Ink - White and one other colour"

"Stampman - Monochrome"

"Clearly Inspired - Patterned Paper"

"Corrosive Challenges - Funny or Punny

A Sketch

I haven't done a Lili of the Valley Challenge for a while so I thought I should make an effort this week. This week's challenge is a "Sketch". For my card I used Copic markers, Tim Holtz dies, Brusho inks, embossing folder, Martha Steward punches glossy accents and accent beads.

The flowers, handmade paper and the seam binding were all dyed using Brusho ink.

The sentiment was mounted in a die cut taken from a fruit juice carton that was coloured with alcohol inks and triple embossed.

P is for Pastels

Over on the "Alphabet Challenge Blog" P is for Pretty Pastels. This gives me the chance to enter my next Ethel and Murray card....Ethel has had another purple rinse. For my card I used Spellbinders oval die, Spellbinders tag die and various punches. The image of Ethel was coloured using Copic markers.

Wrinkles Don't Hurt!

I have to apologise.....I've been on holiday....the Wifi in the hotel was totally appalling, the last blog post I did took ages to do and crashed several times in the posting so I kind of gave up and decided to wait untill I got home....our internet is pretty bad here too but not as bad as last week in Cornwall!So this is my third card using the Ethel and Murray stamps from Creative Expressions....and it just happened to fit in with two challenges....The winkled background was paper scrunched up and inked with distress inks...using tanned colours..(the inspiration for the background came from the sentiment)..Ethel was stamped in frayed burlap DI then water coloured before being covered with a layer of glossy accents....the flowers were left overs from some that I dyed/stamped and made up ages ago when I was making some sample cards for the Treasury. The ribbon was also a remnant from some sample cards I made for Patty.

So the challenges I am entering this card into are...

"365 Cards Wrinkled"

"Bearly Mine, Flowers, flowers, flowers"

Holiday!

The sun is shining here in Newquay, we've just been for a walk across the beach and through the rock pools.

My youngest seems to like it here...she even wants us to buy a place and come here every weekend....

My eldest is complaining that it's cold (typical, she's not happy unless she's complaining)....

I think it's lovely though! >
DH has found a pub showing Sky sports and has camped out there for the afternoon so he's happy.

The girls have just decided to go down to the beach and have left me to make the most of the Wifi here in the hotel. You have to pay, but you get a voucher for the same amount in drinks and snacks so it works out OK in the end....only problem is I keep losing the connection....just found out that I had lost everything I'd typed and have started again from scratch!

These pictures were taken this afternoon.

Yesterday I was looking for some challenges to enter my next Ethel and Murray creation into and holidays seemed like a good theme. For my card I have chosen Ethel looking glamorous on her sunbed. She reminds me of my late Grandma....do you remember the pink and purple rinses? Well that's what inspired this card.

I coloured Ethel using Copics. ;The background paper was some scraps left over from some sample cards made for the Treasury in Kidderminster...I thought they looked a bit like the tiles you would find around a swimming pool.

I've found three challenges that I would like to enter with this card......

My Sheri Crafts Challenge - "Vacation"

Stamping for the Weekend - "Holidays"

Sew Many Challenges - "Summer time"

You will not believe the problems I have had trying to post these links.....
>the internet here is really bad, so the copy/paste doesn't want to play ball...worked fine yesterday! So if they don't work I apologise and will try to fix them later.

O is for only 3 embellishments

Hi,

Just seen that the new "Alphabet Challenge" is O is for only 3 embellishments. I initially read this wrong....I was trying to read of my ipad (recent birthday pressie from my hubby) screen in the sunshine yesterday and thought that the challenge was zero or 3 embellishments..Today it is raining on the edge of Dartmoor so I can actually read my computer screen....a change of plan was needed....

I was going to show you my next Ethel and Murray creation with no embellishments..ho hum will have to find another challenge for that one.

In the mean time I can share a card using a digital download from Charmed Crafts. My 3 embellishments are 2 flowers and one ribbon. The flowers were made using Tim Holtz tattered florals die and handmade paper from Ikea. A bit like the string in the last post I haven't been able to get any more of this paper, but it does make the most beautiful flower embellishments...basically I cut loads of layers...screw them up and then sponge distress inks over them...in this case I have used Victorian Velvet Distress ink. The image has been stamped in Black Soot and coloured using copic markers. The background was stamped using my dotty stamp and sponged in Spun Sugar. The background papers are from a V&A set from Papermania, I think.

Other equipment used....Spellbinders dies...Martha Stewart Punch....SU punch....

The other day Zoe told me about a blog that has a summary of loads of Challenges called "Feline Playful" I've just been over there to check it out and realised that I can enter my card into four more challenges....so here we go.....

Fussy and Fancy - "3 or more of your favourite embellishments" , these flowers and gingham ribbons are my fave embellishments at the moment!

Crafty Ann's - "Scallops and or Fancy Borders", think my Martha Stewart punches get me in on this one....

Card Makin' Mamas - "Pink" - This card is predominantly pink...

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - "Pink and Brown" ...pink already mentioned...brown gingham ribbon and brown glittery brads as the flower centres.

Thanks for looking.....off to look for some challenges to enter my next Ethel and Murray card for "Creative Expressions"

Tanda Teaser - Monochrome

Hi just popped on to let you know that the next "Tanda" Teaser is Monochrome. My card uses Tanda stamps, spellbinder dies, my Dotty Stamp (exclusive to the Treasury), and Distress inks (Weathered Wood and Stormy Skies).

I punched holes and inserted eyelets using my Crop a dial and used white parcel twine from Ikea....not sure if you can still get it as they didn't seem to have any wrapping stuff last time I was there. The background for this card was done using the compass mask from Tim Holtz and Weathered wood distress ink.

Just a quick reminder!

Just a quick reminder.....the current "Tanda Teaser" , Ribbons and Bows ends tomorrow morning when the next Teaser goes live...so if you have the time to pop over we look forward to seeing you there.

See the Tanda Teaser for the details of stamps used. I used distress inks to stamp and colour the images and glossy accents on the main image....which was stamped on card die cut using nesties. The ribbon was from fantastic ribbons.

First card for Creative Expressions and a couple of challenges.

So here we go....my first stamps arrived from Creative Expressions on Friday morning together with the official agreement....I'm thinking, ooops...I'm going on holiday very soon, this is not going to look good...so I've spent the weekend and today working on samples so that I can schedule posts while I'm away! Not going far (because of Dad, but won't be online most of the time and not sure all my crafty stuff would fit in the car with two teenage girls and all their luggage!)

So drum roll please....here is my first card featuring Ethel and Murry.

I would also like to enter my card into two challenges....
namely

"the totally gorjuss round and round challenge"

plus

the "Navy and one other challenge from the alphabet girls"


The one other is silver for the brads and the Krylon pen.....

I can't help but think of Dad with this sentiment....he's all there up top...just moving a hell of a lot slower!

This is a really simple card...all you need is the stamps...nesties...white and navy card...a couple of brads.... and chipped Sapphire distress ink....maybe a bit of glue...some foam and a paintbrush...

Sue
x

Bitter Sweet?

Good news.....I got a place on the Creative Expressions Design Team!!! Looking forward to seeing Patty at the Treasury tomorrow coz she told me to go for it! Big hugs all round!

I spent the weekend with Mum and Dad....and a memorable 5 hours (on Saturday) sat on the M25 between junction 9 and 8 trying to get to the demo day at the Craft Barn. We finally got to junction 8 at 7pm...the on board computer said our average speed was 3mph..and since the engine was switched off for most of that we could have walked there quicker! well maybe not mum....she did say that the enforced inactivity helped her feet and they didn't hurt the next morning. Needless to say we missed the demos (I was so looking forward to seeing this Andy Skinner guy). Dad was pretty distressed when we got back...we had only planned to be 3 hours max. But at least mum got a break...not the sort you would choose but still a break.

So onto the bad news..Dad was supposed to have his biopsy today in London...he's been waiting for this since the New Year...it didn't happen. The doctors thought that he would either have a cardiac arrest on the table or tonight at home and die..so they wouldn't take the risk. I'm glad they didn't because the good news is I still have my Dad!

They have agreed to try again mid September if his salt levels are OK, that way Dad will hopefully see his 50th Wedding anniversary and my Brother is flying from the States so that we can have a little celebration. I need to think of a really fabulous desert...he's not up to going out so I told mum I'd do desert. Any ideas?

Sue
x

Relax!

Creative Expressions are doing a monthly challenge and the idea is that you use their stamps, other than that anything goes...I think that Tatty Button counts so I am entering this card into the "August challenge". For my card I have used Tatty Button and the button stamps...in addition to this I have used my dotty stamp, the running stitch from Tanda mini stitches set and the brick border from Tanda Architectural elements.
Tatty, the wall and the buttons were all coloured using copic markers....a serious amount of masking before using the distress inks (Weathered wood and Pumice stone) and the dotty stamp....then glossy accents on Tatty's lips and the buttons

I spoke to Dad today and he is a little better, he says he doesn't notice the difference but Mum has so fingers crossed.

3 days left to join in with the Tanda Teaser!

Thank you for all your kind comments, private messages and phone calls re my Dad. He has had a bad week but has rallied a little this weekend. My brother is going to fly over from Boston to see him and I will be going down to stay with them next weekend. Needless to say blogging has taken a bit of a backseat lately.

Crafting has still been happening though....still need to make all those birthday cards etc....so, as I haven't blogged the last "Tanda Teaser" ,this is a little reminder that if you want to join in the teaser runs until Wednesday first thing. You just have to use acetate somewhere on your card. As well as acetate I used coke cans...cut out using spellbinders dies and coloured with alcohol inks. Over on the "alphabet challenge site" M is for Metal this week...so this card counts, but as I had blogged this card previously on the Tanda site I thought I should probably blog one I've just made...

My Brother in law will have been married for 10 years in August, I was going to do a gooey lili of the valley anniversary card until I checked out what the gift was supposed to be for 10 years...turns out it is tin or aluminium.


Bit of a result there so their card is a metal fest....two coke cans and one tomato puree tube, some alcohol inks, embossing folders, Tim Holtz dies and a bit of glitz and hey presto! Metal Fest!

So how do you say good bye to your dad?

?

He's still here, but he's going down hill fast. He has a biopsy booked for 9th Aug..results a week later. Surgery is not an option apparently.
sue

K is for Kitty

Just a quick post as I should be doing other things, but I just couldn't resist this challenge on the "Alphabet Challenge blog" For this card I used a Clarity stamp and distress inks. I think the "Purr fect day" stamp is penny black. I used various punches and some papers from ages ago...I've almost finished them, which is a shame as they were so useful.

Sorry about the picture quality, the light wasn't very good when I took this.

'Creative Expressions Calling Card Challenge'

Phew, I had an idea in my head but wasn't sure how it would turn out.....there had to be an ATC somewhere and the theme was "Calling Card". This morning when I was checking the blogs I follow, I noticed a technique using alcohol inks demonstrated on You Tube by Andy Skinner. I thought that this would make a good background for my Calling Card. So out came an ice cream container, some alcohol inks, some water and some atc size white card. So could I get the inks to work like Andy?....Nooooo! They just stuck to the side of the tub and refused to coat the card.

So onto plan B! Basically the above technique should work something like marbling, so I had a rummage around and found the marbling inks that I bought when my daughter was doing her GCSE art exam. A few drops of blue and purple on the surface of the water did the trick! A quick blitz with a hairdrier meant that I was ready to stamp.

Calling cards have a certain nostalgic quality so I wanted to use some vintage images, the Tanda retro stamps fit the bill and I stamped them in black archival ink, the words were made using the Tanda Mack alphabet set. I chose these as they suited the era of the girls with their bobbed hair.

So this atc triptych is my entry for the "Creative Expressions Calling Card Challenge" ....


One great thing about marbling is that both sides of the card get coated..result! This is the back of the atc triptych.

Helloooooo

Ooops! haven't posted here for ages! Sorry,I just had to prioritise the Tanda Blog when time was short.

Quick update so far...Em has had to postpone her op date...she wants to be able to swim on holiday, but apparently if she cancels the date she was given, government rules say she has to go back to the gp...to be referred back to Dudley hospital to get another date....how ridiculous is that! She isn't an urgent case so the op date had been already deferred since the original consultation...no fault of Ems that the dates now fall in the time when all families with kids are looking at going on holiday and postponement takes it outside what is permissible?!

Dad is getting weaker by the day, and mum hasn't been well too...so they are struggling... apparently the hospital cannot get the right size needles for biopsy dad needs..this has been going on since the beginning of Jan....where are the government guidelines on this?!

Creative Expressions are looking for new design team members...so I thought I might just have the weekend to prepare for this...then...DH has a serious nose bleed....we ended up in A&E on Friday night!!!!...Not a good time to hit A&E!...DH had to stay the night as they couldn't stem the flow...I got to bed at 2am...and obviously didn't sleep..then back up to hospital in the morning. Had to leave him there as I'd promised to do my bit for the village gala painting faces...DD2 rowing Sunday morning...loads of washing to do....where did the weekend go? Now can I get something made to fit their challenge and get it posted by 5pm?....maybe/maybe not


Today I made a card for one of our nephews and thought I would share it...just had to play around with Tim Holtz dies and fruit juice cartons! thanks to Meikoningin for the juice carton tip....for some reason I don't seem to be able to paste her link here...but if you go to the tanda steampunk teaser challenge you will find her in the comments. Her work is fab so you really should visit!

I decided to enhance the metal effect by triple embossing my juice carton embelishments, this added to the thickness, helping to enhance the effect.

Hello!

Hi Folks!
Not blogged for a month! I have been keeping up with the Tanda Teasers though over on the Tanda Blog...

Good news....DD1's lump is a "breast mouse"....not dangerous at this stage but still advisable to remove..provisional date for removal is late July...might be later....if we go on holiday she wants to swim...so watch this space...

Tanda Take and Make is more or less organised for Saturday...we have star guests coming from Yorkshire and the South Coast so I feel very honoured! We are going to be making some one layer cards...(Thank you Lesley for your feed back!) with the Tanda Locks and Keys set amongst other cards.


Magazine submission using Tanda Mac stamps is live....in creative Cardmaking Issue 29...page 70...see image on the left.....

Please note that there is an error on page 34...they got the credits completely wrong!

This was mine!