My Father's Day

There are quite a number of challenges with a masculine theme out in blogland. It's a while off till Father's Day, June is just on the doorstep - my Dad's birthday month.   So I thought I would get out my, as yet untouched, Stampin Up "The Open Sea" set and create a card for him. To create the card I masked and inked the oval and stamped over with the ships log and ship stamps - all with my favourite Tim Holtz distress inks.  I then put some white gel pen on the sails and a bit of Copic for colour.  Then distressed the edges mounted on some really old, el cheapo patterned paper from my scrap drawers which I inked on the edges. Then tied so twine in a reef knot with a charm and stuck it all together.  I love blue and brown, its one of my favourite colour combos.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges.

Simon Says Stamp  Fathers Day or Special Male Challenge

Chocolate Coffee & Cards For the Boys Challenge

Fairy Tale Challenge Blog Boys + Men Challenge

Little Claire's Designs ideas & inspiration Male Theme Challenge

Stampavie and More for a Boy Challenge

DRS Designs   Masculine Cards Challenge

Hand Stamped Sentiments Masculine Theme

Really Reassonable Ribbon Father's Day or Masculine with Ribbon or Trim


Cheers for now, Linda

I wish it were Summer!

There appears to be quite a few challenges out in blogland with a summery theme.  It's a bit depressing as we have started to get out first real wintery days here.  Not that it gets really cold here, but I'm a sook and don't want to get out of bed if the temperature falls below double figures.  In degrees celcius that is, if it was below 10 fahrenheit I'd be a solid block of ice. So to warm up I dreamed of summer and created this card.

The background is Tim Holtz distress inks sponged directly onto the card background.  The stamps are all from a Papermania acrylic set called Summerbloom.  The hammock was coloured by using my Marvy Markers directly on the stamp (very fiddely), then I gave it a very light spritz and stamped, with mixed success. I did try a little tidy up with a washbrush. Might just try the Tim Holtz "Huff on it" next time. Rubber might have worked better with this technique too.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show  Summer Holiday.  (Wish I was lazing is a hammock in the sun not coughing and hugging the fire.)

Wags n Whiskers Rubber Stamps Summer Fun. (Summer is definitely more fun than winter.)

Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge Here Comes Summer. (Not for a while for me though boohoo)

Paper Play Challenges Summer Lovin. (Not a lot of lovin' goin' on around here in the contagion castle were both down with the flu)

Through the Craftroom Door  Photo Inspiration. (The photo with the cushions on the window seat actually made me think of this stamp, with all the cushions on the hammock)

For Your Inspiration Photo Inspiration. (I tried to replicate a beautiful sunset in the background behind the hammock stamp.  I did say tried!)

Cupcake Craftroom Photo Inspiration. (The fruit, especially the watermelon made me think of summer, and I tried to replicate the colours in the card).

I think it is beddy-byes for me.  Hopefully I'll wake up tomorrow without a head full of snot. Cheers for now, Linda

Die(cutt)ing

It's been a week today since this virus started and I'm still feeling like death warmed up!  Now the other half has got it and boy is he cranky!  So I thought while I'm on one of the Codral highs that I would slip into the craft room, away from his accusing eyes and get creative.  On the Southern Girls Challenge Blog they have a diecut challenge. So I thought I would give it a go.  Phew!! I didn't realise how much energy it took to run a few dies through the cuttlebug.  I'm exhausted now. Below is my entry into their challenge.  The border around the edge is the Spellbinders Elegant Posts trimmed to make the frame.  The other dies are all Nellie's Mulitframe dies.  The little birdy image on the inchie is a Dover image I fussy cut. All the inking is Tim Holtz distressing with a bit of glimmermist on the border.

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Hotshot Craft Blog  Diecut Challenge

I think it might be time for a nap or maybe some therapeutic colouring of a nice stamp image, cheers for now, Linda.

Pretty Shabby

I've been feeling pretty shabby over the last week. The flu has kept me confined pretty much to bed, so what else was I going to do but surf around the net looking at inspirational blogs.  I found this fantastic site The Shabby Tea Room full of absolute creative beauty. As my symptoms have slowly begun to subside and I'm able to actually sit up at my desk I thought I might take all that inspiration and see if I could meet some challenges from blog land. The following card I produced for The Shabby Tea Room "garden party" challenge.  My first ever entry into the Tea Rooms challenges and also my first outside of a forum or ning. I had no idea there were so many inspirational challenge blogs out there.

The inspiration for the challenge was the following photo and it also required a dimensional flower or flowers.

I would also like to enter my card  in the following challenges

The Ribbon Reel challenge Spring colours Challenge
oozak Spring colours Challenge
Cute Card Thursday Pink and Green Challenge
City Crafter  A Rose is a Rose Challenge
Party Time Tuesdays Vintage or Shabby Chic
Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog Vintage/Shabby Chic

This amazing blog candy is from the Cards by America blog. It's overflowing with the cutest House Mouse Stamps and fantastic charms, lace and trim. Jump on over to the blog before 2 June for your chance to haul in this massive stash.