Freshly Made Colour Q

Hello!

Just a quickie for Colour Q and Freshly Made Sketches:

The background looked a little dull with plain, black card stock so I jazzed it up a little by stencilling with black texture paste. 

I'm about to start my third glass of champagne as it's our 12th wedding anniversary today so probably best I sign off...

Thanks for popping by!

Claire x

A Psychedelic PTI Blog Hop

Hello!

It's Blog Hop time with Papertrey Ink:

Yes it's one of those cards. You know the ones you do and don't really want to post? The distress inks were still out and I was still in stencil mode after the previous challenge but I think I got a bit carried away!

I used one of the dies from Doodlie-Do to stencil a whole heap of flowers, then randomly stamped some blooms using the matching stamp set.  The sentiment is from Birthday Bash Sentiments. It looked way too busy so I die cut a stitched rectangle and matted it on black cardstock to break it all up a bit.  I have to say, it wasn't much of an improvement.  I then showed it to my husband and he summed it up very well - 'bit psychedelic isn't it?'

I think the idea was decent enough but perhaps an improvement is needed in the execution - we can't like everything we post though can we?!

Thanks for popping by and a big thank you if you take the time to make a comment!

Claire x

Crafting at the Midnight Hour

G'day again!

Since the distress inks were already out and I was on a bit of a crafting roll, I made another quick card for Casology and Addicted to CAS:

It was beyond midnight by the time I finished, which is kind of appropriate since that's the Addicted to CAS code word this week.  I stencilled a moon, then masked it off and blended a dark sky. The birds weren't showing up on the dark background so I die cut another set of birds in pale card stock and matted it under the black. Kind of looks like the moon is shining on them I think.

Anyway, that's all for now - happy stamping!

Claire x

A Whole Lotta Balloons...

Hello again,

Just a quick card for Casology, where the cue word is 'stencil' and Less is More where the theme is:

Something that pops or bangs

I've never been a big user of stencils - I've a few in my stash but I never seem to know quite what to do with them. In the end I didn't even use one of those and made my own with a Whimsy Stamps balloon die.  I used a variety of distress inks to sponge a whole bunch of balloons , then added a bold sentiment from the matching stamp set - Happy Everything.   Another easy one, but isn't that the point of clean and simple challenges?!

Have a great Sunday!

Claire x

Happy Birthday Sandie!

G'day folks!

There's an extra special challenge running over at Time Out to celebrate Sandie's birthday - (she's turned 21 again apparently.) To celebrate,  the Time Out DT have set up the challenge which is CAS With The Optional Twist of Purple.   For my card I also used this week's Freshly Made Sketch by Linda:

Oh dear, purple has never been my 'go to' colour but I reckon any colour looks good on these CAS-ual Fridays Mon Ami blooms - and the important thing is that Sandie likes it.  Make sure you check out her blog won't you - she really is one of the queens of CAS! 

Sandie, hope you have a very happy birthday and this one will be winging it's way to you very shortly so that you can have it in physical, rather than digital form!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x 

CFC#148 - Birthday Boy

Hello, hello!

It's time for a brand new challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays and this time we're inking up for the boys:

Who doesn't find masculine cards difficult? I barely seem to have made any blokey cards recently so it was good to crack open the more masculine colours. For this one I used WTF which is such a fun set, especially for those celebrating the big 40 or 50.  I kept mine very CAS and stamped the border lines and sentiments  (yes, a Misti is on my never-ending wishlist) in a variety of colours.  I then matted and framed it in contrasting card stock.

So what will you make for the big/little men in your life? Link up your projects by 31st May  to be in with the chance of winning a $25.00 voucher for the store. Use Cas-ual Fridays Stamps as the main focus of your card and Michele will double the prize!

Can't wait to see what you come up with - make sure you check out the rest of the design team's projects...you're sure to be inspired!

Thanks for popping by!

Claire x

Calling all Sistahs: Sistahood Blog Hop

Calling all sistahs! It's the 17th of the month!

Did you know that one in eight women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime? Similarly, in Australia, one in eight women will be diagnosed before the age of 85. 

Without doubt, we all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer - whether through a diagnosis of their own, a family member or a friend. Over at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps,  Michele has her own story to tell which can be found here - this has led to her developing a range of stamps in aid of the breast cancer cause. Fifty percent of the profit from sales in the Calling all Sistahs range goes to National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc, to help aid their research into treatment and ultimately find a cure for this hideous disease. 

As a reminder to check your breasts each month on the 17th and to support the cause, CAS-ual Fridays has organised a Sistahood Blog Hop - you have until 11.59pm on May 19th to leave a comment at any of the blogs below and be in with a chance of winning a $15.00 gift certificate for the store:

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps 

Archana Bhurke 

Nora Noll

Susan White

Shona Chambers

Bonnie Sharp

Lori Kobular

Diane Jaquay

Jeanne Jachna

Theresa Knopf

Alanna Moses

Jennifer Ingle

Joanna Harty

Kristie Goulet

Kelly Griglione

Kimberly Rendino

Ceal Pritchett

Lisa Lahiff

Lydia Evans

Lori McAree

Claire Apostoloff

Vicki Dutcher

Channin Pelletier

Lisa Harrolle

Heather North 

For my card, I used the Hope Ribbon set with the co-ordinating Ruffled Ribbon Fri-die. I used a variety of pink Copics to colour in each of the teeny tiny flowers, then made the image 'pop' by placing it against a black die cut of the Ruffled Ribbon. The sentiment is from the same set.

Next on the hop is the very talented Vicki so why not swing by and say hello - and don't forget, the aim of this hop is to remind all of you that you must regularly check your breasts for any unusual lumps, bumps and changes. 

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x