The same but different...

Hi everyone, and a happy Sunday to you all.

Today I'm sharing a card made using my favourite stamp from the lovely Paper Smooches  set 'Leafy Greens'. I'm more than a little obsessed with this image and haven't inked up any of the other stamps in this set as yet.

The design is pretty much the same as the second card featured in this post a few weeks ago, I've just used different stamps and colours.

I'm linking this card with the lovely ladies over at Seize the Birthday. I was also going to link-up with the Anything Goes Challenge at Paper Smooches Sparks, but I missed the deadline. However there's a very tempting sketch on offer for the new challenge which is calling my name. The inspiration cards are as brilliant as always.

We're enjoying some unseasonably bright, warm weather in the UK today so please excuse me as I slip away to enjoy a little more of it!

Happy crafting everyone!

Here's one I made earlier...

I've been in two minds about whether to share this card. A few weeks ago I discovered a colleague was about to celebrate her Silver Wedding anniversary and had to get super speedy with the crafting as it turned out to be the next day! However 'super speedy' doesn't always make for a good end result.

All that said, this is the perfect Tiddlyinks image for the happy couple as Jayne teaches dance where I work, and wears her hair in a neat little bob. I tried to colour the image in grey tones but it looked rather washed-out, so I decided to 'pep it up' with some turquoise highlights and pretty papers. 

Thankfully Jayne loved the card and even did a beautifully choreographed happy dance to prove it!

Happy crafting everyone!

Very revealing...

Its the August Card Chain Challenge reveal!

Here's the card I sent to Oreet, who was my recipient this month. I decided to go bright and cheery... and totally whimsical with this cute stamp from Tara Wakefield. As always the big reveal over at Deborah's is well worth a visit as there are some very talented crafters who take part each month.

My sender for August was Dawn in NZ. I love her sweet Tiddlyinks card, as does my mom who would have quite happily taken it home with her if I had agreed!
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The Card Chain Challenge runs each month under Deborah's watchful eye and if you click here you can go and sign up for her September Challenge. This month she has bagged another fabulous challenge sponsor meaning one lucky participant will be winning some gorgeous Lawn Fawn goodies at the end of September.

Finally, to further enhance my credentials as a crazy cat lady I'll point you in the direction of this fabulous post over at The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee. Scroll through and enjoy all of the sweet kitten photographs but pause at picture #5 to see the world's happiest kitten ever! Guaranteed to brighten your day and melt even the hardest non-kitten-loving heart.

Happy crafting everyone.

A Sunny Sunday Morning

Hi everyone, I hope your Sunday is as bright and sunny as it is here!

I had a little time to get crafting yesterday while Hubby went to the football so I broke out one of my favourite stamp sets: Ranunculus by Stampendous. I need a batch of birthday cards to see me through September and October so decided to check out the challenge over at Seize the Birthday. This week the topping is 'black and white' and the DT girls have really pulled out all the stops with a fabulous selection of inspiration. I was especially taken with Janet's beautiful card and decided to have a go at the technique she'd  used.

Janet's original is stunning and so well made. My homage (or CASE!) is a little shaky but I think it's ok as a first attempt. Stamping across three layers proved to be difficult and in places I had to ink-in the lines that were faint or missing.

My second card uses the same stamp but this time I embossed in gold and added a die-cut. I think this card would also work well as a wedding or anniversary card in these colours.

Finally, here is a slightly blurry picture I snapped out in the garden earlier.

It really is begging for a caption so feel free to leave one as a comment if the spirit moves you!

Back to school/work tomorrow: where did the summer go?

Pandamonium too!

I'm road testing a new camera so please forgive that I am back to post a companion card to the one I posted yesterday.

While I was setting up my card a single leaf twirled down beside it. I liked that it matched my colour scheme so left it where it landed.

Looks like the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness isn't too far away.

Pandamonium

Here I am again ready to share a card AND some holiday pictures.

If you want to skip the holiday pictures just take a quick peek at this rather cute card made using the Pandamonium Clear Stamps from Mama Elephant, The pandas, lanterns and sentiments are adorable and this set requires very little colouring or fussy cutting. I created the background using an embossing folder and Distress inks. Unfortunately, after assembling the card I added too many sequins but never mind.

So now for the holiday news... We are just back from a lovely break in the tranquil town of Cavtat in Croatia.  We stayed in an enormous hotel (unusual for us) and lazed around eating too much and enjoying the scenery. Here is the view across the bay from our hotel.

We visited beautiful Dubrovnik by boat.

 And went up in the cable car for a breathtaking view and a rather tasty lunch.

Each day the harbour in Cavtat was full of an assortment of truly amazing boats. Here's the one I'll be buying when my lottery numbers come up! If I look a bit bedraggled it's because we were drenched  by a wave on the return trip from Dubrovnik. We were quite literally soaked to the skin so thank goodness it was really warm and sunny.

If only every day could be like this...