Traveler's Inspiration Challenge 5#

You will not be surprised to hear that it is raining here again today...

I was at an Institute of Customer Services (ICS) training workshop in the city centre this morning and because I have accumulated so much 'time owing' from work I decided to take the afternoon off to do a little crafting!

I am not sure how I turned this fabulous photograph by Claudia aka Clouds, into my two little plain Jane cards. The picture is of Belize, where Claudia spent her childhood. As usual Tina has all the info about the picture over at Travelingmama. You might also like to make a call over at Claudia's blog and leave her a message. She has just lost her Grandma and so is making an unexpected trip home. I'm sure she'll appreciate a cyber hug or two at this sad time.

My first card takes inspiration from the idea that this wonderful beach is somewhere to relax and to 'take time to smell the coffee'. The stamp is from a lovely Impression Obsession Clear set. I have added some very subtle shimmer to the coffee cups with tulip glitter paint.



My second offering again picks up some of the colours from Claudia's picture. It is a card for my friend Mo. She has rather suddenly decided to leave work and I just want her to know how much I value her friendship and how much I will miss her. These two sweet little owls from a Hero Arts clear set and the friendship sentiment seemed just right. The flower is from Prima and again I have added some sparkle with my Tulip paint above the scalloped edge.


Both cards are much brighter in real life, it is just so dull here today even though it is early afternoon.

Finally, here is a picture of Custard the amazing paddling cat!
He is lying on the rug at the top of the stairs and looks a bit shocked as he doesn't often get his picture taken! He has given up on the garden today as it is just too wet for him.

Here's hoping for some sunshine!

Travelingmama inspiration challenge 4#

....and still it rains!

Isn't this an amazing picture from Savitri? She took the photo in Rothenburg, in Germany and has the full story over on her blog.

Thanks to the lovely travelingmama for another great inspiration challenge.

I am really enjoying all of the chat about creativity that is taking place over on her blog at the moment. I love my virtual visits to Tina's place in Morocco!

I wanted to make a card featuring a door, but the nearest that I could find in my stash was this cute little window stamp from Sugar Nellie. The colours aren't quite right but hopefully they are close enough. It was good to get my watercolour pencils out again and I had loads of fun adding the 'bling' and the little flower in her hair.

This card is for my beautiful god-daughter, Sarah, who is 27 next week. She is a lovely young woman who calmly takes life's stresses and strains in her stride. When her parents decided to move abroad she made everything right for them, even though she didn't really want them to go.

She was the cutest baby with masses of spiky brown hair. This little girl reminds me of Sarah when she was a toddler and had her hair in a sweet little bob. She also had a mean temper and really did the terrible two's with style!

I'm not sure where my cat spent the morning, possibly he was out buying a small cat-sized boat to sail around our waterlogged garden?

Traveler's Inspiration 3#

Better late than never!

I love the photograph of Amy's son that Travelingmama Tina used for her third challenge picture.

To read the story behind the picture visit Amy's fabulous blog.
What great childhood memories this little guy will carry with him as he grows up!

Here is my take on the photograph, don't you just love that cheeky little duck from Hero arts?

Kwernerdesign Colour Inspiration Challenge and an unhappy cat!

It is pouring with rain here in England, and has been for a few days. My cat, who is called Custard, is very unhappy about this. He just sits looking out of his cat flap and clearly expects me to be able to stop the rain!

At least the bad weather means that I don't have to feel too guilty about staying in and playing along with Kristina's latest challenge.

This simple little 'Thank you' card is for a dear friend called June. She never forgets to send myself and my hubby a birthday card and gift, so this is to thank her for her friendship and kindness.

Once again, I struggled with Kristina's colours. I also struggled with my second experiment with chipboard. I was hoping to clear emboss a pattern onto the chipboard shape, but it didn't quite go to plan. However, it has given the chipboard a nice texture so I'm not too disappointed.

All of the cardstock is Bazzill, the stamps are from Hero Arts and I used Versacolour inks.

I cannot believe that it is raining so much, my garden is turning into a swamp - can cats swim?

Traveler's Inspiration 2#

I love the photo that Tina has picked for her challenge this week. It was taken by the very talented Anthonette Chavez and is a picture of Taos Pueblo, in New Mexico. Visit Anthonette's blog to read all about it... and to see the pictures of her visit there with her family. I have to say that I am totally smitten with her gorgeous little boy, he is such a cutie!

I decided to use the colours from Anthonette's photo, but also to use the shapes. I added the middle panel to mimic the shape of the pueblo. I wanted to use blue card to match the vivid blue sky, but it didn't look right. Instead I went for tone-on-tone, using kraft after seeing Kristina Werner's stunning tone-on-tone card. I've also taken inspiration from Anthonette's card here. It's such a simple, beautiful card and really echoes the embroidery on the slippers in Tina's photo.

I wanted rectangles on my card to reflect the doors and windows of the pueblos, so opted to use my stamp punch. Kristina created this great card over on her blog using a stamp punch. She bought her punch sometime ago, but hadn't got around to using it until now.

My punch has a similar story: my hubby bought it for me a few years ago. Although I liked it and have made a few 'joke' stamps to go on envelopes, I couldn't really think of what else to do with it.
Kristina challenged everyone to use something that had been hanging out in their stash for a long time - so I decided to use this punch!
Needless to say my hubby is delighted that I have finally used it!

Traveler's Inspiration Challenge

Don't you just adore this picture of Tina's?

I got back from Italy yesterday and wanted to play along because this was Tina's 1st challenge, even though I've missed the official deadline. If you have never discovered her wonderful site just click here and enjoy!

I love the colours of those slippers, and tried to get as many into my card as possible.



The card is for my friend Sally, who worked with me at the library for about 10 months before she retired last year. She is very stylish and feminine, and I know she will love the colours from Tina's picture. Actually I think she'd love a pair of those slippers too, but then wouldn't we all!

This is my first experiment with chipboard - it's a bit odd to work with as the surface is so soft. Any tips and hints would be very welcome!
As you can see I had a bit of trouble with my gel pen faux stitching. I will cover the bit I messed up with a gem or a teeny heart before I send the card.

I am still searching for the ultimate gel pen as none that I have tried so far seem to flow very well and I end up going wobbly. (Also I am still having a bit of trouble with my hand/wrist after being in plaster earlier this year).
It's hard to tell on this picture but the 'happy birthday' sentiment is over stamped with the Hero Arts Raindrop stamp. The chipboard is Maya Road (beautiful shapes) and all of the cardstock is Bazzill. The paper is so old that I have no idea where it came from, it's really pretty and is ideal for using in little strips as I have done here. I will be very disappointed when it all gets used up.

And here I am on the hotel balcony overlooking beautiful Amalfi. My hubby always picks the best holiday locations!