Birthday Time...

Oh my goodness it's not today, tomorrow or even this week and yet I've actually finished my daughter's birthday card.  Yikes, this has to be a first as I'm usually at the very last minute.  I suppose I have to thank Cynthia at Rainbow Lady's Challenges for the inspiration as the theme over there this week is 'masked ball' and as soon as I saw it I remembered how much Shelley loved the masks on display when we visited Venice.  Another thank you has to go to Christine at Lady Lace's Crafting Space as she jogged my memory about the Debbie Moore images on this theme.  Crikey this post is beginning to sound like an Oscar ceremony!

Anyway less rambling and more detail.  These are the materials I used...

• image and diamond backing paper from Debbie Moore's first magazine
• green and purplish card
• purplish vellum attached over the diamond paper using brads.  Used this so there would be a shadow of the diamond pattern coming through
• diamond embossing folder - Cuttlebug
• corner die cuts by Spellbinders (cut smaller than actual die)
• gems and organza ribbon

Being so organised and doing my card extra early I even had chance to do a special inner.  Shelley will be so impressed as she's all too aware that normally I get into such a flap at the 11th hour.  Again the image is from the magazine.  I used the Hallmark card making CD to create the sentiment.

My card is also for the challenge at Crafty Ann's where this week the challenge is to create a birthday card.

Have a fab day everyone.  The sun is actually shining today in South Yorkshire - maybe Spring is finally here.  I do hope so.

Ann xxx

Bah! Humbug! Day... Embossing...

Well, Friday again and time for a new challenge at Bah! Humbug!  This week we are focussing on embossing.  Another challenge that will give all our supporters tons of scope as there are so many kinds of embossing.  On my card I went for the easy peasy lemon squezy kind and used embossing folders.  I used a large 5 x 7 folder for the woven effect on the glitter card and because the design is a repetitive one I was able to reposition the folder to emboss an even larger area.  I've also used my Swiss Dots folder to emboss the strip across the middle of the card.  The circle die cut frame is by Marianne and also has embossed edges.

Other materials used...

• Milli clear stamp by Penny Black
• border punch
• pink card and silver mirri card
• gems and organza ribbon
• tag die by Cuttlebug

Other Challenges...

• Cutie Sunday - favourite stamp (well it is today - tomorrow may be a different one)
• Sentimental Sundays - Anything goes plus a sentiment - Happy Christmas on tag
• Sweet Stamping - Oh so girlie cards
• Flutter By Wednesday - open theme - with angel

Christmas Challenges...

• ABC Christmas Challenge - Embossing and 3 different embellishments (ribbon, gems and tags)

Have a fantastic weekend everyone and be sure to check out the work of our Guest Designers at Bah! Humbug!  They have submitted some stunning creations.

Ann xxx

Oh my goodness...

So much to do and so little time.  I so want to keep joining in with the challenges at Less is More, but this week has flown by so fast.

Anyway this morning I pulled out some square punches, some ready folded tall narrow cards and set to work.  It actually took me about 10 minutes or so to make this card - okay don't all shout 'Yes and you can tell!'  I am actually quite proud of it and I really feel like I'm beginning some grasp the concept of 'less is more' a little better.  Thank you Chrissie and Mandi at the challenge blog.  They are a real inspiration.

The pearlescent pink card was punched 3 times using a large Papermania punch bought in a sale some time ago and then I added a pearlescent white inner and added gems in the right place to match up with the design on the front.  A peel off greeting between the squares finishes the card off and makes it suitable to send at any time to a friends or family.

The line is not in the middle as the punch would only reach so far into the card.  To make them central I would have had to do some matting and layering and I really wanted to use the inner with the gems on and keep the window effect.  I think the slightly off centre works, but what do you think?

I know I probably could have done loads better and experimented more given time, but at least I've joined in.  The photo is a bit naff too - so sorry.

Additional Challenges...

• Papertake Weekly - Anything goes plus something old (my prefolded cardstock and matching envelope has been in drawer for years - in a Lakeland pack and they stopped selling craft stuff a while ago now.)

Ann xxx