Happy Mother's Day...

I was really late making this card - something else to blame Max for!!  Eek poor Max.  I made it this morning before my mum came to my house.  It had to be something quick and easy so I used an A4 decoupage sheet that my friend Susan gave me at the NEC.  It's a Debbie Moore image and one that once cut out works really well on a large square card.

Love the glitter effect on the frame.  It isn't actually glitter but it does give that effect.  I added a feather and a gemstone to the glam lady costume and border and corner peel offs finish the card.  I haven't put a sentiment as my mum puts the cards out and they stay out.  She still has a Halloween House Mouse card on her sideboard.

Challenges...

• Sir Stampalot - Ladies and Fashion
• Creative Inspirations - Mother's Day
• Paperplay - for Mum

Hope everyone has had a day as fabbie as mine even though I've cried three times today it has been really special.  The first tears came when my eldest daughter sent me the most sentimental and soooooo sloppy text.  The second was when I rang my own mum who had no idea what was going on when I told her it was Mother's Day and I loved her and the one that really got me was when I put my hand on my youngest daughter's tummy and felt my grandson move for the first time.  That has got to be one of the best Mother's Day presents ever.

Ann xxx

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

I've been dusting...

Not the house though!  After seeing Ink Dusters being demonstrated by Inkilicious at the Stamp Magic Show at the Dome, Doncaster I've had quite a good time trying them out.  So easy to use and very effective.  The colours don't show up quite as well in this photo as in real life - honest!

Card size 8" x 8"

Materials used...

• Ink Dusters by Inkilicious
• Adirondack Ink Pads
• Stamps by Lavinia
• Labels die from Spellbinders
• Black Inlaid glitter card and plain black card
• Black organza ribbon
• Sentiment stamp from Popcorn the Bear set
• Swiss Dots embossing folder
• Stickles to add a touch of magic dust

As the card is for a special person (my friend Max's daughter) I just had to make the inside a bit special too.  I used a CD by Debbie Moore called 100 Fantasy Silhouettes to create a fairy themed insert.  Using the snapshot tool I was able to capture the border on the image and manipulate it to make a border on the insert.  Had to use a pen to touch up the corners to make them meet, but I reckon I'll get away with it.

Challenges...

• Friday Sketchers - the sketch
• Flutter By Wednesday - Open theme, but remember to include a creature with wings.
• Daring Cardmakers - Silhouettes

 Have a brilliant day everyone.
Ann xxx

More black and white...

My black and white style card from yesterday's posting seems to have developed into a collection!

When I printed the silhouette lady from my new Debbie Moore CD I actually printed a whole sheet of silhouette profiles of different ladies.  I don't often do this due to the cost of ink, but I must say it was really good fun to make a little collection of cards with the same colour scheme and papers and I still have loads of silhouettes left too.

I'm really proud of myself actually as I managed to make all 5 cards using only one A4 sheet of the black with white flowers and one sheet of the white with black flowers paper by Kanban.  Not like me to be so economical!!

I think having now made a set of these my next job will be to make a matching box as I have a friend who is not a card maker herself, but would appreciate these to use as notelets and it is her birthday coming up soon.

My cards fit the challenges at ...

• Sketch Saturday - the sketch used on the last card.
• SophistiCats - fancy borders - I've used glitteration on otherwise plain borders so maybe I can just about squeeze into this challenge!
• Tuesday Taggers - 2nd entry and it's their fault for starting me off on this black and white frenzy.
• One Stop Craft Challenge - something beginning with 'B' - black, bows and beautiful ladies.
• The Corrosive Challenge - use two of your favourite embellisments - mine are clear crystal gems and ribbon. 

Don't forget that tomorrow sees the start of Bah! Humbug! - yeah at long last the starting day has arrived.  So if you want to ensure that next year Christmas is a breeze as far as cards being ready to post do join us and have some fun too.

Black and White at Tuesday Taggers...

Tuesday Taggers is really special this week as my good friend Irene is their guest designer so naturally I just had to join in.  Check out Irene's fantastic project here - isn't that just a fabulous set?

The challenge is use black and white, which is one of my favourite schemes as it's so easy to do and usually ends up as quite classy work.  For the basic layout of my card I decided to use the sketch at Sketch Saturday and make an anytime card.  I seem to need these quite often both as 'thank you' cards and little cards to put in with 'cheer up' gifts and RAKS.

I've purposely kept the card very flat - no bulky flowers or foam pads.  It really hurt doing that as I love dimension, but hey the charges at the post office are killing and they are set to rise again in April so needs must.

The silhouette image is from my new Silhouette CD by Debbie Moore.  I actually printed a whole sheet of these images and I'm half contemplating making a set on notelets with them - we'll see.  I rather like the idea of making a folder to match too.  Watch this space!!

As I've used new stash my card is perfect for the challenges at...

• Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog - New stuff
• Crafty Ann's - New inspiration or goodies

Have a fantastic day everyone - oh it's so good to be able to craft again after last week. Thank goodness whatever was wrong seems to have settled down - let's hope it stays that way.