Why hello Owl Punch, it's been a while...

It has been ages since I've made up an owl, so when I was asked to make a good luck card for someone, I really enjoyed playing with my punch again.  Here's what I did:

I made an owl like I did for a graduation card in the past, but I switched the rolled up scroll for a four-leaf clover (has anyone ever actually found one of these?!).  The lovely papers are all from the fabulous Epic Day collection, with the notepaper behind the owl and the arrow stickers from the coordinating Epic Day sticker pack (all part of SU's This and That range, complementing the fabulous smash book style journal).  The sentiment was computer-generated and everything was layered onto Gumball Green cardstock.

The inside was decorated to match and even the envelope wasn't allowed to remain naked!

Supplies
Card: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Paper: Epic Day Designer Series Paper
Other: Epic Day stickers, Owl Punch, Cupcake Builder Punch, clover punch (non-SU)

As any owl uses one or two snippets, I'm taking this fellow to keep the pet pig company in the Playground.

Have a great day,

Christmas Wreath

It's another Clean and Simple week at Addicted to Stamps, so embrace the freedom to make any kind of CAS project you like and share it with us!

I took the opportunity to make another card for the Christmas box this week and had a play with the branch of my Bird Builder punch.  By snipping off the very ends of the branches and curving them round, I made a nice little wreath:

The berries were made using the smallest circle I have: the tiny pupil punches from my beady-eyed Owl Punch!  The greeting was coloured in Old Olive and Real Red markers and stamped in the bottom.  Add a few rhinestones and a couple of layers (yes, layers, on a CAS card!) and job done.

Supplies
Stamps: Beautiful Season
Ink: Old Olive and Real Red markers
Card: Certainly Celery, Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Owl Punch, Bird Builder Punch, stamp-a-ma-jig, rhinestones

I can play in the Snippets Playground with this as it is a mostly snippety make, including the tiny red berries. Do you think I'll get a prize for the smallest snippets?  Maybe not, as I've put Di in a bad mood with all my talk of treehouses, campfires and Elf and Safety nightmares.  Regardless of what the Head thinks, the wood for the treehouse has all arrived and we're midway through construction.  I was thinking of adding a rope ladder for fun.  In fact, I would really love to indulge my childhood dream of a huge network of treehouses and all the fun rope constructions that link them (think Robin Hood Men in Tights! Do I mean Men in Tights?  No, Prince of Thieves!!).

My husband has taken a week's holiday this week so we can spend some time together, and much of that has been spent in the kitchen batch-cooking for the next few very busy weeks.  We're prepared some really scrummy meals and if you play your cards right, I'll share some photos later on this week.  Socks is certainly enjoying all the exciting smells and the odd titbit he is allowed, so much so he has to sleep a lot of it off:

Thanks for stopping by, my lovely blogland friends,

Gold! Always Believe in Your Soul!

We had some lovely cards last week at Addicted to Stamps for our 'Cards for Boys' challenge.  Don't forget to pop along later to see if you are a featured Addict this week!  We're back to a colour week today and we would like to see your 'gold' creations.

I made a wedding card this week:

The lovely script cake was stamped in VersaMark and embossed in sparkly gold powder, with three little flowers added (the Itty Bitty punches are ever so useful for things like this).  I had some gold thread rescued from a box of something or other, which I wrapped around the bottom and added a little heart on top.  The rest of the card was made up with some simple layering using some scraps of shiny gold card and some embossed white.

Here's a close-up of that scrummy cake:

Supplies
Stamps: Love & Laughter
Ink: VersaMark
Card: Whisper White, gold (recycled from a chocolate box!)
Other: gold thread (also recycled), Owl Punch (for the heart), Itty Bitty Shapes punches, rhinestones, BigShot, Perfect Polkadots embossing folder, gold sparkling embossing powder (non-SU), heat tool

Cats and a dog in today's picture: Edited to include a new picture. I inadvertently put on a picture from a couple of days ago.  Ah well, it can be a dog picture for my crime:

So pop over to the ATS blog for some golden inspiration, not that we need it here in the UK after our truly golden Olympics, and then show us what you make!

Thanks for stopping by,

Oh Baby! That's A Lot of Washing!

A couple of weeks ago, I got a lovely email from Kathy asking if I would be interested in joining them over at the Sketch File.  It took me a few seconds to decide so I'm now part of the team!

Here is this month's sketch to whet your whistle... I wonder where the inspiration came from?

While wondering what I could make, my mind kept coming back to this amazing card I saw on the talented Jacqueline's blog a good while back now.  I've CASEd her card but made it to fit this new sketch (if you squint!).

Do you recognise the little dresses?  They're the centre part of the Owl Punch, which I punched out of three different tones of pink card, together with the hearts.  Everything else was done free hand.

Pretty much everything on this card was made using snippets which means I can go and play on the swings in the virtual Snippets Playground.  I was lucky enough to win some ProMarker pens from the Headteacher last week so I'd better behave!

Supplies
Ink: Basic Black marker pen
Card: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Paper: Old Olive from the Brights stack
Other: Owl Punch

Sorry I've been out of blogland for... almost a week?  How did that happen?!  I've been busy with all sorts of things but hopefully there should be some sort of normality descending now.  Thanks for all your well wishes for Socks.  He's eating normally now and sneezing less frequently... but he's still managing to make a nice snotty mess up my windows from time to time!

You'll have been getting withdrawal symptoms from lack of cat pictures, so I'd better make today's a goodie:

Thanks so much for visiting.  I look forward to seeing your take on the Olympic-inspired sketch!

It's the Owlympics!

I couldn't help myself... I just had to make this card!  Go Great Britain!

Naturally this is a prophetic card as Team GB take the medal podiums by storm, claiming bronze, silver and gold in all events!  The owls were made in the usual way - using this punch is a doddle as you just piece all the bits together.  The medals were punched out using one of the eye circles and then I cut out some little strips of blue card for the ribbon.  I'm not sure where I got the Union Flag bits and bobs, but they make great celebratory hats.  The plant pots were turned upside down and chopped up to make the podiums.

Here is a side shot so you can see those shiny medals:

Supplies
Card: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Basic Black, scraps of gold, silver and bronze card
Other: Owl Punch, Adorning Accents Edgelits and Embossing Folders, BigShot, Union Flag odds and ends (clearly non-SU!), Simply Scored board


If you have been thinking about placing an order to get your free brads and ribbons (see here for details), don't hang around much longer as the offer ends on Tuesday!

I'd like to enter this into the 'So very British' challenge at Try it on Tuesday, the circles challenge at Top Tip Tuesday and the Olympics challenge at Just Inspirational Challenges (hello old friends!).

Today's cat picture was sent to me by the lovely Kylie... isn't it funny?

Thanks for popping by!

Happy Rudolph Day!

It's time for another Rudolph Day challenge, but thankfully Sandra says we don't have to make six cards this month (though I could probably do with making six cards).  So in honour of the occasion, I have made a card with Rudolph on it.  In fact, there are two cards with the antlers done in different ways and I'm curious to know which you think looks most realistic.

So here is Rudolph number 1:

Constructed with the owl punch, I started with the main body of the owl and chopped his feet off (poor owl!).  I used two of the circles to make the eyes, instead of the usual three, and used the third and largest circle to make a nose.  Clearly he's been polishing it because it has a shine!  The antlers were made with the branches from the Bird Builder punch.  I like the white embossed background on this card, but I couldn't resist using this paper for Rudolph number 2:

It's like a whole sheet full of Rudolph noses!  This paper, and the die cut circle paper, are from Everyday Enchantment which you can only get until 31st July!  The antlers on this one were made by three rows of owl feet stuck together (poor owl again!).

As for the card design, I followed this week's sketch at Retrosketches as it's been a few weeks since I've made time to join in the fun :)  And as all the Rudolphs were made with snippets, I can play in the playground... head over to Headteacher Di's to check out what everyone else has been up to!

So which do you think looks more like antlers?  Leaves or owl feet?

Supplies

Card: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Real Red, Basic Black

Paper: Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper

Other: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Big Shot, Lacey Circle dies (non-SU), white gel pen, Crumb Cake 3/8" taffeta ribbon, Calyspo Coral Organdie Ribbon (free this month with orders of £45 or more), computer sentiment, Crop-a-dile, Owl Punch, Bird Builder Punch

I was tickled by how tidy you think I am at my desk... I craft in my kitchen/dining room so I can't shut the door on the mess and pretend it's not there.  Plus I have to work at my desk as well and I'm not sure how much I'd get done if I left out papers to stroke!  And, oh yes, I did warn you I am a neat freak.

Another literary-based feline today, but not as high-brow as To Kill A Mockingbird!  Enjoy!

Thanks as always for stopping by.  I am chuffed to bits that you spend part of your busy day with me!

Nurse Owl

I haven't touched my owl punch for a whole five minutes so I decided to have a go at making one of the nurse owls I've seen on the inter web (type in punch art into google and you will be amazed at the sorts of things you see!).  It was so easy to do:

I punched and assembled the owl as normal, and punched an extra front out of white, turned it upside down and made into a nurse's hat.  The little cross is one of the tiny Itty Bitty Shapes punches.  Clever or what?!

Supplies
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Black
Card: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Whisper White, Blushing Bride
Paper: Twitterpated Designer Series Paper
Other: Big Shot, circle die, Owl Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punches


I said I might throw in the odd dog picture into the cat mix, so today's photo is a cross over.  It does at least mention a dog!

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Penguin Party

2nd July today... the second half of the year... the nights will be drawing in now... it'll soon be Christmas!  So time to get cracking on some Christmas cards then!

I've been really enjoying playing with my Owl Punch recently and when I saw this fabulous idea of turning the owl into a penguin, I knew I had to give it a go.  Then when I was checking out some challenges yesterday, I spotted this fabulous idea to create snowdrifts.  And lo, a card was born!

Here's what I created:

Aren't they cute?!  I especially love the loony one on the left (that would be me!) while the two others are a bit more stoic.  I stamped out the main body and eyes using the Owl Punch, adding in little tiny snippets for the wings of the loony one and all the beaks.  The Santa hats were made by cutting out little triangles of Real Red card and adding some shapes punched out with one of my Itty Bitty Shapes Punches.

I did the ground in the way Amy did, die cutting the snow drifts with the fabulous Edgelits dies from the Summer Mini, and then embossing them with the matching folder.  When I'd assembled the panel, I thought there was something missing... and when in doubt I turn to French Foliage!  I stamped the splodges in Whisper White Craft Ink, stamping on some scrap paper first.  Then I added a few rhinestones, which can be stars or snowflakes depending on what you think they most look like!

The sentiment is part of one from Beautiful Season which I coloured in with a marker pen so I didn't stamp the whole sentiment.

Here's a close-up so you can hopefully see the dimension of the ground:

Supplies

Stamps: French Foliage, Beautiful Season
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink, marker pen in Real Red
Card: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Basic Black, More Mustard, Real Red
Paper: Real Red from the Brights Paper Stack
Other: Edgelits Adorning Accents, Adorning Accents embossing folder, Big Shot, Owl Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punches, Rhinestones, dimensionals

As always, if these or any other SU goodies have caught your eye, do not hesitate to get in touch either by phone on 07977 141605 or email.  I would be delighted to assist you with your crafty makes and place an SU order for you for goodies to be delivered directly to your UK address.  Remember that all orders of £45 or more in July earn Everyday Enchantment brads and ribbons for absolutely free!  Click here for details!

I'd like to enter my card into the 'anything Christmas goes' challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and the 'Christmas in July' theme challenge at The Paper Players.

I have introduced my husband to Pinterest this weekend and he's getting rather addicted!  (If you're not a member of Pinterest yet and you'd like an invitation, just let me know and I'll email you one.)  As part of his pinning, he has found a whole bunch of funny cat pictures and I'll share some of them over the course of this week.  I had to start with this one, because if you craft, have a cat, and regularly have to remove cat hair from your creations, you'll understand!

Thanks for popping in to see me today,

Hooting for the Stars!

My brother's girlfriend has just found out that she's got a 2:i for her degree and we're so proud of her!  This was the perfect opportunity to make a graduation owl like the one here.  This was soooo much fun to make!

I followed the sketch at Fetch a Sketch which I found very versatile to use.  The owl was made by a combination of the Owl Punch and the Cupcake Builder Punch (which has been retired, I'm afraid).  The owl was mostly made in the usual way, with the main owl punched out of Crumb Cake.  The wings are the icing from the Cupcake Punch.. clever, eh?!  I drew the mortarboard by hand.  The scroll is just a rolled up scrap of paper tied with linen thread.  The owl is positioned on the swirl from Everything Eleanor, which I think works ever so well as a branch.

The papers are absolutely gorgeous - the bottom layer is velvet flocked and so lovely to stroke.  The fact that it is made in the colours Crumb Cake and Basic Black makes coordination a doddle!  Here a side view that shows the dimension a little more:

Supplies
Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Black
Card: Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, More Mustard
Paper: Mocha Morning Speciality Designer Series Paper
Other: Crumb Cake 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, linen thread, stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals, Owl Punch, Cupcake Builder Punch

I'd also like to enter this card into the "We're feeling punchy!t challenge at The Friday Mashup and the "For the Birds" challenge at Stampin' Up Only!

As always, if these or any other SU goodies have caught your eye, do get in touch either by phone on 07977 141605 or email.  I'd be delighted to assist you with your crafty makes and place an SU order for you.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend whatever you're up to!  Thanks so much for stopping by,

Our Wedding Anniversary

Today is one of the three occasions a year you get to see my husband's handiwork as well as my own, as today is our second wedding anniversary!

Here is Sam's masterpiece.  He took the greatest care even with the envelope:

From a clever bit of masking on the outside of the card...

... to selecting a suitably embarrassing photo on the inside!  I've airbrushed out what he wrote so you sticky beaks can't read it!!

Considering he's made about 5 cards in his life, I'm a little in awe of him!  But then he does point out that he has an excellent local SU demo!

Here is what I made for him:

Mrs. Owl even has a diamond on her ring wing:

Mr & Mrs Owl were made using my owl punch and are perched upon the swirl from Everything Eleanor, stamped in Pear Pizzaz.  The banner is made from a scrap of Twitterpated paper and the base is Crumb Cake card.  I'm not going to do my usual supplies list as we'll all go a bit mad from reading that for both cards, but do get in touch if you have any questions about what we've used!

Have a lovely day!  Thanks so much for visiting,

These are a Few of my Favourite Things...

I have a new favourite stamp set and a new favourite builder punch that I have combined to make today's card.  Everything Eleanor is an incredibly versatile stamp set complete with flourish, frame, flowers and more.  I can see so many uses for this set already.  I was determined to use it to make a card for a challenge this week, but then I also wanted to play with my new owl builder punch.  This fellow has been tempting me for months and I gave in and bought him with some of my birthday pennies.

Here is what I came up with:

My starting point was the sketch from Simply Stampin'.  I stamped the flourish in Old Olive a couple of times along the bottom, before cutting the panel of Crumb Cake designer paper into three and inking the edges a little.  I then stamped the frame, positioning the greeting from Happiest Birthday Wishes where I wanted it with my trusty stamp-a-ma-jig.  The owl was so much fun to make and I can see him appearing on many future projects.  He is punched out of Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Whisper White and Basic Black card.  The three panels were adhered to a piece of Whisper White before being secured to the Naturals Ivory base.

Here's a close-up of the cheeky chap:

Supplies
Stamp: Everything Eleanor, Happiest Birthday Wishes
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Old Olive
Card: Whisper White, Naturals Ivory, Basic Black, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Crumb Cake from Neutrals Designer Series Paper
Other: Owl Builder Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Speaking of cheeky chaps, this is what mine was doing earlier:

To the left of this photo was the ironing board and a big pile of ironing I was steadily making my way through.  I think he was just rubbing my nose in it!

Thanks for visiting today,