Calendar 2010 (yes, I know we're nearly into February!)

A few posts back (here), I showed the beginnings of a calendar I was making for my mother-in-law. We at long last, I've managed to upload the photos of the finished product! And here are the rest of the months...

I mainly used My Minds Eye and BasicGrey papers, but I didn't keep a track of the materials I used (if you want to know about anything specific, feel free to ask!). It ended up a bit bulky what with the buttons and 3D foam pads I used - I love my embellies! I think it was a bit ambitious for a first project, but, hey, everything else will seem easy peasy after this!

Woo hoo - three challenges in one!

Well, I said I was going to complete some challenges this week and, boy, am I! I'm playing The Greeting Farm relay (managed to do this second day!) and I am submitting the same card for Mojo Monday sketch #123 and Anyone for Anya! Here's my card...

So for TGF CHA Relay, I of course used the Charlotte digi, the sketch below for Mojo Monday and A4A's Heart For Hearts Sake challenge. Instead of using my Copics (as I had awful ink running issues with yesterday's digi Mer Ian), today I used my Koh-i-Noor pencils with Sansador (I bought mine from Elzybells here), although I did use my Copics for the skin as there isn't really a suitable colour in the pencils. For dimension, I stepped layered the hearts, i.e. first the large pink heart on to 1mm foam, then the orange onto 2mm foam and lastly the brown onto 3mm foam.

I'm hoping to complete the Just Us Girls challenge to use a 3D template this week - fingers crossed!!

Papers/cardstock: DCWV cardstock, My Minds Eye Pretty Please paper kit
Stamps: image - free digi TGF Charlotte, sentiment from TGF Talk Aloud set

Mediums: Koh-i-Noor pencils, Copic Caios, Stampin' Up chocolate chip ink

Accents: ribbon and gems from stash
Tools: Woodware heart punches

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and TGF CHA Relay - phew!

I was determined to complete a challenge this week and I've managed it! In fact, I'm submitting it for two challenges - the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge #53 and TGF's CHA Relay challenge with their free digi, Mer Ian, who was fun to colour in! I thought the sketch was perfect with that big circle - thinking bubbles here! - and a mer-man! So here it is...

And the SSSC #53 sketch is...

I don't often use digi images and I found that the printer ink ran when I used my Copics. Any advice on what I can do to minimise this would be most welcome! Or should I just use colouring pencils or chalks?!!

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock, DCWV Nana's Kids Paper Stack

Stamps: image - free digi by TGF Mer Ian, Hero Arts sentiment
Mediums: Copic Caios, Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink in Toffee
Accents: Dew Drops

Tools: Nestabilities scallop and classic circle dies

Birthday card for my mother-in-law

Just a quickie! Here's a card I made for my lovely mother-in-law. I used the BasicGrey Sultry card kit. I don't normally go for these as I always feel like I'm cheating - sort of dirty like eating a Pot Noodle! All I did was add some gems and the rub on sentiment, which is all I could think of to add my personal touch. But I got the kit half price and, afterall, they are lovely!

I'll create a new card soon, promise!

My first project!

I love making cards because it allows me to create something quickly so I haven't tried to take anything else that requires more thought! But I've been wanting to do more to stretch my imagination and so I decided to make a calendar for my in-laws. OMG, I hope I don't fail in this!! So you're probably thinking that it's a little late in creating a calendar for 2010, afterall, we are halfway through January already! And you'd be right! Luckily though, my mother-in-law's birthday is at the end of January so I figure I can get away with it!

It's a desk calendar and I've chosen a photo for each month. So far I've only two pages. Here's the front cover...

And here's January...

I have used the Paparmania Bare Basics Calendar. To get this finished in time I've got to do 3 months a day so I'd better get my skates on!

Papers/cardstock: front page - Crate Paper Blue Hill paper collection, January - My Minds Eye Frost paper collection, DCWV white glitter cardstock (champagne bottle)
Stamps: none

Mediums: none

Accents: ribbon and pearl brad from stash, Dew Drops
Tools: EK Success glass and bottle punch and flower punch, Quickutz numbers and letters, Nestabilities labels nine, rectangle and scalloped rectangle dies, Woodware cherry punches, Fiskars scallop trimmer

Happy Birthday Wendy!

It is my work colleague and friend's birthday tomorrow (a big one, but I won't tell on here without her permission!). I meant to take the card I made for her into work, but I left it on my desk at home (d'oh!) so she won't get it in time! Sooo annoyed with myself! So I am posting it here so she can at least see it in time!!!

Happy Birthday Wendy! Have a fantastic week in the US next week - shop 'til you drop! Hope you like your card....

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock, BasicGrey Bittersweet papers

Stamps: Impression Obsessions Cupcakes
Mediums: Promarkers, white gel pen for highlights on cakes
Accents: American Craft ribbon

Tools: Fiskars Scalloped Lace border punch, Fiskars trimmer with scallop blade

Mocke up wedding cards

I surprised myself today by creating not one, but 6 cards! That is a mega record for me! My cousin, Siobhan is getting married this year and has asked me to make her wedding stationery. As they are tying the knot in Mauritius she wanted it to match her bridesmaid dresses and to also keep a simple style.

Here is the bridesmaid dress...

And here are the selection of cards I've made for her to choose from...

I embossed the sentiments so they are shiny and raised (so not as flat as it looks in the photos). I also used an interference ink with a swirl stamp on top of the sentiments and embossed with clear powder to keep the cards from looking too plain, but again you can't see them in the photos, shame. For the flowers, I punched through the card and stuck coloured card behind them - I really liked the contrast against the pearlescent cardstock.

I must say, I'm quite nervous! I really want her to like them (well, at least one of them). What if she doesn't but feels she must choose one anyway?!! Goodness, talk about performance pressure!! How do people make cards for money and not stress out all the time?!!!

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock, pearlescent cardstock (can't remember where I bought it from!)

Stamps: Hampton Art J Melvin Calligraphy alphabet set, Autumn Leaves Flourishes v2

Mediums: Pretty Color ink #8, Opalite interference ink Crystal Blush

Accents: ribbons from John Lewis, Bazzill buttons and floss, Robins Nest Dew Drops in clear

Tools: WRMK Corner Chomper, EK Success flower punches in small, medium and large, Fiskars Apron Lace border punch

Thank you mum and dad!

I can't believe it's my first day back at work AND I managed to create a card this evening! I based this one on the one I made yesterday as I just didn't have any 'thinking creatively' time today and I also wanted to use up the chipboard letters I bought half price this time last year!

This thank you card is for my parents who we spent Xmas day with and bought me lots and lots and lots of pressies! The great thing is that my mum always buys me something unexpected that I love and this year it was a Barbour lightweight jacket. It's true what they say - no one knows you better than your mum!

I really want to try and complete a challenge this week and I miss my colouring in too! We'll see if I can conjure up any more creativity before the week's out...

Papers/cardstock: Crate Paper Sweet Branch paper collection
Stamps: none
Mediums: Hero Arts Prisma Glitter
Accents: ribbon from stash, Papermania adhesive pearls, Crate Paper Periwinkle (from Branch collection) chipboard letters
Tools: EK Success corner rounder, EK Success Single Embossed Curve border punch