Special Friend Blend

I can't believe where this month has gone, it will be April tomorrow & the kids only have 2 weeks of school left this term.

I also have a few birthdays coming in April including my Mum, daughter Emily, & one of my good friends Megan, who's birthday card I have to share with you today. Megan loves to have a cup of tea, so I thought this stamp & sentiment was just suited, mind you she will possibly keel over when she receives the card as I have a shocking memory & always forget birthdays.

My card has been inspired by Joy Taylor, I have only just discovered Joy's Blog & she does some amazing work so pop on over & check out her all her creations.

Just uploaded the photos & think I may just have to add a little something to the teapot, as it looks a little bland. I will let you know what I decide.

Happy Stamping
Fiona

Stampin' Celebration challenge

I have card to show but I better be quick as we have been having a few storms this afternoon & the Internet is cutting in & out.
Over at the Stampin'  Celebration challenge they have a gorgeous inspiration pic & straight away I new I wanted to create something simple & elegant. I hope I have achieved that.
Once again I have used the flower die from PTI, I have embossed the cream background with Vintage wallpaper embossing folder & used some cream Satin ribbon & pearl to finish off.

 A close up of the flower. I have spritzed the whole card with glitter.

A picture of a rainbow after one of the storms, by the time I got the camera the colours had lost their vibrancy.

Hope you enjoyed my card
Happy Stamping
Fiona

CR84FN Colour Challenge

This afternoon I decided to have a go at the colour challenge at CR84FN & as you  may know, I am have a bit of a thing for CAS cards at the moment.
The card is similar to one I made yesterday. With today's card I decided to step it up a little with a scallop edge & an embossed layer. Still a simple card but Elegant I thought.
When finished I decided it was a perfect Mothers Day card, would love to know what you think.

SORRY I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH BLOGGER BUT MY PICTURES ARE HERE YOU JUST MAY NEED TO CLICK ON THE LITTLE DOT

The card stock base is actually vanilla but once again my photographic skills let me down.

Bye for now &
Happy Stamping
Fiona

Another Less is More challenge

I am back with my second card to share. This card wasn't made for anyone in particular but you can always use another Thank You card in the stash.

I chose the colours from the Colour Lab challenge #34 & the sketch from Less is More.

I thought I should add a close up as the sentiment is a little out of focus.

I have added two score lines under the sentiment but they are very hard to see in the picture.

I have been happy with the CAS cards I've been making so you may just see a lot more of them on my blog & the bonus is most of the time they are super quick to make.

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping
Fiona

Less Is More Sketch challenge

I have been busy this evening making some cards for the Less is More challenge.

The first card I have to show is one I made for a friends 40th Birthday, I chose a pink & black theme as I know pink is one of her favourite colours, & it makes a stylish card as well.

The pink paper has a shine to it & it made it hard to photograph.

I hope you like what I have made & thanks for stopping by, I will be back with another card for the Less is More Challenge.

Happy Stamping

Fiona

Stampin' Celebration challenge

Well forget that that I mentioned showing another horse card for the ladies for some reason it doesn't want to photograph nicely. So I have another card to share that I made for the Stampin Celebration challenge this week. It's certainly not a CAS card, more collage style I would say. I have been having a lot of fun getting out of my comfort zone & trying different styles, & no I don't have favourite yet.
Anyway enough waffling here is my card: Well actually two, one square & portrait

Would Love to hear your comments!
Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets:  Nature Walk, Extreme Elements & En Francis
SU Ink:  Early Espresso, More Mustard & Mellow Moss
Card Stock:  Early Espresso, Always Artichoke & More Mustard

Happy Stamping
Fiona

Masculine Golfing card

I am back tonight with a CAS masculine card, I didn't set out to make another card for the Less is More challenge, but somehow when I pulled out this background paper I had a light bulb moment & the card came together in about 5 min.
I have had this golfing stamp since our visit to the US last year & can't believe I have never used it, as I really like how it has turned out. Sometimes I tend to over think the card when some stamps just suit the CAS style.

Hope you have enjoyed my card.
I plan to be back tomorrow with another horse card (a ladies one this time).

Happy Stamping
Fiona

Less Is More Masculine

Tonight I have a card to share with you that I made for the Less is More Masculine challenge.

I have chosen the horse image from a retired SU set "Wanted". I have stamped the image multiple times across the card without re inking & have used some twine to form a lasoo to finish the card off.
Whoops I forgot the 3 score lines for a little interest. I hope this card counts as a CAS card. I am really happy with the end result & would love to hear your comments.

Happy Stamping
Fiona

Sweet Stop Challenge

At this stage this is the last card I have to share today. I have set myself a cut off of 4pm in my craft room, as I have loads of work to do unpacking wardrobes ready for demolition & refit next Friday, we will also have to plaster & paint in between as well.

My card is for the Sweet Shop challenge & I just love how it has turned out, I have used the silhouette stamp from the Easter Blossoms set, once again I have just coloured the eggs in the basket the same as the silhouette. The papers I have used are from Kaisercraft & are just gorgeous.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my card, please leave a comment if you did & if you would like to see all the other challenges (10) I have done over the past 2 days just click here.

Bye for now
happy stamping
Fiona

Less Is More

I am back today with a couple more challenges to show you.

The first one is for the Less is More Challenge & the challenge was a one layer card off the edge.
After reading the challenge i new straight away I would use the Extreme Elements stamp set & Extreme skateboard. the layout is very similar to a card I showed yesterday for the Clean & Simple challenge.

I first tried making the card using Crumb Cake as the base but wasn't happy with how the solid stamp was stamping on it (whisper white is definitely the go for solid stamps). So in the end it was Whisper white base with Crumb Cake & Early Espresso.

I really love how it turned out & it's another male card for my stash.

Happy Stamping
Fiona

Another Challenge

Well I think this is my 5th challenge post for today & this card is for the Stamping 411 colour challenge.
The card I have made uses the Iris stamp that I used earlier today in the JAI challenge. The colours were So saffron, Pear Pizazz & Concord Crush. I am happy with the result, but could have possibly chosen a different stamp as it definitely looks better with the more vibrant colours of Old Olive & Daffodil Delight. So I may just have to have another go tomorrow & see if I can come up with another card.

Card using Pear Pizazz, So Safron & Concord Crush. 

Card using Old Olive, Daffodil Delight & Concord Crush.

Happy Stamping

Fiona

Utah Diva's Colour challenge

Told you I have been busy, my next card to share is for the Utah Diva's colour challenge. I must say I have never done a challenge with 6 colours before. The colours were Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Tempting Turquoise, daffodil Delight, More Mustard & Pumpkin Pie. I had a few false starts with this a card but settled on using the pocket Silhouettes stamp set.

To check out my 3 earlier challenge posts I have made today just click here.

Happy Stamping
Fiona

Clean & Simple

My third card to share is for the Clean & Simple challenge, I needed another boy card to add to my stash & thought the Extreme Dirt Bike would be a good substitute for the flowers from the layout picture.
I am happy with how it turned out & would love to know what you think.

I am happy with how it turned out & would love to know what you think.
I have added 2 other challenges earlier today if you would like to check them out just click here.

Happy Stamping
Fiona

Play Date Cafe Challenge

My second challenge I have today is one from the Play Date Cafe. When I first saw the inspiration picture & colours I was I little taken back, thinking it would be difficult to come up with a card. The actual stamping of the card literally took me 5min max deciding on a layout & whether or not to use a sentiment I am sure took me another hour. My decision was no sentiment & a very basic layout so the stamping was the focal point, although I did add a little ribbon.
The colours I chose were Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie & Concord Crush.

I have used 3 different stamp sets to create the card Extreme Elements, En Francis & Upsy Daisy. I am really happy with how it turned out, this is my second favourite card from the cards I have made today click here if you would like to see the others.

Happy Stamping

Fiona

First of many challenges

Well like my title says I have had the best day creating cards for some of the many challenges out there. I made 6 cards for 7 different challenges.
The first card I have to share is one I made for the JAI Sketch challenge & Pals Paper Arts Challenge 84 As soon as I saw the sketch from JAI, I new I wanted to use a stamp I have had for a couple of years, but never got around to using. The stamp is an Iris which also happens to be my favourite flower & I can't believe I waited so long to ink it up!!!!!!
If you want to check back I should have loads more cards uploaded for the other challenges later tonight (Saturday), just click here.
I have used markers straight onto the stamp, the colours were Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Elegant Eggplant & Lavender Lace. I used versamark with En Francis for the Old Olive background.

Have I mentioned how much I love it & would love to hear your comments,  let me know what you think of my favourite flower.

Happy Stamping

Fiona

Party Guest designer

Today I have some happy news to share, I was chosen to be the Guest Designer for the Stampin' Celebration challenge this week (thank you Ladies) & might I say I really struggled to make a card I was happy with. The inspiration pic (see below) was all green & screamin St Patricks Day.
First I searched through my stamps to see if I had any St Patrick Day sentiment  Viola !!!! First obstacle down. I already new I had no St Patrick Day stamps, butI had a few options: just create a green card with the sentiment, Create a card with a buckle embellishment like the belt from a leprechaun  (no to boring) or  I could make a card using the heart punch to make a Lucky for leaf clover & that is what I did. I am still unsure of the finished card so I made another & I am going to share both with you.
I am also going to send one of the cards to an Irish friend I used to work with It might be time to catch up.

For some reason the colours in this photo are just not right the old olive ribbon looks really washed out, yet the old olive card stock is a nice strong colour.

Thanks For Looking

Happy Stamping

Fiona

2 Challenges in 1

Hi everyone,
I have a very quick post before my kids get off the school bus & want my undivided attention.
The card I have to share was made using the inspiration pic from Stampin' Celebration & the sketch from Sweetest Thing.

I have used Rich Razzleberry for the base, Melon Mambo & Basic Black DSP & watercolour paper, both mounted onto basic black.
I have coloured  the flower with a water brush & ink from the inside lid of the stamp pads, & finished it off with white gel pen to the centre of the flowers & then glitter which is hard to see in the photograph.

I hope you have all enjoyed my card look forward to hearing your comments.

Happy Stamping

Fiona

Baby on Board

Well I never did get back, we had a work emergency that took me away, but I am back with the card as promised .
We are having a bit of a baby boom around us at the moment & in the last couple of months my niece & her husband announced they were expecting their first child, then one of our staff announced he & his wife we also expecting their first child. I wouldn't normally make a congrats on expecting card, but couldn't go past the sentiment " Baby on Board"  from a PTI stamp set called Enjoy the Ride.

Hope you like the card, I tried to keep it quite simple & not gender specific.
Happy Stamping
Fiona

Stampin' Celebration Challenge

Just a quick post of a card I made for the Stampin Celebration Challenge, I kept it quite simple with lots of white space as per inspiration picture. I just love Daffodil Yellow It reminds me so much of my mother & its such a happy colour. The rose is made using theFancy Flower punch & a tutorial I found on the net. I have also used my scor pal to create to lines above the sentiment even though it a little hard to see in picture.
I would love to know what you think!

I have a couple more cards to share so I may be back later today.

Happy Stamping
Fiona

Another Male Card

I am back with another card,  this card was made for another Brother in law who is also celebrating his birthday this weekend, he is a cabinet maker so this card should hit the nail on the head.....LOL!!!!

I chose the sketch challenge at Diva Coffee Break designs & I must admit it had me a little stumped to start with, but am happy with the end result although I could possibly change the Cajun Crush to a different colour.

Not sure I will get back with a third male card might have to start searching the stash for the last one I need..

Happy Stamping
Fiona

Artistic Etchings Birthday Card

I am back with a card I made for my Brother in law Stephen's Birthday, I am sure he will appreciate it & not think it's to girly. I now have only 2 more male birthday cards to make for this weekend.

I followed this sketch for the challenge at Create with Connie & Mary & would also like to enter it into the male challenge at StampinUpLNstampers.

The card came together quite quickly once I had chosen the stamp set & DSP papers. I have finished off the card with lots of distressing with crumb cake ink & I have also spritzed the whole card with  Crumb cake.

Happy Stamping

Fiona

Just Add Ink Challenge #56

Today I was supposed to be making some male birthday cards instead I ended up made cards for some challenges ( well at least I still have tonight & sometimes I work better under pressure).
The first card I have to show is one I made for the JAI challenge, as soon as I saw the sketch I new straight away that i would use the Just believe stamp set & Faux Silk technique, me made a similar one last week at my fortnightly classes. I haven't showed you that card yet as it is to go out to my Secret Sister next month.
I have stamped the background with the En Francis BG stamp & used the markers to ink up the flower.
I then applied glue stick directly onto white card stock & then pressed crumpled tissue paper onto surface & then trimmed off excess.

I am really happy with how this card turned out, these colours together are stunning & the faux silk adds a little texture.

Card recipe:

Stamp Sets; Just Believe, En Francis, Three Little Words

Inks; Early Expresso, Old Olive & Cherry Cobbler.

Card stock; Cherry Cobbler, Early Expresso.

Accessories: Neutrals designer button, Old Olive satin ribbon, Hemp Twine, Tissue paper & Glue Stick

Would love to hear you comments PLEASE

Happy Stamping

Fiona

Colour Q challenge

Last post for today

I have another challenge card I made this time for the Colour Q Challenge & StampinupLNstampers . I originally started out to make some adult male birthday cards  as I need 3 for this weekend & thought these colours would make great blokey cards but I feel something is not quite sure so I think its back to the card table tomorrow to create something different.

It's also the first time in years that I have made a long card not sure what size it's called although it fits in a DL envelope.

Happy Stamping

Fiona

White on White

Another quick post this one is for a new challenge site I found called Create with Connie & Mary
It was a colour challenge this week so I decided to use small amounts of the colours & the majority white, I have also used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder to give it a little texture & some dazzling diamonds to the flowers, which of course you can't see in the picture.
I would love to know what you think so please feel free to leave a comment.

 Happy Stamping

Fiona