Fuchsia

A card today with a few challenges in mind.  

The inked background was made with Distress Oxides, 'Spiced Marmalade' and 'Peacock Feathers' sponged on randomly.  I sprayed an Imagination template with water and laid it over the inked background, soaking up the excess water with a piece of kitchen roll.  The 'Happy Birthday' is an Impression Obsession 'Happy Birthday Word Die Set' die cut, using a piece of the inked card.  I made a frame using one of the Sue Wilson 'Double Pierced Rectangles'.  The fuchsia is a MB die cut. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

That's Crafty Forever Floral Challenge

CAS on Friday #119 ~ Flowers 

Daring Cardmakers Challenge ~ Blended Backgrounds

AAA Cards CAS Game #102 ~ Ink Blending

Sunflowers and Penguins

A card today for a my crafty friend, Ruth (KangaRuth) who I used to work with when I was a Reception teacher.  Our class was called 'Sunflower' so I often make her cards with sunflowers on.   Having recently found her crafty mojo, I'm sure she would appreciate a visit to her blog. 

I used a Sizzix set of dies called 'Card, Circle Flip-Its #2".  Unfortunately, when I went to use the die set, the die that cuts out the left hand patterned paper was missing!  I was so annoyed with myself, as I must have accidentally thrown it away with some scraps of paper some time ago. So I used the right hand die, trimmed it to size and cut out the semicircle by hand, trying to cut it in the right place. The patterned paper is from an old Papermania paper pad and the sentiment stamp was a freebie with a magazine.  The flowers are all made with punches.  

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

That's Crafty Forever Floral Challenge

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge # 59 Favourite Flower and Why!

My second card is a quick and easy card, perfect for batch making.  It's just a small card, measuring 4" x 4".  

The pre-coloured image is from the 'Simply for Christmas' set by Digi Stamp Boutique.  I die cut the image and purple mat using MB 'Stitched Circles'.  The embossed background was a piece left over from a previous card, which was embossed with a Creative Expressions 'Snowflake Lattice' e/f.  

I am joining in the following challenges:
Digi Stamp Boutique October Challenge
Allsorts Challenge Week 439 ~  Christmas Creatures
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge ~ All Creatures Great And Small

Gorilla

First, some news to share.  I was thrilled to be invited to join the Crafty Calendar Challenge DT recently!  The challenge starts on the first Saturday of each month, so my first DT post will be next Saturday.  

My great nephew was 8 years old yesterday.  He loves all animals, especially monkeys and gorillas and has a big collection of soft toy gorillas.  When we took him out for the day recently, he chose to go to Exmoor Zoo.  I think he may be the next David  Attenborough!

I haven't got a gorilla stamp and couldn't find a gorilla digi stamp anywhere online, but managed to find this pre-coloured image as a free download.  I used a Presscut stepper die for the green base card.  I wanted a pop of yellow, but after failing to find a banana sticker, I settled for making a punched sunflower.   The leaves are punched with a Woodware punch.

Here are my two favourite photos taken at Exmoor Zoo in the monkey house.  Gilby picked up a fuchsia flower from the floor before we went in.  He stood with it, twisting between his fingers next to the glass, not saying a word.  We watched the little monkey trying to touch the flower for about five or ten minutes.  

I am joining in the following challenges:

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 305 and 306 ~ Use snippets (leaves, flower and patterned paper)

Double "D" 'LEAVE' it to me! Challenge

City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 385 ~ Jungle Animals

HLS October Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Afternoon Tea

A thank you card for a lovely 81 year old lady who invited me and several others to afternoon tea at her house yesterday.  We had four different sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, fruit cake, Victoria sandwich cake and fairy cakes - all homemade.  There was enough to feed an army! We were even sent home with a doggy bag!

This was probably the quickest card I've ever made.  The patterned paper is from a Dovecraft paper stack.  The thing that took the longest was finding a piece of blue card for matting in the right shade to match the teapots and cups.  Does anyone else find that most blue cardstock has a turquoise tinge when you put it against true blue?  I added a sentiment and that's it.  I thought about adding ribbons or gems, but my card looked better without.  I just caught the postman emptying the post box for the last time today, so hopefully the card should arrive tomorrow.

I am joining in the following challenges:

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper October 2017 Challenge
Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge #92 ~ Designer Paper plus sentiment only