Heading for Scotland!

I made this CAS card recently for a card swap and can post it on my blog now I know it's been received.  When I discovered the recipient lives in Scotland, I decided to make a card with a Scottish flavour.

The thistle (the national floral emblem of Scotland) is a Woodware stamp. It's stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with Promarkers.   The sentiment stamp is from the Happy Little Stampers 'Whimsical Friends' set of stamps.  I layered the image on a green mat, leaving just a thin border.  To keep the Scottish theme, I used an Xcut tartan embossing folder for the background. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Penny Black and More September Challenge ~ Make it Feminine

A Gem of a Challenge #227 ~ One for the Girls/Ladies

Crafty Friends Challenge #92 ~ Embossing

I Love Promarkers Challenge #367 ~ A/G  - option of No Patterned Papers

The Flower Challenge #24 ~ Anything Goes

Poppies

Welcome to my two latest followers, Donna of Duncan Street Designs and Bagpus.  I can't seem to find a link to your blog Bagpus.  Can you leave me a comment please and I'll add a link in my next post.

Two similar CAS cards today, using one of my favourite combination of black, white and red.

I die cut the background with a Poppystamps 'Atessa Collage' die in white card. After matting and layering on red, then black card,  I added a black Memory Box 'Prim Poppy' die cut.  A sentiment finished off my card.

The second card is the same design, just swapping the red and black colours and adding a different sentiment.

I am joining in the following challenges:
1. Less is More Challenge #379 - Black & White + ONE other colour
2. Poppystamps Challenge #48 ~ Anything Goes!
3. HLS September Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
4. CAS on Friday Challenge #141 ~ Flowers
5. Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #309 ~ Clean and Simple



As promised in my last post, here are just a few photos taken around Lake Garda, Italy last week.

Cocktails and ice creams by the lake - it had to be done!

 As we crossed the lake towards the castle.....

..... we realised there was a bride and groom on the balcony.  What a fabulous place to have a wedding!

Wedding Day

I'm back from a lovely holiday with my daughter,  enjoying the sunshine and Italian culture.  When my daughter asked me two weeks ago if I fancied a last minute holiday with her as she'd found a really good deal which was too good to miss, it didn't take me long to make up my mind!  A week later, we were flying off to Lake Garda.  I'll include a few photos in a later post. 

My friend's daughter was married on September 1st and this is the card I made for the happy couple.  My friend Lynne was sat next to me making wedding stationery for the big day a while ago, so I was able to discover that all the stationery was kraft card, with pink, lilac and sage green stamping and embellishments.  My card is based on these colours, with just cream added, keeping the design fairly CAS.

I used the Sue Wilson 'Classic Adorned Octagon ' set of dies, computer generating the text in green.  The flower and leaves are Sue Wilson 'Faux Quilled Blooms' die cuts, with a green Nuvo Crystal Drop for the centre of the flower. I added a few tiny pink punched hearts around the card.

I made a second card in the same colours for Lynne and her hubby, after all it's a special day for the parents of the bride too!   My friend LOVES butterflies, so I wanted to include one on her card. The butterfly is from a Sue Wilson set of dies 'Industrial Chic Butterfly & Dragonfly', cut in kraft card.  The panel is a Memory Box 'Ringo Tile' die cut, with green Nuvo Crystal Drops added down the panel, as well as for the flight of the butterfly.  I decided not to put a sentiment on the front of the card, but just write a personal message inside the card.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #334 ~ Use snippets (all pink, lilac and green card)
HLS September Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #217 ~ All Creatures Great and Small

Joy Fold Card

The September Crafty Calendar Challenge  begins today with the theme 'Unusual Folds'.  For my DT card I decided to use make a Joy Fold card using one of the digi stamps from our generous sponsor this month, Lili of the Valley.

The lovely image is called 'Under the Weather' and is coloured with Promarkers.  The patterned paper is from a Papermania paper pad and the card is kept closed with a little brown brad.

This photo shows the card open, revealing the space to write the message.  I added a little punched flower and leaf for added interest. 

The Crafty Calendar Challenge  closes on the 28th August and the prize for the random winner is 3 digi stamps of their choice (£2.99 ones) from 

Lili of the Valley

Please pop over the Crafty Calendar Challenge to see all the beautiful cards the DT have made this month using Lili of the Valley digi stamps. 

I am joining on the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #307 ~ Make Your Mark
That's Crafty Animal Magic Challenge
Crafty Friends Challenge #91 ~ Animals/Birds
Allsorts Challenge - Week 483 ~ Things with Wings