Something Special - A Retirement Card

Evening everybody, are you all ready for Christmas?  I've still got a bit of shopping to do, trying to crack on with the wrapping for now!!  I've a few more cards I want to make before Christmas.  Once they're done I intend to pack away most of my craft stuff to the loft outta the way til after all the festivities.  I don't have my own craft room so this plan should hopefully ensure the dining room remains tidy!

This card I have done for my mum's best friend who turns 60 at the end of December and retires on the 4th January.   I am entering it into the following challenges;

Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge - Special

Allsorts Challenge - Pearls and Swirls

Stampin' for the Weekend - Blue and Brown

Daring Cardmakers - Going Dotty

Totally Gorjuss - Free and Easy

Quixotic Challenge - Lace

The layout design is my own.  I decided against any sentiment on the front as I think that may detract from all the elements - I think my craft stuff  kinda exploded on it a bit LOL!  The insert inside reads

"Congratulations on your Retirement,

time now to spread your wings and let the fairy

within you fly"

The flourish is gorgeous but quite big and I cut it to use in the two area here.  The flourish was also quite expensive but I LOVE the effect so think am gonna get creative with a pencil and create my own in the New Year.

I have also gone round the edges of the cardstock and papers with my uni silver paint pen to give a slightly gilted look to the edges.

RECIPE

Image - Mo's Digital Pencil

Colouring Medium - copics, water colour pencils

Blue Cardstock - Stash

Papers - My Minds Eye and HOTP

Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Leaf Punch - Leone Em

Flowers - Prima

Pearly Flourish - Prima

Lace - local haberdashery

Card Candy

Glamour Dust

My mum's friend has been ill lately so I hope this cheers her up and that she can soon wave goodbye to the pressures of work, really enjoy her retirement and let her hair down.

Thankyou for stopping by my little haven in cyber space.  I hope you like what you see!  Take care and happy crafting. 

Mel X

A Card for Nathan

Evening everybody!!  I've eventually made a birthday card for Peter's cousin's son,  Nathan.  His birthday really is on Christmas Day though I forget how old he'll be - three or four I'm sure!  So for him, I didn't want a card that was too babyish!  I know he loves his cars, planes and trains etc!!  My original attempt at this card involved a rocket, a pop up card and a different image - until Peter's remarks put me right off the idea!!  Won't go into the details now but it sure did amuse my forum buddies!! Anyway, I copped out and went for the "safe" option of a more traditionally shaped card LOL!

I'm fairly pleased with the final result and will be entering five challenges with it:

Dotties World - Boy oh Boy!

C.R.A.F.T.  Challenge - Christmas Birthday

Cards for Men - Christmas

Crazy 4 Challenges - Punch Happy

PaperPlay Challenges - Christmas without Red or Green

I wanted something fairly seasonal but not overly traditional and screaming of Christmas so thought blue was a good choice.  I love the music script on the darker paper and the snowflakes on the panels!!  The image I thought fitted the bill perfectly, even for the time of year!!

I really wanted to use buttons on this but Peter really felt they wasn't working (don't know why I'm still listening to what HE thinks LOL!). So I went with Ethan's opinion - he liked the flowers!!!

RECIPE

Digi Image -Charmed Cards & Crafts

Papers - Anita's

Punch - Martha Stewart

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Flowers and Bling Gems - stash 

Card Candy

I hope you like the finished result.  Enjoy the rest of your evening and thanks for stopping by.  Take care and happy crafting everyone!

Mel X

 

Dottie's World and Sketch Saturday

Afternoon everyone. What a lovely day it is today, glorious sunshine and quite warm too! The children both returned to school today after being unwell since Thursday! I'm now relishing a bit of peace and tranquility, catching up on some crafting! I've another two challenge card, this one's for

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

and

Dottie's World

The challenge over on Dottie's World this week, was set by Nicole and she wants to see the colours Red, White and Black. Of course, a Charmed download must be included! For this I've used the scruffy pup from the Charming Xmas download collection. Isn't he cute! Actually,my golden retriever Murphy, was the inspiration here, as he nicked Ethan's sandwich bag off the worktop this morning, there's NOOO way I could leave meat unattended when he's around!!

I've used my new punch I only bought yesterday and some bling I've been dying to use! Underneath the silver brad is a black punched snowflake. The pawprint is a stamp made by a local crafter I've known quite a few years and she's now set up in business with her own rubber stamp designs, - certainly one to keep an eye on!!!

RECIPE

Download - Charmed Cards and Crafts
Colouring Mediums - Copics and watercolour pencils
Cardstock - stash
Punches - Martha Stewart, X Cut and Woodware
Ribbon - Papermania
Flowers - stash
Bling - Prima
Snowflake brad - Papermania
Pawprint stamp - Oakhouse Studio
Sentiment - done on laptop

Thankyou for stopping by my place in cyberspace. Hope you're having a great day whatever you're doing! Please feel free to leave a comment as I love to receive them!

Take care everyone and happy crafting!

Mel X

Dottie's World "Hmm - Feathers?"

Evening everyone! Gosh three posts in one day, I have been a busy bunny! LOL! This challenge was set by June and here's what she had to say.....

"Hiya ladies, well if you didn't know it I love feathers!! This week I would love to see a feather or feathers incorporated into your card. Of course use a charmed digital download, and enjoy yourself hugs June xxx".

What a fab challenge eh? So, after some consideration, I came up with this design! I didn't want to do the usual girly marabou feathers so, after harassing the local wildlife, sorry only joking, after raiding my stash I found this feather! I had been storing it for an idea for a Red Indian card!! I think it does the job perfectly on here, secured with funky fibre and an eyelet!! I've used Chick Dottie from the Dress up Dottie download collection and for extra fun, done as I'm told and enjoyed myself by including words from a well known song via my now trusty lappy!

RECIPE

Dottie Download - Charmed Cards & Crafts

Paper - My Mind's Eye

Feather - stash

Orange cardstock - stash

Colouring Mediums - Copics and watercolour pencils

Punch - Martha Stewart

Song from The Blues Brothers

Thankyou for stopping by. Please feel free to leave a comment - I do appreciate it and love reading them. Enjoy the rest of your evening, whatever you doing. If you're at any fireworks displays this Bonfire Night - keep safe, I'm staying in due to my sore back so have a fab time for me too!! LOL

Happy crafting everyone!

Mel X

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 73 - "White on White"

Hiya everyone, what a lovely sunny day it here! I'm suffering today with a sore back having slipped on the stairs last night!! The purse will be suffering a bit today too as the motor is in the garage - a few banging and rattling noises and a defunct heater! Today, the challenge entry is for Penny Black Saturday. I really enjoyed this though didn't think I would, the challenge being that all papers and embellies be white! I sooo need all the embossing kits for this one (and a new die cut machine please Santa LOL!). The punched snowflakes have been covered with glamour dust and the snow on the umbrella is white flower soft.

RECIPE

PB Stamp - Winter Snuggles 2999J

Christmas Vellum - Anita's

Bling Ribbon - Papermania

Funky Fibre - stash

Snowflake brad - papermania

Snowflake Punch - XCut

Border Punch - unknown

Nesties Label One
Glamour Dust

Flower Soft

Thankyou for stopping by my little place here in cyberspace! Please feel free to leave a comment, I do enjoy reading them. Happy crafting everyone and enjoy the rest of your day.

Mel X

"Going Round in Circles"

This was the second in the challenge competition and was posted on 4th October. It was open to interpretation but circles were a must - papers, card shape, apertures - whatever you fancied. Again, the only rule being at least one Charmed download be used. I got quite excited by this one as I had wanted to decorate a little box for Emmy to store her cheerleading medals. Therefore I simply HAD to use the gorgeous cheerleader Dottie in her squad colours. I'm quite chuffed with the result, the only thing is - could I have used MORE circles?? LOL!!

RECIPE

1 circle box (of course) - from local haberdashery

Cheerleader Dottie - Charmed Cards and Crafts

Papers - from my stash

Silver ribbon - my stash

Dotty Ribbon - DCWV

Paper Punch - Martha Stewart

Card Candy - Craftwork Cards

Colouring Medium - watercolour pencils, sakura pens and copics

Thank you for stopping by!

Mel X