Project 168: Sketch for MAWTT x2

Hazel posted a sketch layout for Moving Along With the Times this week. If you come by regularly you know I'm a sucker for a layout challenge - always makes you think of things differently when you see all the creations that people do with the sketch.Which is why I was inspired to make two cards!

Here is the sketch:

For the headline card, I wanted to play with a series of mustache stamps I had - some of them are from a small set Claire gave me (the top three in the banners down the side) and the other stamps are from a set I bought from Michaels - probably Recollections range but couldn't be sure. I love that bowler hat and gingham tie - I think I'd probably laugh if I saw someone unironically wearing the outfit in the street but it's great for crafting!

The Hey Man greeting was fixed to the top mustache but I masked it off to get the image and then masked the mustache to get the greeting - worked in both cases!

I used all natural and black print card stock from Recollections and the lined them in and orangey-red to make them stand out. The black border is punched using an American Crafts Knock Out border punch. I am kind of obsessed with this card now that it's complete - I love it when something just works without too much effort!

For take two, I decided to emboss the central image - I have so many lovely embossing folders that feature big graphics that never get used because I always want to feature stamps instead. So embossing folders strike back and take central stage this time. I love the owl here, it was one of my first embossing folders I purchased (Claire had it and I copied her) and it's just a sweet little image.

I used a masking/washi tape set for the little tags down the side in a similar pink to the paper. I went for green for the other layers - not sure why to be honest, I just thought more pink was a bit much!

The little green flower is a punch + press combo that we bought at a craft fair together in 2012 (seems like yesterday but it's been over 2 years!) and I liked the depth it gave with the embossing. I added the pearls to the eyes and flower - originally had bling but I didn't think it worked. I think it was the right call.

Can't wait to see what everyone else does with the sketch!

Project 167: A sexy take on brown monochrome

Sometimes the craft challenge stars align.

I had this idea in my head to make a sexy cowgirl card for a 30th birthday we are attending this weekend and I wanted a bit more inspiration to bring it all together.

I knew the stamp would be Mae Western by Kenny K and as I haven't entered their challenge blog in a while I wanted to get involved this week.

So I decided to pop over to Retro Sketches for a layout idea and loved the sunburst of layout 125 but wasn't quite sure I could make it work.

However when I saw that I <3 ProMarkers were doing a monochrome theme, I thought a vintage/antique brown and ivory monochromatic scheme could pull it together. And let's skip to the part where I show off this bad boy of a card because I'm totally stoked about it.

I die cut the image onto a circle and then colored it using a suite of browns from ProMarker:

• Henna
• Cinnamon
• Tan
• Burgandy
• Satin
• Blush
• Walnut
• Firewood
• Gold

The 30 is stamped using a Papermania typerwriter individual letter stamp set and brown ink - the ink is so old I have genuinely no idea where it is from and what brand it is. Could be Craft Superstore own brand? I then added a slight ink texture over the whole image to bring down the white tone and play up the antique feel

The baking papers are a tan sheet that is embossed with a woodgrain pattern, and the stopwatches are Chronology papers. This is actually a die cut piece that I got in a craft goodbag set and having been struggling to place.

I cut the brown starburst pieces and then added a line of gold glitter glue to give it a bit of texture.

The past few weeks have been light on crafting so I'm loving the combo of challenges to get back in the swing of things and can not wait to give it to the birthday boy on Saturday.

Project 166: Plain and patterend mixed greeting set

I'm back from an epic American vacation - we hit several cities and states between Chicago and San Diego, seeing family and friends in each location as well some incredible sights. It's an understatement to say I'm gutted to be back and having to set the alarm for work tomorrow!

A friend (who has been the recipient of several of my cards over the years) commented that she is always looking for blank and mixed greeting card sets because she often writes without a formal occasion. It inspired me to make a mixed greeting set as a gift for someone and I'm a bit in love!

The recipient is a new member of my family - my sister's mother in law (she's only been married for 2 weeks!) and I wanted to give her a small set as a thank you for a favour she is doing for me. I know from her style she's elegant and likes a little bit of color so I think this simple layout works really well.

I chose a contemporary tartan for two of the cards and a Moroccan tile pattern for three to keep them modern. I used an EK Success border punch to create the flowers down the side and made sure they popped out against a plain (but slightly textured) colour that complemented the pattern. Most are Trader Jane from Recollections and the rest are bits and bobs from the stash. Here's a close up of one of the tile prints:

The sentiments are die cut in cream and stamped in brown ink, with small flower embellishments. The sentiments are all from the same stamp set where the greetings are mixed cursive and print fonts - I think they add the to elegance of the ribbon and diecut.

All in all I think they make a good looking set and will work for just about any occasion!

Project 165: Girls just wanna have fun at MAWTT

Our challenge this week at Moving Along with the Times is "girls just want to have fun" and I interpreted this by thinking, what is more fun than glamour?

And to that end - what is more glam than this fabulous Penny Black stamp?

Claire introduced me to her and I have to be honest - she's so fab I'm often a bit intimidated by her. But she was so perfect for this challenge I got over it and decided to make it even more fab with leopard print and bling.

I coloured the image with ProMarkers and kept them limited to blue, purple, yellow and grey. I liked the idea of a non-pink girly card.

I used a bit of purple leopard print to give it a bit more edge and added some bigger bling to the corners. Again - why go small when you can go big on a card like this?

I used a touch of silver liquid pearl on the domes to give that extra touch of luxury and decided to stop there - I was going to outline the skyline and was pleased I stopped.

The sentiment is also Penny Black and I think it sums up what this lady is all about.

Can't wait to see what everyone else has done to interpret the brief!