Mid Month Hot August Night

We are mid way through the Hot August Nights Challenge over at the Die Cut Divas, and no we are still not talking about Neil Diamond. So following on with my theme of Reno at night I created this card, What's a festival without fireworks over head?

Card Tip:

look to embossing powder to create colour and drama on black or dark coloured card stock.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:

black card stock for base (it started out as a A4 sheet) DCWR black card stock for building silhouette inside (this card stock has texture)

Papers:

Creative purple mirror paper, pink glitter paper.
Stamps:

Gina K Designs hello sunshine stamp set.

Ink:
Versamark Ink and Pen(for dots), Allison Ellis Designs embossing powder in rhapsody, purple passion and firecracker spark,Judikins embossing powder in metallic gold.

Dies:

Memory Box cityscape silhouette, Cuttlebug curls and swirls letters.

Other:

I used the Ultimate Pro to create the card base.

Challenge List:

Hiding in my Craftroom-blogiversary- use your scraps

Southern Girls Challenge-its-all-about-texture
Crafty Bloggers Network-August Summer Fun
Cute Card Thursday Challenge#334-clean and simple
Outlawz CAS Challenges - purple
Eclectic Paperie Challenge-embossing
Little Miss Muffet Challenge#92-anything goes
Nut Crafters Challenge#74-anything goes
Scrappers Delights Challenge#29-anything goes with die cuts
Clear it out Challenge-embossing
Crafty Sentiments-anything goes
Creative Card Crew-embossing
Through the Craft Room Door
Crafting from the Heart Challenge#31-anything goes
Crafty Card Makers-fancy folds
Craft Creatoins Challenge-anything goes
Sparkle n Sprinkle Creative Challenges-August
Imagination Crafts Challenges-August, make a scene

Perfectly Rustic Masculine

So its a new challenge today over at Perfectly Rustic - Masculine. I find masculine cards challenging; but in a good way - they make me think outside the box when it comes to embellishing as I can't just reach for flowers.

I thought I would get in early and make this one up for father's day for my husband, although this image from Karen's Doodles doesn't exactly represent us (we only have two kids and my daughter is older than my son) I couldn't resist the expression on the father's face.

Card Tip:

Twisted Easel Cards look fantastic but are really easy to make - here is the tutorial I followed: Cards 2 Cherish - Twisted Easel Card

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock: 
12x12 Red Card stock from Stash, DCWR red,grey,aqua,maroon card stock.

Papers:

My Minds Eye unforgettable 6"x6"paper pad.

Stamps:
Karen's Doodles we love you dad.

Markers:

               Father
               Skin:E000+E00+E21+E02
               Eyes: B21+B24
               Hair:E55+E57+E59

               Shirt: BG10+BG13+BG15 
               Pants: E55+E33

               Shoes:C1+C3+C5 
               Lady
               Skin:E000+E00+E21+R20 +RV32

               Hair:E33+E35+E37

               Shirt & Headband: V25+V12+V15 
               Pants: B21+B23+B26

               Shoes:E55

               Girl
               Skin:E000+E00+E21+R20+RV32

               Hair:E33+E53+Y21

               Dress & Hair Bows: R81+R83+R85
               Boy

               Skin:E000+E00+E21+E02

               Hair:E33+E35+E37

               Shirt: YG03+YG06+YG09
               Pants: B21+B23+B26
               Socks:C1+C3+colourless blender

               Shoes:C5+B29
               Baby
               Skin:E000+E00+E21+E02

               Hair:E55+E57+E59

               Suit: YG03+YG06 

Dies:

Spellbinders classic oval large and small,classic scalloped oval large, label 28, cuttlebug curls and swirls

Other:

small heart punch, kaisercraft ribbon, buttons,pearls.

Challenge List:

All Sorts Challenge - week#271-all sentimental
Crafting at the Weekend Challenge#4
Crafty Calendar August Challenge - anything goes
Fantasy Stampers#16-buttons and bows
Inkspirational Challenges#62-designers choice use markers
Suzy Pants Smarty Challenge#41-anything goes
ABC Challenge-q is for quote
Bearly Mine Challenges August-anything goes
Cards Galore Challenges-anything goes
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper-August
Flat Friends Challenge#23-say it with a quote
Kith and Kin Stamp Company-buttons and bows
Reves2scrap Challenge#3-anything goes
Tando Creative August Challenge-lovely layers
Alphabet Challenge-m for men only
Sister Act Card Challenge#69
Stempelsonne - anything goes

Fitztown Creative Team Post

Yes you saw right, I am now a fully fledged Creative Team Member over at Fitztown and this is my first post in that capacity - I still find it amazing that someone other than my husband thinks my cards are good enough to inspire others, and I am greatly humbled that Fitztown believe I am worthy to join this incredibly skilled group of ladies.

Now that's said lets move on to my card. We are midway through Fitztown's Anything Goes Challenge and so I took this opportunity to create a card for my Nana's birthday. I really wanted Fitztown Garden 7 image to shine but I still wanted to send her something special so I decided on an easel card.

Card Tip:

Here is a diagram as to how to score and fold your easel card. For this easel card I used a standard A5 card base as illustrated below.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:

2 standard A5 cream card bases, glitter green card stock from stash.

Papers:

DCWV citrus stack, plain blue paper.

Stamps:
Fitztown Garden 7, AmyRStamps its your birthday for the sentiment.

Ink:
Versafine black onxy ink for sentiment.

Markers:

               Water Can: C1+C3+C5 

               Handle:E33+E35+E37 
               Flowers: R81+R83+R85
                               V04+V06+V09
                               BG10+BG13+BG15
                               Y17+Y21
                               B21+B23

Dies:

Couture Creations Nesting Dies hearts, Lil'Inker Designs bow die-mini, Cherry Lyn Alison Ribbon, Spellbinders grommet tags.

Other:

Tonic tag punch, assorted glitter glue, white pearls.

Challenge List:

Kit and Clowder Facbook Sketch Challenge
4 Krafty Girlz Challenges#24
Delightful Sketches - anything goes
DLart August Linky Challenge
Milk Coffee Challenge-Use 2 or more die cuts
Addicted to Stamps#107-make your mark
Crafters Cafe Blog Challenge#75-use lots of layers
Crafty Creations Challenges#269-flower power
Pennys Challenges#189 - anything goes 
SimonSaysStamp-make it sparkle
Craft-room Challenge-a summer garden
Crafty Sentiments-add sentiment
Fattastic Tuesday Challenge#47-anything goes
Going Grey With Scrap Creations-birthdays
Papertake Weekly-anything goes

Long Suffering Husband

I am sure like many crafters, I am married to a very understanding man who supports me to no end when it comes to my card making, even more so that it has turned into a slight obsession with my entry into Blog Land.

I also have a confession to make - quite often I am so busy making cards for everyone else that he gets overlooked. So this year I decided I would make him a birthday card (its tomorrow) and when I saw Some Odd Girls Pouting Toby I knew he would be perfect for this.

Card Tip:

Don't forget that you plus your computer equals an unending supply of sentiments, you have only to print them out.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:

white 5" x 7" card base, DCWR red card stock.

Papers:

Echo Park that's my boy paper pad, Creative red and blue mirror paper.

Stamps:
Some Odd Girl Pouting Tobie digital stamp. Sentiment printed from computer using Lucinda Calligraphy Font.

Markers:

               Skin: E000+E00+E21+E04+colorless blender

               Lips: RV83  
               Eyes: B21+B24

               Hair: E55+E57+E59 
               Hat: YG03+YG06+G14 
               Shirt:B23+B24+B26 

               Pant:E04+E55+E35
               Shoes:C1+C3+C5+B29

Dies:
MFT Die-namics fancy flourish.
Other:

Blue ribbon from stash,blue,green,red and gold sequins.

Challenge List:

Feeling Sketchy#97

Chocolate Baroque Challenge#1

Alphabet Challenge-M for Men Only
Craft for the Craic Challenge#7-craft an item you have never used before  - Digital Stamp, patterned paper
Sister Act Card Challenge#68
Stempelsonne - anything goes
Sweet 7 Challenge#1-birthdays
Cards Galore Challenges-anything goes
Doodle Pantry Challenge#49
Memas Craft-anything goes
The Sisters of Craft-august anything goes
Outlawz Greetings Challenge-anything goes

Diecut Divas Hot August Nights Challenge

So its time for a new challenge over at Diecut Divas and the theme is Hot August Nights. Now to be honest when Arlene told me the theme I immediately thought of Neil Diamond - I thought that can't be right, could it?
So after visiting my friend Google I discovered it was a big hot rod festival in Reno. What influenced my card was the many nightscape images of Reno with the cluster of buildings and a big sky full of stars.

Card Tip:

I have layered up three die cuts in varying shades of grey to give the illusion of shadows.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:

standard white card base, red card stock from stash, DCWV grey card stock. 

Stamps:
Gina K Designs a year of flowers stamp set for sentiment.

Ink: 
Versamark ink and Allison Ellis Design white embossing powder.
Dies:

Spellbinders Nestabilities label 8,Memory Box cityscape silhouette.

Other:

Kasazz circle punch, star punch, sequins.

Challenge List:

Milk Coffee Challenge-2 or more die cuts

Crafty Sentiments #29-anything goes

Diecuttin Divas Challenge#176-anything goes
Digi Choosday Wk30-lots of layers
Fattastic Tuesday Challenge#46
Shopping Our Stash#162-triple threat - three die cuts.
Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Little Bugaboo Boy

My daughter has started school this year which means there will be so many more party invites which leads to more birthday cards for children being added to my list. This one is for one of her BFFs who happens to be a boy, so I thought this Bugaboo image would suit perfectly.

Card Tip:

Bakers twine and buttons are a great embellishment when you don't want ribbons and bows.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:

standard size blue card base from stash, orange and blue card stock from stash

Papers:

patterned paper from stash

Stamps:
Bugaboo Michael Sitter, Papertrey Ink borders and corners mini stamp set for sentiment.

Ink:
Memento tuxedo black ink.

Markers:

                   Skin: E000+E00+E11+R20

                   Hair: E33+E35+E37

                   Shirt: YG03+YG06+YG09

                   Pants: B24+B26+B29+Bic Markit rambunctious
                   red on patch

                   Shoes: C01+C03+C05

Dies:

Simon Says Stamps small banner.

Other:

Bakers Twine, blue heart button, blue and green sequins.

Challenge List:

Inky Chicks #34-happy birthday
Crafty Sentiments-anything-goes
Fan Tastic Tuesday Challenge#46
Loves Rubber Stamps Challenges#114-buttons bows
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge
Cards in Envy-happy birthday to you challenge
Cheerful Stamp Pad-guys like getting cards too
Crafting From the Heart Challenge#29
Craft Creations - anything goes
Crazy Challenge#176-die cuts and punchs
Inky Impressions Challenges#170-anything goes
Pennys Challenge#188
The Sisterhood of Crafters-die cuts and or punches
Kraftin Kimmie Stamps-august

Anniversary Centre Step Card

Here is my last Guest Designer Card for Fitztown. The Challenge today is A Step Card. I feel a step card is for something a little bit special so I have created a 40th wedding  anniversary card for my aunt and uncle. This is also a first for me and I have loved how Fitztown has been constantly challenging me to try new card layouts and concepts as their guest designer, it has been a great experience.

Card Tip:

Here is a great tutorial and video to follow for the step card process. 
Split Coast Stampers Centre Step Card

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:

Pearl cardstock from stash.

Papers:

My Minds Eye unforgetable paper pack

Stamps:
Fitztown Vallentine 9,PapertreyInk fillable frame #4 for sentiment

Ink:
Versafine black onxy ink.

Markers:

               Skin: E000+E00+E11+E21

               Guy's Hair: E33+E35+E37
               Lady's Hair: E53+E55+E57

               Guy's Shirt: BG13+BG34+BG49
               Lady's Top: V12+V15+V17 
              Guy's Pants: E55

               Heart: Y17+Y21

Dies:

Spellbinders Nestabilities lattice rectangle,Simon Says Stamps small folded banners.

Other:

flowers,gems,pearls,ice stickles, Fiskars scallop border punch, kaisercraft ribbon.

Challenge List:

Art by Miran #11-anything goes

Crafty Catz Weekly #241-anything goes
Digitally Sweet# 98-embellish it up
Fairytale Challenge-digistamp
Stempelsonne - anything goes
Outlawz Challenges Twisted Thursday-anything goes
Crafty Ribbons #99
Delightful Sketches-add ribbon
My Heart Pieces-wedding or anniversary
ABC Challenge-p is for pearls
Cards Galore-use a stamp or digi
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper-july
Odd Ball Stamps-show us your coloring skills