Give a man a fish....

Fonts : Zag Bold, Angelina, Worstveld Sling Extra

Dies: Geometric Style II (CB), Tiny Hearts (SSS)

I needed a card for my b-i-l, a very keen fisherman.  The pun is not my own, but the design is. This is a sentiment that both my sister & I both endorse whole-heartedly! If you google "give a man a fish", there are many, many punchlines. 

I also looked for simple fishing rod pictures, which showed the narrowing diameter of the rod. I achieved the same effect with decreasing sizes of font.  I sketched the rod & line in Silhouette Studio & then dragged the text so it would follow the path of the lines.  The fish body is a bite out of a small circle, with the heart for the tail.

I am submitting this to LiM’s “this makes me happy!” challenge for 2 reasons. I love fiddle-faddling on the computer trying to bend it to my will, & I find it extremely satisfying when an idea works out as planned.  Also it is a good male card, something that I don’t think I am alone in struggling with!

Also entering for SSS Anything Goes.

More sparkle

Fonts: Trocchi, Gasoline Alley, Cafe & brewery

Die: nested squares (QuicKutz)

Other: Aurora ep; glitter (lots); gloss (even more...)



Continuing to take inspiration from Festive Friday, I just can’t look away from the frame over the mantel.

 

I told you there was more mileage in that sentiment too.  Feel free to save it.

Sparkling Christmas

Dies: Large Geometric Rose (Clearly Besotted); Nesting Squares (QuicKutz)

Font: Trocchi, Cafe & Brewery

Other: Swiss Dots embossing folder (Provocraft); Wink of Stella

Michelle is having a break from CAS-ual Fridays; this is the last challenge until next year.  So I thought I'd do a Christmas card for the tic tac toe challenge.

I've chosen the dots-white-sequins line. But aaarggh, the picture doesn't show the sparkle!  The star is the centre cut out from the geometric rose die, stacked 3x for depth & covered with sparkly wink of stella.  Promise!

Plenty of white, which I hope compensates for the single solitary sequin.  Dots are by way of an embossing folder.

Am liking the sentiment - you may see more from that.

PS Have just realised that this card was subliminally inspired by this photo over at Festive Friday:

And another - Simon Says... Emboss It for this week's Wednesday Challenge.

Hoppy Birthday

Stamps: Basic Borders (ME); Elzybells

Ink: Bahama Blue, Bamboo Leaves (Memento)

Font: Filbert Color, TW Cen MT Condensed

Other: Frog Die (Provocraft)

Did you ever have a rubber frog which, when you squeezed it, had a long red tongue that unrolled?  My kids did.  Whilst rooting around amongst my dies, this frog came to light, & lo a card was born.

CAS-ual Fridays are challenging us to make a card for a bloke, which uses a ribbon but no kraft, & I think this fits the bill.  Whilst not being overtly masculine, it is certainly not girlie.  Maybe I'll settle on androgynous!

 

 

 

 

Scientist card

Dies: Rounded Tag, Geometric Style 2 (Clearly Besotted)

Font: Migraine Sans

Other: Anita's 3D Gloss

My brother-in-law is a chemist.  He keeps a whole wall of chemistry tomes in his spare room, along with his guests.  On a recent visit, I was inspired by the symbol on many of the spines.

 

I created & cut the ovals with my Silhouette SD, then added the electrons & nucleus from the dies listed.  A quick google of 'atom puns' gave me the finishing touch.  A geek of a card, but I know just where to send it!

 

Linking to:

CAS-ual Fridays: CFC130 ~ Good Egg

A very graphic birthday card...

Font: migraine sans

Die: Stitched Mats Square (Lil' Inkers)

OO-er.  But it is.  Indisputably graphic.  Can you guess I'm playing along with the new Card Concept challenge?

 

Inspiration came from the most unlikely source - the BBC graphics accompanying the latest UK Budget details.  Amongst the usual car / petrol / booze etc, there is a CAKE icon.  Why?  I know not.  As far as I am aware there has been no new tax on cake, but maybe the chancellor is considering that for next time!

 

Anyhoo, having got a cake & a glass, I surfed around for the presents, then morphed them into the above.  Please note the restraint in advocating only 2 drinks & a single cake!

 

I had great trouble trying to get the right blue to print out.  What I see on my screen is gorgeous, but turns to bleuch at the printer.  With much trial & error, I managed to match it to my cardstock eventually.  I think this may become a go-to quick make - just change up the colours to suit.

 

Linking to:

The Card Concept: Challenge #6 - Create a Birthday Card

Mothers' Day wreath

Stamps: Flower Friend (SSS); Boxes Bags & Tags (PTI); Fanciful Flowers (Elzybells)

Ink: Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, Lilac Posies (Memento)

Font: Sofia, Narkism

A move slightly away from my comfort zone today, but I think my MiL would prefer this to something more minimal or graphic.

I printed the sentiment & used a Lil' Inkers die as a circle template (told you I'd get a lot of use out of them...), then stamped around it.  This wasn't dumb luck, I practised several times on scrap to make sure everything fitted.  Just for once the final piece is better than the trials!

Might be a bit too busy for LiM this week - perhaps should have used a 5" card base? - but I'll try my luck anyway.

 

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 162 One Layer Card ~ Spring Flowers

Retro card & a rant.

 



Font:KG Call Me Maybe - skinny

Die: Stitched Mats Squares (Lil' Inkers)

 

New kitchens seem to be the trend around here at the moment.  It's a bandwagon I'd love to jump on, but won't be happening for a few years yet.  So I'll just have to live vicariously through other people!  Above is a card I created using Silhouette Studio software to celebrate the completion of my friend's kitchen.

 

This card was based on some kitchen art I found on a trawl around Pinterest, using colours from a Design Seeds post.

 


I love that you can just plug the hex code numbers into the colour box in Silhouette Studio to reproduce the exact same shade.

I found a simple spatula shape on line & used the trace function to get the outline.  Having filled one with colour, I copied it, filled with grey, moved the copy slightly down & to the left & put it behind the original to give a shadow. 

The retro background is a freebie paper from Mel Stampz altered to suit this palette.

 

And now for the rant.  Please feel free to stop reading here.

 

I have finally purchased some Lil' Inkers Stitched Mat dies.  I have been lusting after these for many months now & finally manged to justify the expense (to myself if no one else...).  They weren't cheap, but no matter, I'll get a lot of use from them.  P&P was reasonable from the US, even got a slight refund from the company.  Great service.  Had to pay customs charges.  A bit of a bind, but the law IS the law.  What I object to, dear listener (I say listener, because in my head I am talking at you, possibly quite loudly, & jabbing my finger around a lot to emphasise my indignation), is the whopping £8, yes £8, international handling charge from our own dear Royal Mail. 

 

And what do I get for this enormous sum? 
Does my postman don a footman's uniform & present my purchase to me on a silver salver?  No he does not. 
Does a slightly more buff postman appear, wearing slightly less (& I'm not talking about the regulation shorts...)?  No he does not.
Does he rush around with the parcel at my earliest convenience?  No he does not. 
Having tracked the order, I know the Royal Mail got their sticky mitts on it on Saturday.  I had a delivery, nay, ransom note (can you tell, I'm warming to my theme?) through my door informing me on Tuesday.  And having sold a child & a kidney to pay the charges, I was then informed that they couldn't deliver until Thursday.  I guess they had to toss it around the office & handle it a lot to make sure I got value for money.  In short, what did the handling charge provide to me, the customer?  Sweet Fanny Adams as far as I can tell.

 

Phewww.  Thank you.  I feel better for that.

It's safe to come out from behind the sofa.  I'm sorry for shouting & pointing.

Pink elephants for Fusion

Fonts: Cherry Swash (number), 2 Peas Mr Giggles (Sentiment)

This weeks' Fusion sketch was calling out to me today:

The elephant is from the Silhoutte shop, & I've filled it with Crystal Wilkerson digital designs.  I tried googly eyes on the elephants, but they looked a bit sinister, so went with enamel accents in the end.  A tricky few minutes trying to make sure they went on evenly, but (luckily) no mishaps this time.

 

Linking to:

Fusion Card Challenge: Fusion #5

Brighter days ahead

Font: Halo Handletter

This idea came to me in the wee small hours of this morning, as I listened to the gentle snores emanating from the adjacent pillow.

 

All done using Silhouette Studio.  The acetate was a happy accident that rushed out of my scrap drawer as I rummaged for something completely different.

 

Linking to:

CAS-ual Fridays: CFC129 ~ Using at least 2 shades of gray

CASology: Week 84 ~ Paint

Using texture for The Card Concept

Fonts: Narkism, HaloHandletter

Other: Buttons die (MFT); 1.5" & 2" circle punches

The Card Concept this week is all about texture, using this photo for inspiration:

I chose to use the colours & white woodwork for my card. 

 

The wreath didn't start out like this. I spent a long old time winding the twine tightly around the ring before deciding it was too staid & boring.  So I spent what seemed like even longer unwinding it again.  I then applied adhesive to both the front & back, then made as if to wind but trimmed to the right length instead. That wasn't quick either!

 

Periodically things began to look a little more shaggy than intended, so some impromptu shearing took place as I went.

 

The 'woodwork' is simply strips of card laid down at intervals.  I used the corner of my scoreboard to ensure that everything lined up square (having spent a while making sure it had all been cut squarely in the first place... NOT a forte of mine).

 

 

And yes, the sentiment does bear more than a passing resemblance to a PTI greeting but I don't have it as a stamp, so had to improvise.

 

Given yesterday's definitions, I think this would fall in the 'clean & layered' camp.

Linking to:
The Card Concept: Challenge #2 ~ Use Texture
Festive Friday : FFC 23 ~Photo Inspiration
 

30 something

Stamps: Star Prints (PTI); Confetti (ME)

Ink: Angel Pink, Rose Bud (Memento)

Other: TW Cen MT (Font); Diamond Stickles (Ranger); By the Numbers dies (MFT)

Something pink & sparkling for a very glamorous friend. 

 

 

Continuing with the layered die cuts, & heavily influenced by all the confetti cards I have seen for the Winnie & Walter release.

 

Linking to:

Papertrey Ink: January Blog Hop Challenge ~ Pretty in Pink
Addicted to CAS: Challenge #29 ~ Die Cuts

Mama Elephant: January Picture Challenge

Fantastic Day

Fonts: Sunshine Poppy, Narkism, Cleanvertising, Trocchi

Now it's nice & quiet here, I can break out my Silhouette again.  It hasn't seen the light of day for a wee while, but I have re-furbished it with new mats & blade & it's now armed & ready to craft.

 

A very simple card inspired by CAS-ual Fridays & all the project life stuff I have seen on line lately.  I'm NOT a scrapbooker & probably never will be (in some part due to my terrible photography...), but I love the look of all the embellishments that are available.

 

 

I took a few different swatches from a book of Lidl cardstock that I have been hoarding saving for just such an occasion & cut them all out together, before layering up on the card.

I'm now looking longingly at the large pile of discarded letters, but they will have to wait for another time!

 

Linking to:
CAS-ual Fridays: CFC125 ~ In a Word
Less is More: Week 153 ~ Winter Blues
Addicted to CAS: Challenge #29 ~ Die Cuts  (thanks Kimberley for the heads up on this one!)

Less Is More ~ Trees

Stamps: Basic Borders (Mama Elephant)

Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento)

Other: Tiny Hearts Die (SSS); Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

Made this card a few weeks ago as an experiment.  Didn't like it at first, but it's funny how you view things differently over a few days. 

Super simple to make.  Created the sentiment with a variety of fonts (in Silhouette Studio) then just added in the final details.  Great for batch production!

fonts moving down are:
SNF Lollihop

Narkism

Sunshine Poppy

QumpellkaNo12

Zag Bold





Linking to:

Less Is More: Week 142 ~ Trees

Simon Says Stamp: Christmas / Happy Holiday

 

CAS(E) #45 ~ Merry & Bright

Stamps: Bitty Bird (PTI)

Ink: Espressoo Truffle (Memento); Versamark (Tsukineko)

Other: clear embossing powder; Cosmic Shimmer paints

Here's a second card for CAS(E) This Sketch.  Inspired by all the lovely cards shown in the latest PTI release, I made a sentiment with the ampersand as centre stage. 

The 'phone cord' squiggle from Bitty Bird takes on a whole new lease of life as Christmas lights, when filled with Cosmic Shimmer paints.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linking to:

CAS(E) This Sketch: CAS(E) This Sketch #45

 

 

CAS(E)ing myself

Stamps: Folk Art Flurries (WPus9); Gingham & Co. (WM)

Ink: Danube, RoseBud, Tangelo (Memento); Turquoise (VersaMagic)

Die: Tag-a-Long (Clearly Besotted)

Font: Sevillana, Aharoni 

I am determined to finish all my Christmas cards before December strikes this year, so I can actually enjoy doing it, not feel rushed & wondering why I put myself through it.  Sound familiar??

This is a new take on a card from January.  I ws inspired by this week's CAS(E) this sketch:

& my new dies from Clearly Besotted.  The long banner is fabricated from 5 separate die cuts all bodged carefully crafted together.

Linking to:

CAS(E) This Sketch: CAS(E) This Sketch #45
Clearly Besotted: Challenge #4 ~ Stamp your own background

Casology Guest Designer - Fireworks

 

 

Stamps: Artemio

Ink: Tangelo (Memento); Tumbled Glass (DI)

Font: Sunshine Poppy

Other: Aqua Promarker; Diamond Stickles

 

I found it hard to come up with something this week.  In the UK, fireworks are generally confined to Bonfire Night & New Year - not what I want to think about in the summer!

 

I started off by playing around with a couple of the standard shape in Silhouette Studio.  Having printed the sentiment & stamped the 'firework' circles, it still looked a bit bare.  I tried various colours of ink splatter on scrap paper, before committing to the card.  The centre of the aqua starburst is stuck directly on the orange backing, with just a few foam dots under random stars to make some pop out more than others.

Birthday fishes

Stamps: Tremendous Treats Valentine (PTI)

Ink:Pear Tart, Bahama Blue, Tangelo, Morocco (Versamark); Versamark (Tsukineko)

Font: Migraine Sans

Other: Spots embossing folder (Cuttlebug); White ep (WOW); aqua promarker; Diamond Stickles; tracing paper

Today's offering was inspired by this Make It Monday video.  I had hoped to enter, but on closer inspection you must use flowers.  Fish don't count.

EDIT: have seen other crazy wild rule breakers have entered non-flower cards, so am giving it a go.

Linking to:

CASology: Week 49 ~ Fish
Make It Monday: MIM 121 ~ Coloured Vellum

Father's Day

Dies: Stars (MFT); Pennants (Spellbinders)

Font: Ecuyer Dax, Stars from their Eyes

Eek.  Father's Day on Sunday & nothing suitable in my stash.  Quick - to the laptop.  The ombre HAPPY was a direct CASE from this week's Make it Monday at PTI.  (My son was looking over my shoulder at the time: "I know where you got THAT from Mum").  Printed out twice.  Die cut the spare & coloured with promarker.  No coincidence that this week's CASology is YELLOW.  Stick it all together, take a terrible photo, & there you have it.  Easy to replicate for the fil, too.

 

Linking to:
CAS-ual Fridays: CFC104~ Banners & Flags
CASology: Week 48 ~ Yellow

Brought to you by the letter i

Font: Century Gothic, Zag Bold

I could cheat & tell you that this card is the result of hours of meticulous stamping.  But it isn't.  It's hours of not quite meticulous stamping, rude words & frustration, followed by 10 minutes work on the computer.  I tried SO hard to make it work.  I inked up my i repeatedly, positioned it carefully with my stampamawhatsit, & sometimes the i's were in the right place.  Then one wasn't.  And the sentiments in my collection just didn't fit properly.  My bin floweth over.

But I loved the concept.  So in the interests of saving the planet, I turned digital & alakazam there you go.

 

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 110 ~ Spots & Stripes
CAS-ual Fridays: CFC93 ~ Colour Blocks