2017 April | Money And Finances Today

Seaworthy Male – II

Morning all.

It FINALLY feels as tho I am getting a blogging rhythm on. Granted I am still grossly behind on UTD projects to show you, but now at the end of August, I have nearly completed all the May things I created…woo hoo!!!! Very soon a new SU catty or 2 will be out and I have a wish list 2 miles long already…discipline, hard work and a larger bank balance are definitely needed…LOL!!!

Today’s card is another masculine one with “The Open Sea”. It was inspired by this one found on SCS. I was drawn to all the clean space and how circles were used instead of rectangles. I am also a sucker for dry embossing!! I made 2 versions to bolster my stash. These are they…..

I can hear the “but they look identical” quips…. and yes…the difference is very subtle. Look closely at the concentric circles….

In the 2nd picture, the outer circle is embossed in line with the ribbon, then lined up with the embossing below. It just distressed it a little more I think. Don’t you think the dry embossing looks like the deck of an old ship???

Here are the 2 cards side by side…..

I can see this set getting used over and over as male cards are always such a challenge!!

Thanks for popping by. Coming up soon….an unusual birthday card.

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler

Ink: (SU) Early Espresso

Stamps: (SU) The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Punches: (SU) Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch

Other Bits: Nestabilities Classic Circle Dies, Dimensionals, Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes EF, Brown Satin Craft ribbon fm stash.

Lynda xx

Seaworthy Male – I

Morning all.

Something short and sweet today. I found this card on the amazing Jacque Craig’s blog. I love this set for masculine cards. All the images have a brilliant old world charm. This is my version of her card….

As you can see I kept most of the elements all but the compass. Once I worked out the dimensions, it all went together very quickly. You have to love the intricate image of the ship and the easy sentiment stamped straight onto the DSP.

I will be back soon with another “Open Sea” card. Thanks for popping by.

Stuff Used:

CS: (SU) Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Nautical Expedition DSP

Ink: (SU) Early Espresso

Stamps: (SU) The Open Sea, Sincere Salutations

Other bits: Dimensionals, Cappuccino Bakers Twine from the “Twinery“

Lynda xx

Tea Anyone??

Morning all.

Ever had one of those projects on your “to do” list and never seemingly have gotten round to it??? Welcome to my “Gunna” file. It is PACKED with all the cards and 3D things I am GUNNA do. Well….today’s post alleviates one thing from the file.

One of the secretaries at work was having a birthday. She and I have a ball when chatting, are as equally as mad as each other and never stop laughing. She is also a lover of all things vintage. With this in mind….I set about to create her something unique and slightly vintage for her birthday. I made her a tea caddy with a matching card. The tea caddy tutorial I used was from LeeAnn Greff here. It was very easy to follow, however the lid to the caddy on LeeAnn’s pdf was too big for the box dimensions she cited. From memory, I think I knocked 1/8″ off each side, but I cannot be sure.

Here is her card and caddy together……

The caddy was made from Crumb Cake CS and covered with Elegant Soiree DSP. The palate for the whole project was Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Suede and Baja Breeze.

Here are different views to give you an idea of what it looks like.

Front and side……. Other side and front…….

Back……….. Flower motif up close………..

It holds a MASSIVE amount of tea bags. I fitted 18 Twinnings tea bags in this one (with the lid beside)…..

The card was inspired from this one on SCS, but I continued the lace motif through onto the card which I think worked nicely.

I was so very happy with the way this turned out…after mega procrastination and lid fitting frustration!!

Stuff Used:

CS: (SU) Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Elegant Soiree DSP (ret)

Ink: (SU) Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Stamps: (SU) Mixed Bunch, Petite Pairs, Yummy (SAB ’09)

Punches: (SU) Blossom Punch, Blossom Builder Punch, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Bouquet Blossom Triple Layer Punch, Nestabilities Labels 4

Other Bits: Large 1/2 Pearls fm stash, Dimemsionals

Lynda xx

Bunch of Blossom Punches!!

Morning all.

I got to play with my Blossom Punch. There are LOTS of these types of cards out there now, but the one I sourced inspiration from was here on Eileen Lefevre’s blog. I loved the pop of red. We did not (and still don’t) have the DSP she used on her card here in Australia yet, but may soon. I had a did through my stash of DSP’s and came up with the following. I made a stack of them and now have once again broadened my stash.

Here they are……

These are with Whisper White…..

and these on Very Vanilla……..

I made a couple of changes in that I did not have as may layers and I also made the embossed inset slightly smaller. Got to use a stack of buttons too. changed the leaves on some as well….can’t have 2 cards the same now can I??? For those of you who have not seen this done before, the embossed panel is punched with the blossom punch and then a matched flower from the DSP is placed offset to this one and on dimensionals. This pic may explain it a little better…….

The banner is “waved” slightly by popping the middle of it up on dimensionals.

Here are all 4 together……

Thanks for popping by. I have some 3D and unconventional cards to share with you soon.

Stuff Used:

CS: (SU) Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, Lavender Lace (ret), Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Pear Pizzaz, Bella Bleu DSP (ret – NQN/Vanilla card), My Memories Scrapbook Paper #141778 (Pink Flowers), G.C.D Designer Paper #0009 – Easter Basket (Purple card), Graphic 45 Wallflower #450012 (Vanilla/Artichoke card)

Ink: (SU) Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, Lavender Lace, Pink Passion

Stamps: Jemac “Happy Birthday” single Stamp

Punches: (SU) Blossom Builder Punch, Bird Punch

Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Victoria EF’s, SU Square Lattice EF,Craft Concepts “In Stitches” EF

Other Bits: Dimensionals, Buttons (fm big bag of Big W Buttons), White Crochet Cotton

Lynda xx

Simply Soft Sympathy

Morning all.

Once again, I had the need for a couple of sympathy cards at work. One of them was for a very much beloved patient who was 101. She was a delightful lady and always dressed in purple, so it was not hard as to the palate for her card. i got my inspiration from this card on SCS. I also wanted to try out a new technique to me called “Marker Layering”. There is a great tutorial for it here. These are the two cards I did…..

You can see how the colour is just a little magical……

Sadly, I had a wee oops on the blue card and started with the medium blue….doh!!! Here are the 2 together…..

Thanks for popping by. Hopefully there will be a bit of a break between sympathy cards next time.

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Basic Black, Wisteria Wonder, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Ink: (SU) Stazon, SWM’s in Almost Amethyst, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Pear Pizzaz, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Pool Party, Marina Mist

Stamps: (SU) Simply Soft, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Other bits: SU 2 tags die, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder, Dimensionals

Lynda xx

Bright Fowers….in Hope of Warmth!!!

Morning all.

It’s official….I am freezing and in desperate need of warmth. Perhaps the posting of these cards may evoke some warmth??

I love finding a card and then working out, if you do not have the exact supplies, what you can use to make it yours! I fell in love with the idea of this card on SCS….and then the cogs started to clunk. The flowers…check…the grass…can alter but check but it was the stems that had me stumped. You really have to love one of those 3AM light bulbs…don’t you?? This is the result of my light bulb moment….

I am so very happy with the way they came out. I got the chance to play with the Edgelit Dies on the grass. I am really loving the orange and purple colour combination. The sentiments are from Petite Pairs.

The Butterflies gave me the opportunity to try a trick I read on the net somewhere. If you want to have a certain coloured rhinestone.pearl, but you do not have the right colour, a permanent marker on a clear rhinestone or white 1/2 pearl will do the trick. I used a bright orange Sharpie in the rhinestone and viola!!!

The final thing was to pop the flowers on the dimensionals and I was good to go!!

Here are the 2 together……..

Thanks for popping by. Let’s hope that the warmth comes soon….or sooner!!!

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Concord Crush, Kiwi Kiss (ret), Regal Rose, Tangerine Tango, Summer Sun (ret)

Ink: (SU) Kiwi Kiss (ret) Regal Rose, Tangerine Tango

Stamps: (SU) Sweet Summer (SAB ’12), Petite Pairs

Pinches, Dies and Embossing: (SU) Adorning Accent Edgelit Die, Triple Layer Bouquet Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large and small Oval Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Carla Craft Vinca A punch,

Other bits: Dimensionals, Pink and Orange Ric Rac from stash, Pink 1/2 Pearl and Clear Rhinestone fm stash.

Lynda xx

Vintage Sympathies

Morning all.

Sadly in my line of work (for those of you who don’t know, I am a registered Nurse who works in a General Practice) we have patients who pass away. Some have been with the practice for many years. We not only look after the Mums and dads, but sometime their mums and dads too! I had occasion to need two cards.

The first I could not go past this simple and elegant card by Mercedes Weber here. It was for the wife of one of my “regulars” whose husband passed away. He was a real wordsmith and loved the English language. Here is my version of Mercedes’ card…..

It is basically Baja with a smidge of Basic Grey. Perfect for a wife receiving the sad sentiment. The flourish from the stamp set gives it that girly feel.

The second card was for the family of a very elderly patient who was very strong of faith and classy to a “T”!! I got the inspiration for this card from Kirsty Brown here. Even though not initially a sympathy card, I thought it more than appropriate. Here is my version of Kirsty’s stunning card…..

I loved all the small details in this card. The pale pink flower under the sentiment, the script writing under the flourish and the way the wee pink flowers were shaped.

Thanks for popping by. I hope the weather is warm and inviting where you are…sadly this is NOT the case in Sydney….bring on Spring….and quick!!!

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Bravo Burgandy

Ink: (SU) Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Bravo Burgandy, Pink Pirouette

Stamps: (SU) Fresh Vintage (SAB ’12), Elements of Style, Petite Pairs, Kaiser Clear Sympathy Sentiments, Kaszazz Scripted BGS

Other bits: SU Framelit Dies, SU Adorning Accents Embossing folders, SU Textured Impressions Embossing Set, Carla Craft CP1 Vinca A and Vinca B punch, Gold 1/2 pearls fm Hot Dollar

Lynda xx

Bunches of Brithday Fun (aka…Going Potty!!)

Morning all.

The title refers to (the potty part anyhow) to the trouble and total frustration I have had with Blogger to try and get this post well…posted. I had to deal with font/colour/pic gremlins…it was endless!! So without further procrastinations…….

Today I wish to share with you the card I made for my DD’s 8th birthday. She (still) loves pink and recently has shown an interest in making cards. For this very reason, I wanted to make her something a little different. I love the wee flower pot cards and stumbled across a tutorial here from Sandra Azzopardi. This is the card I made for my DD……..

The pictures were kinda taken in a hurry JUST before it was written and given to her!! (hence the fairy bedsheets). I kept the embellishments fairly simple….

I used the Triple Layer Bouquet Punch for the centres. The brads add that bit of sparkle. These are the ones I got from the Reject Shop for a bargain!! Oh…if you haven’t seen how these wee cards work, the flowers pull up and here is also a picture of how it stands all on it’s own.

I had this at work one day and one of the doctors saw it……he was so blown away by it, he asked if I could make one for his partner who was turning 30. I made it a little more grown up by changing the ribbon. This was the result…..(the pics were taken at work…hence the lighting!!!)

Needless to say, he was blown away too (blush). I will list the basic supplies used for this project, but if you think I have missed something or have a question, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks for popping by.

Stuff Used:

CS: (SU) Soft Suede, Lucky Limeade, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Non SU bright Blue, Pink and Yellow as well as Hot Pink Glimmer CS for the numbers

Ink: (SU) Pool Party, Rose Red, Pretty In Pink, Wisteria Wonder

Stamps: (SU) Mixed Bunch, Build-a-Blossom

Punches: (SU) Blossom Punch, Blossoms Petals Builder Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch, Carla Craft 1″ Circle Punch

Other Bits: Dimensionals, Pink Grosgrain 10mm ribbon, Pink Organza and Satin 10mm Ribbon, Cuttlebug Olivia Alphapet (numbers)

Lynda xx

Every Princess Needs a Castle….

Morning all.

I decided to continue on with the kid’s birthday idea and show you what I put together for DH’s niece. She was 1 on Mother’s Day this year (mid May) and all of my DH’s family got together to celebrate. This is Miss Pippa amongst her birthday bounty…..

I had purchased some beautiful colourful bookends with fairytale motifs on them. I carried this idea through to the card. I had come across this stunning card by Carrie Rhoades in my blurfing travels and thought it perfect. It comes with a tutorial in the post. This is my version of Carrie’s card……

Who thought a Spiral Punch could do so much??

I did put a little of my own spin on it, in that when I think of castles, I imagine them covered in wandering ivy. I stamped the flourish from Vintage Vogue and stamped it in Versamark over the Crumb Cake CS. Worked OK I think…..(click on an image if you wish to make it larger)

The wee flags are the points of stars, the door an oval punch and windows 1/4″ squares (perhaps the fiddliest bit for me!!) The sun is a double punched scallop circle with a 1 1/4″ circle with the number on it.

I was very happy with the way this came out. Being the first time I had done it, it did take a wee while. There is a lot of sponging and snipping, but final result was well worth it.

Thanks for popping by.

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Certainly celery, Whisper White, Summer Sun (ret), Windsor Knot DSP (ret) – door, DSP flags I cannot recall…sorry, Hot Pink Glitter CS fm Alice In Paperland

Ink: (SU) Crumb Cake, Summer Sun (ret), Versamark

Stamps: (SU) Vintage Vogue

Punches: (SU) Scallop Circle, Spiral Punch, XL Star Punch (ret), Large Oval Punch, MS Grass Border Punch, Carla Craft CP1 cloud punch, CM 1 1/4″ circle punch

Other Bits: Cuttlebug Olivia Alphabet (for the #1), Dimensionals, Sponges

Lynda xx

Bugs ‘n’ Luvin…..

Morning all.

Sadly (again) it has been a couple of weeks between posts. I cannot believe how far behind I am. Time is fleeting, it evaporates and you play catch up constantly. I hope I am not the only one that is caught in this time warp!!??

This is what I gave to my niece (Jessica) for her birthday in APRIL!! (yes I am that far behind!!!) She was 2…where does the time go?? We were lucky enough to catch up with her in a park. All the pics taken were done in pursuit of a VERY energetic 2yo. This is Jess now…..

Her gift actually inspired my card. Anyone with a child under 7yo will be familiar with “Pillow Pets”. They are insanely cute and have different characters. I chose a ladybug for Jess. Once again though…I ran out of time to make something appropriate to match. Fete however kindly intervened!! Before I started stamping, I made cards from all sorts of things. I stumbled across the lightweight wooden cutouts and mounted them up very basically. I simply added the number to the card I already had made and woo hoo!!!