Faffy flower...

Well the card class had an extra day today, using dies with matching stamps. Jacob watched the video with me and wanted me to try out Jennifer McGuire's card. Well... it was OK!

100.88

I coloured the flower image in with Prismacolor pencil crayons and proceeded to smudge it all over the inside of the card.  I am not sure colouring in is my favourite technique. The flower is stuck to the inside of the card and overhangs the edge. There is a matching "window" on the front which allows the card to lie flat. You trim the card to standard dimensions so that it fits in the envelope, which I would never have thought of but that Jennifer is just a genius.

As you can see, this card is written! One of my stamping friends (Carol) knows a girl in California who is battling sepsis at the minute. She (the girl, not Carol!) turns 22 next week and I've been following her story so I thought I'd send her a card. Hope she likes it. (I managed to get rid of the smudges first you'll be glad to hear!)

Have I mentioned "Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer" before? Well, I recently discovered the book and have been stocking my freezer up completely every 4-6 weeks. I tried some new recipes last week, including Cannoli. I had absolutely no idea what Cannoli were but anything with sausages in gets my vote! Well, I cooked the first batch tonight and they were yummy. Sort of like an American version of the much-missed Sausage Roll. They have our vote.

Ooooh, cool technique!

OK most techniques I don't like (or don't have the right supplies for) but this one I liked the instant I saw. I found it on the Clean and Simple cardmaking class I just took over at Online Card Classes.

So what you do is take black cardstock, stamp your image with white pigment ink then DRY IT. That's important, fellow impatient people! Then you take soft colouring pencils (I used SU's) and colour over the white areas. The best part is when you highlight certain areas with the white crayon, it really makes the whole thing POP!

Unfortunately, I must have dropped my white pencil at some point, as I had to keep sharpening mine and the "lead" kept breaking, but after sharpening half of the pencil I finally got finished. I also invested in a bigger set of crayons because I see myself using this technique A LOT and I also had a look over on Splitcoast at what people do with pencil crayons & mineral oil... WOW. 

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Supplies: Whisper White, Basic Black, Sage Shadow cardstock, white gel pen, Whisper White ink, heat gun, SU! colouring pencils, Brights brads (Rich Razzleberry), Fresh Vintage and Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set.

Ooooh, it's SUO!

One Sheet Wonder - quick cards!?

After being inspired by Amanda, I decided to have a go at a one sheet wonder myself. That's where you take one sheet of DSP/plain paper stamped all over, and make a certain number of cards using it. This particular OSW, from LeeAnn Greff, also used 3 sheets of plain cardstock, so she calls it a Four Sheet Wonder.

I also used the set Happiest Birthday Wishes (a retired Hostess set) for all the sentiments. Whilst I was making the cards, I wasn't liking them an awful lot (more to do with my DSP and colour selection than anything else), but boy, did I get 10 birthday cards done quick!

My next project is going to be another OSW for Christmas cards I think. I also think I'm going to trade out the Melon Mambo pieces for a coordinating DSP just to give a bit more interest.

Supplies for 100.25-100.34: OSW Tutorial from LeeAnn Greff, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, Naturals White, Whisper White cardstock, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point ink, White, Melon Mambo and Wild Wasabi embossing powder, Scallop Trim punch, Cupcake Builder punch, Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set and assorted odds and ends of embellishments!

Fun weekend...

We had a slightly busy weekend here, although we probably didn't actually do that much! Time seems to fly with two children...

Friday night I hosted a Thirty-one party which was lots of fun - a really great bunch of ladies came and it was lovely to relax and have a glass of vino with friends. I also managed to earn some free stuff so I will hopefully be a bit more organised. There is a special offer this month to get one of the big totes for $10 if you spend $35 - I am planning to get 3 to organise my laundry. Had a total laundry disaster where I managed to dye all Leo's and my whites a weird browny colour because I washed them with ny black jeans. Not smart!

On Saturday I was in the gym at 7am (!!!!) but had to go for a nap at 11. I think I was tired after the party! Anyway we went swimming at our neighborhood pool in the afternoon which was loads of fun. Leo had his first dip (not a hit!) and Jacob made friends with some other local boys and had a big water fight. Sunday was a day off from the gym, we had a lazy morning, then I had some Mummy time in Target. More swimming in the afternoon then I went grocery shopping with my neighbour in the evening. So it wasn't an exciting weekend, but it was nice. Somehow the weekends fly by without much being achieved.... but we all enjoy them so it doesn't really matter!

Anyway! I also managed to make 3 cards along the way. All of a sudden I seem to need loads of cards so I've knocked three off my list anyway.

First up - 100.18:

This one is for one of Jacob's nursery friends who is having a 4th birthday party on Saturday. Jacob is very excited about that! He designed the monsters and chose the colours. I am not sure it's my best work as it's hard to control an Aquapainter with a wiggly 4 year old on your knee. The sentiment also slipped and ended up wonky but I tried to make it work...

100.18 - Supplies: White baker's twine, Rich Razzleberry polka dot ribbon (retired), Gumball Green and Whisper White cardstock, Watercolour pencils and Aquapainter, Crystal Effects, Tempting Turquoise DSP from the Brights stack, Basic Black ink, Make a Monster and Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp sets.

And, lucky me! Jacob has another birthday party to go to on Sunday. So - 100.19:

Jacob had got a bit bored by this point so I was able to do this one on my own (crafting with kids is fun but it isn't suitable for control freaks like me!). I vastly prefer the design, probably because everything is lined up neat and straight!

100.19 - Supplies: Brights brads, Star punch, Whisper White, Gumball Green and Pumpkin Pie cardstock, Marina Mist DSP from the Subtles stack, Basic Black ink, Watercolour pencils and Aquapainter, Crystal Effects, Make a Monster and Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp sets.

Finally, we actually checked the mailbox on Saturday morning (it's around the corner in a communal unit and somehow I never seem to get round there during the week) and we had received a wedding invitation. We won't be able to go as it's in the UK in August, so I needed a "With Regret" - 100.20:

Made this one to complement the colours in the invitation. I wish I'd put the Woodgrain on the Island Indigo piece but never mind. I love my Woodgrain background stamp, it's been a great investment. I am so pleased SU! has started doing some of their background stamps in clear mount in the new catalog as they always seem a big investment in wood. But if you use it a lot it's worth it!

100.20 - Supplies: 2011-2013 In Colour brad (Island Indigo), Pool Party ruffled ribbon, Pool Party, Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade cardstock, Adorning accents edgelits & framelits, Pool Party, Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade SU! Markers, Kindness Matters and Woodgrain stamp sets.

A final note - SU! has an awesome special offer on in June and July, so I am going to try to finish my 100in100 by the end of July, so that I can take advantage! Could be tricky!! It makes it about 100in70 for me. Need to keep the pace brisk! I think I can, I think I can!

Super Wednesday continued

---- Scroll Down for the other half of Wednesday's shenanigans! ----

So, onto 100.15:

Really pleased with this one. It's for my father-in-law as it's his birthday the week after next. I got the colour combination from the Colour Coach and I really like it so I'll use it again.

My FIL has a Jeep Wrangler (in Northern Ireland where they're really rare) and I originally thought this stamp was a Jeep Wrangler. Can you tell I am not a car person? Clearly I see now it's an ATV! Oh well. It's on the right lines. I used my SU! watercolour pencils & an Aqua Painter to colour the vehicle. Then I stamped off Crumb Cake to stamp the big paint splodge from Extreme Elements. The stars and sentiment are heat embossed in gold.

So sad mini library clips, Extreme Elements and Wonderfully Worn are all retiring! Sob.

100.15 Supplies: Crumb Cake, Basic Black and Versamark ink, Gold embossing powder, Marina Mist satin ribbon, Mini Library Clip, Watercolour paper, Watercolour Pencils, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Marina Mist card stock, Need for Speed, Wonderfully Worn, Extreme Elements, Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp sets.

100.16 is for my husband for his birthday. Possibly!

I realised again that I'd been neglecting the huge pile of DSP so thought I'd have a go at using some more. And ---- shock horror! ---- this is only SUM as I used a Technique Tuesday sentiment.

100.16 Supplies: Blueberry Crisp DSP, both SU! heart punches, Not Quite Navy cardstock, Versamark ink, Silver embossing powder, Dimensionals, Technique Tuesday stamp.

100.17 was my last card for today, one for my Dad for Father's Day:

My Dad is a Power Engineer and obsessed with planes. So I thought Need for Speed would come in handy again here!

100.17 Supplies:  Blueberry Crisp DSP, Versamark ink, White embossing powder, Dimensionals, Technique Tuesday blueprint stamp, retired Pacific Point ribbon, mini library clip, Basic Black, Pacific Point ink, SU! Need for Speed, Extreme Elements and Best Dad Ever stamp sets.

Phew! Even blogging this took ages. I am really pleased that I am 17 cards in 10 days in. The ideas are starting to come more easily now, but I know I need to use more DSP! I am going to try to make the next 10 cards using DSP. This is not a strength of mine so wish me luck!