Twofer Wreath

I always mean to play along with the Twofer challenge when I see it pop up on my blog feed, and then the next thing I know I see the winner's post. I have no idea where the days go right now, it seems like the last two months have been going past in extra fast forward. There are so many things going on, both at work and with family and I can't keep up. One of the things which unfortunately always suffer is crafty time. Today I decided to ignore all the dust around the house and spend a few hours in art therapy, a healthy mind is more important right now than a clean house.

So today I finally managed to play along with this month's Twofer challenge where the theme is wreath. I created a Christmas card and new home one. I love the little Lawn Fawn wreath die, but don't use it enough. My Christmas card was also inspired by the colour challenge over at Lawn Fawnatics. I recently ordered the Really Rainbow paper, but haven't had a chance to use it yet so it was a great reason to break out the paper. I'm a really bad paper hoarder so I tried to use various bits and bobs from my patterned paper drawer (I have a full drawer of just Lawn Fawn patterned paper which only seems to grow).

For my first card I used a light grey card base and Really Rainbow Christmas patterned paper. I die cut the wreath out of the paper as well and used a scrap of polka dot pink paper for the bow and the berries on the wreath. I also stamped the Christmas presents from Toboggan Together and coloured them to go with the colours on the patterned paper. 

For my second card I created a scene with a door with a wreath and a dog sitting outside as I thought it would be a nice little scene for a happy new home card. I die cut the door from Knock on Wood paper using the Stitched Rectangle dies and die cut a bigger rectangle from yellow paper from the same set for the background. I coloured the pooch with Copics and stamped the banner from Bannerific onto Knit Picky patterned paper. The sentiment is a combination of a few different sentiments as I realised I don't have any stamp set with a "happy new home" sentiment. I'm also linking this card up over at Shopping Our Stash where the theme is "It's raining cats and dogs"

Card and patterend paper: White 200gsm card, Neenah Solar white, light grey card, Lawn Fawn Knit Picky, Knock on Wood, Really Rainbow Christmas and scraps of Perfectly Plaid Fall, Perfectly Plaid Christmas and Let's Polka Mon Amie
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Bannerific, Critters at the Dog Park and Toboggan Together and matching dies
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Copics
Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Dies, Stitched Circle dies, Mini Wreath

Just Us Girls GDT - Peek-A-Boo card

It's Saturday and that means a new challenge over at Just Us Girls. I had a great time enjoying all the inspiration in the gallery last week. I hope you will enjoy this week's challenge, it's a fun technique challenge to create either a window or peek-a-boo card. There are some technique videos you can watch for inspiration   

HTTPS://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvVvmWZkAhw

HTTPS://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WihxGaBkt38

When I thought of a window card, I immediately thought of happy puppies waiting at home by the window for you to come home. That must be the most heartwarming sight to come home to! I first tried to make the curtains from ribbon but that didn't work at all, so I used the Lawn Fawn Gingham Backdrops stamp instead and it turned out much better. I added some flowers from Gleeful Garden, and a few colourful butterflies. 

Card: 250 gsm white card, Neenah Solar White card, kraft card
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters at the Dog Park and matching dies, Gleeful Garden and matching dies, Claire's ABC, Gingham Backdrops, Stampin' Up Hardwood
Ink and colouring: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Square Stackables, Stitched Scalloped Borders 

BYOB - Bring Your Own Bone

 

I'm suffering from severe post-holiday depression. I've only been away from work since Tuesday but it seems like a month. It's been such a wonderful few days in good company, not to mention wonderful weather (apart from today). Now I have to deal with going back to my overflowing inbox and all the problems I have pushed out of my mind, not to mention getting back to the diet and exercise regime. How I wish I would win the lottery and never have to go back to work again. 

Today I have spent most of the day in the craft room, creating and stuffing my face with sweets. I had so much fun making this card, which was inspired by the H is for Hounds challenge over at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers. I was also inspired by the fun Punny Time challenge over at Lawnscaping (this is my second card for this challenge). I'm also linking up with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where the theme is Make for the Border as I used quite a number of border dies on this card, not to mention adding the scalloped border behind the scene and with Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge where the theme is Summer Fun.

I got out my Gansai Tambi watercolours and started by colouring bits of watercolour paper for the background die cuts - blues for the sky, yellows for the sun, reds and oranges for the tree border and a darker and lighter green for the two grassy backgrounds. After the backgrounds dried I die cut pieces using the Lawn Fawn Forest border, Stitched hillside borders, Grassy borders and Stitched rectangle dies. I also die cut the sun and cloud using Spring Showers dies. Next, I stamped the dogs and accessories in Versafine Onyx Black, coloured using watercolours and die cut with the matching dies. I also stamped and die cut the letters for the sentiment in Stampin' Up inks. Last, I die cut a piece of Perfectly Plaid in colours matching the scene using a Scalloped rectangle die and stamped the sentiment inside the card.

Card: 300 gsm linen textured card, 190 gsm watercolour paper

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters at the Dog Park and matching dies, Owen's ABCs and matching dies, Party Animal and matching dies, Clare's ABCs

Ink and colouring: Versafine Onyx Black, Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolours

Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies, Scalloped Rectangle dies, Forest border die, Stitched Hillside die, Grassy border die, Spring Showers die

Welcome James!

Greetings from underneath the covers. Let's just say I'm not feeling very well right now. My manager sent me home from work (I have the best manager!), that must mean I looked and sounded quite terrible. I really need to get well soon again as I'm going back home for Easter, so I'm focusing on rest and healing. Can you will yourself to heal from a cold?

Anyhow, today's card is for my former manager who just got a little dog named James. I thought I would get little James a welcome card. He is sure to be a very happy dog, my former manager is such a great lady.

I'm linking up with the following challenges:
Curtain Call - Rainbow
Make My Monday - Something Fluffy
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Cute and Cuddly
PDE Linky Party - Anything Goes
Cards For Galz - Cute and Cuddly

Card: white 300 gsm card, Dovecraft 110 gsm premium vellum
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters at the Dog Park and matching dies, STAMPlorations Sketchy Alphabet
Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka, Let's Polka in the Dark and Let's Bokeh in the Snow
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Tim Holtz Distress Markers Fossilized Amber, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet, Mowed Lawn, Festive Berries
Other: Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border, Stitched Hillside border, Grassy Border die and Stitched Journal card die

I ruff you

This week flew by without any crafty time once again. It was all work work work and working out a little bit too. Luckily I just have one more week to go before my holiday in Cyprus with my Sis. And then a short two weeks of work before a week back home. Me, the Culinary Consultant, Sis and Best Friend are heading off to our summer house for a week of peace and quiet (and no electricity, hence no phones, computers or Internet!). Good times! 

I did manage a few minutes in the craft room last night before collapsing in bed. Inspired by the Colour Throwdown and yet another amazing sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch as well as my new Lawn Fawn stamps and dies. I went on a bit of a splurge so I have a bunch of new Lawn Fawn stuff for me to try out, I'm so excited! I'm also linking up with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where the theme is Friend or Superhero. I think this card qualifies as it's for a furry friend. I have to say in my completely unbiased opinion (hehe) that the card actually turned out better than I imagined. It's not often I say that. But the little furry friend is just too adorable.

Card: Kraft Card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm cardstock, Stampin' Up Melon Mambo 

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters at the Dog Park

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi

Colouring: C1, C3, C5

Other: Lawn Fawn Scripty Hugs die