Hugs from Unicorns on a Cloud

I managed to steal some crafty time this morning, although sadly I have had to devote most of the day to cleaning rather than spending quality time with my stamps. Sometimes you just have to put on the big girls pants and get things done, no matter how much your stamps and dies are calling for you. The good news is that the house is now close to what you would call clean so I have time to type up this post and maybe even to create another card for another day! I felt like in these times of general unhappiness and worry we need a few happy and colourful unicorns on a cloud, they always make me smile and hopefully they will make you smile too!

Today's card was inspired by three challenges: The gorgeous inspiration image over at The Card Concept (I would define my style as Clean and Layered), the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch and the Fantastic Beasts theme over at Shopping Our Stash. I absolutely adore the inspiration image - I chose to go with the colour scheme of bright pink and orange but also the fluffy white pillows made me think of fluffy white clouds. I'm also linking up with Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is Chill Out - I think these unicorns are definitely chilling out on top of those fluffy clouds.

Card: 250 gsm white card 

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Winter Unicorn, Critters Ever After and matching dies

Ink and Colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Copics R20, R43, RV29, YR00, YR02, YR04, YR07

Dies: Lawn Fawn Spring Showers, Puffy Cloud Borders, Rainbow, Scripty Hugs, Stitched Rectangle Nesting Dies

Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka Mon Amie 

Rainbow Unicorn

My car broke down on me. Now I'm panicking, trying to make a decision whether it's worth throwing a lot of money on trying to resurrect the poor thing knowing it will need more major surgery later or whether I should just give up and spend even more money (which I don't have) on getting a new car. Which would involve having to decide on what car I want, and that's way too overwhelming. It gives me a headache and I feel like I just want to hide under my covers and wish someone could pick out a cheap and good car for me. So instead I did what any sensible person would do - I shut myself in the craft room with my wonderful new Lawn Fawn stuff and forgot all about cars. 

I could not wait to get to play with the super-uber cute new Winter Unicorn stamp. Expect a number of unicorn cards in the near future, that's all I'm saying. That's how much I loooove it!! I was inspired by the great sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch as well as the colours over at Color Throwdown. I'm also almost too late for the party, but I finally get to link up to the seventh NBUS challenge over at the Playhouse of the wonderful Darnell as I used the Winter Unicorn, Big Scripty Words die (which I have already had for at least a month and it still hasn't made it out of the original packaging until now) and the Perfectly Plaid Winter paper pack for the first time. Last, but not least I'm linking up with Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where this week It's a Stitch Up and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where Anything Goes (my second entry).

Card: 300 gms linen textured white card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card, Dovecraft 110 gsm premium vellum

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Winter Unicorn and matching die

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Dies: Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border, Spring Showers, Rainbow, Everyday Sentiment Banners, Stitched Rectangle, Big Scripty Words

Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka, Let's Polka in the Meadow, Perfectly Plaid Winter

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

Unicorn On A Cloud

I haven't been kidnapped and replaced by someone else just because I've already managed to post several cards this week. I have just managed to find a bit more crafty time for a change. I guess I'm feed up with my job at the moment and refuse to put in crazy hours. I'm sure I will have to soon again, but for now I'll just enjoy my craft room while I can. But don't get too excited - I will be away all of next week, so it will be quite around the InvisiblePinkCraftroom. I bet the Culinary Consultant will enjoy a week on his own - I would be willing to bet money on fish and chips for dinner every evening and endless violent movies and computer games until the break of dawn. I in turn get to hang out with family and good friends and hopefully also enjoy the peace and quiet of the summerhouse for a day or two.

So what about today's card? When I saw the adorable unicorn inspiration image over at Curtain Call I had to play along for pretty obvious reasons. And while I'm waiting eagerly for August to receive my new adorable Lawn Fawn unicorn stamp, there is no reason why my first ever Lawn Fawn stamp set can't come out and play in the meantime. I was also inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch. I'm also linking up over at Lawnscaping (this is my second entry) where the theme is to use rainbow colours.

I started by die cutting the rainbow using a Lawn Fawn die from watercolour paper. Then I took out my untouched Tim Holtz Distress Crayons (I know, I know... but after being so excited about getting them, I realised I really have no idea what to do with them!) and coloured the various bits, blending with my finger and spritzing with water. Next, I stamped the unicorn, coloured her with Copics and die cut with the matching die. I also die cut a rectangle of patterned paper with a stitched rectangle die for the background, and lots of clouds from vellum and white card. I arranged everything for my scene and last, I cut the sentiment from golden mirri card, stamped the second part of the sentiment in black and added a few gold sequins for good measure. I also added some ice stickles to the edges of a few of the clouds and to the unicorn's horn, unfortunately it doesn't show very well in the image.

Card: 300 gsm watercolour paper, 300 gsm white hammered card, gold mirri card, Neenah Solar smooth white card, Dovecraft 110 gsm premium vellum
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters Ever After and matching dies
Ink and colouring: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Sharpies gold and silver, Tim Holtz Distress crayons
Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka Mon Amie
Other: Lawn Fawn Happy Birthday Border, Spring Showers and Rainbow dies, Ranger Ice Stickles, gold sequins from my stash

Inspired By Your Bedding

When I saw this week's challenge over at Shopping Our Stash I knew I had to play along. The theme is Get Inspired By Your Bedding. Let me start by showing a picture of the bedding. And before you judge me, there is a story behind why that pile of ugliness is on our bed...

We don't fight. As in ever. I sometimes fight. And my first fight was about those sheets. I really wasn't sure I could move in with a man who has elephant sheets. But as the Culinary Consultant really loves these sheets, do not ask me why, I just couldn't throw them away, no matter how much I dislike them. So I came to a compromise where we bring out the elephants every second time we change sheets, and every second time I get to pick a more... how should I put this... aesthetically pleasing set of bedding. 

Anyhow, I decided to take the challenge and create a card based on sheets. I was inspired by the elephants and the colour scheme. I was also inspired by the triangle shapes which looked like mountains - and gave me a great excuse to use my new Stitched Mountain Border dies. And I'll bet you can guess who will get this card!

I started by stamping the elephants from Critters in the Jungle and coloured them with Copics. Then I used various Lawn Fawn dies to create the scene using coloured card. I think it's definitely nicer than the sheets! I also stamped a sentiment inside the card and added one more oliphant. 

I'm also linking up with Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is Flora and Fauna and Time Out where the challenge is to be inspired by the phrase "Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine". I was inspired by the sunshine part. 

Card: white 300 gsm card, Neenah Solar white smooth card, scraps of coloured card
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters in the Jungle, Claire's ABCs, Violet's ABCs
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics C3, C5, C7
Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Frames dies, Stitched Hillside Borders, Spring Showers, Stitched Mountain Borders, Scripty Congrats 

Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

The whole crafting blogosphere is alight with coffee this week - yes, it's another Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and I was inspired to create something to celebrate the elixir of life. I managed to quickly create this card in the morning before we headed off to for Father's Day Lunch with the Culinary Consultant's family. Actually I had to re-make the card as the first time I smudged the ink really badly on the sentiment - I need to find better cardstock for stamping. Happy to hear about your favourites!

I was also inspired by the colour challenge over at Color Throwdown and the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches. I'm also linking up with the CAS Mixup where the theme is Stamping + die cutting + your choice (paper piecing)

Card: white 300 gsm super smooth card

Stamps: STAMPlorations Coffee Happy 

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Stampin' Up Soft Suede

Other: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka in the Meadow patterned paper and Spring Showers die