Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge 112 (& a birthday lunch)

Well quite unexpectedly I found myself being able to play this week after all.  I got a phone call from my sister yesterday afternoon inviting me to lunch today with my mother and us girls.  There are 5 of us - 6 altogether if you include mum.  I knew my sister's birthday was due and this was to be an early celebration since Wednesday is often a day that most of us don't work and we would all be busy on her actual birthday.

As my mother gets older (us too) these times together become all the more important and I know she really enjoys having her girls buzzing around her, just chatting, laughing and generally getting along together and having fun.  It's never quite the same when we go to her house - too many cook's in the kitchen kinda thing so going out is way nicer.

Anyhow I swung by the grocery store yesterday evening and picked up the most gorgeous sunflowers for my sister.

I hadn't seen sunflowers quite like these before and they were just so vibrant and cheerful - I simply couldn't resist!

Each of the heads - and there are several - are so jammed full of petals that there's hardly any centre to them but don't they just look stunning!  These are going to look beautiful in a vase I just know it.

I already had a card made up but I wanted a pretty tag so since I had to make one I decided I might as well use the latest sketch (WMSC 112) as my inspiration.  I had die-cut some felt flowers a while ago so all I had to do was grab one and add a touch of yellow with a flat gem.

To give you an idea of size - this tag is the large tag die from Sizzix so it's pretty chunky.  I used the flourish stamps to add a bit of background interest and the sentiment is the same as the one on her card.  A quick bit of trimming here and there for the base of the design, some hand cut leaves (cut with a deckle edge, crimped & inked) and that pretty felt flower and there it is.  My take on this week's sketch

I re-wrapped the flowers in extra cellophane to bulk out the wrap a bit more, I have a reel of pretty polka dot wrap that comes in soooooo handy for baskets and bouquets and finally added a raffia bow. 

And there you have it!  One quick, pretty gift and card plus a tag that allowed me to play again this week.

We had a fab lunch, Theresa got to celebrate her birthday early and I stuck to the diet pretty well - I'm trying to get back on track to lose that last couple of stone!  Plus I got to do a bit of impromptu crafting this morning.  Now I'm off to get my pickles made, pop in a movie so I can work on Caroline's wedding invites and then off to my mother's this evening for a 'light dinner' and more crafting.

I left these sitting on the kitchen counter whilst I was at lunch and the entire house smelled of garlic and onion when I got back!  Phewey!!!  It's pouring with rain outside so it feels like a snuggle up indoors kinda day.  Hubby will be pleased tho' since he won't have to go water the allotment tonight and can relax and chill out.  Relaxing's good huh? LOL.

Enjoy!

Suezie

Random Stuff

I haven't blogged for a few days - we have been busy over the bank holiday weekend plus I have wedding invites to get made as soon as possible.  Before I go any further I want to share the latest  Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge and encourage you to play along - remember there are always freebie stamps to be had if you're lucky enough to have your name picked!

It's a really sweet sketch this week and I sooooo want to play but I am back to work tomorrow plus I have to put the wedding invites ahead of anything else.  If I can get a move on I may get a chance to play tho'.  My heart goes out to Claire right now.  She has had manufacturer difficulties and had to almost retract the latest release of stamps - major BUMMER!  It means I will just have to be patient a bit longer to get my hands on these fab stamps but this is the best release EVER in my opinion so I'm more than happy to wait.

We travelled to Northampton on Friday to collect Jess and bring her home for the day - she really needed to be with family and friends for a few hours but it meant an early start and then taking her back late and we didn't get back home again until midnight that same day.  Then because we promised to take the grand kids out for the day on Saturday we were up early again and in for another long busy day.

We stopped off in Colchester first to have a picnic lunch in the park and take in a museum.  The weather was not the best and we ended up sheltering from sudden rain showers several times.  Once it brightened up we headed to the nearest coast and the kids enjoyed this most of all.  They are just fascinated by the sea and could spend hours on a beach.

As chance would have it there was a festival in Colchester park and it was absolutely heaving with people all enjoying the live music, exhibitions and activities but it was all a bit too chaotic and busy for the kids.  I have to say it was a beautiful park with a fantastic play area for kids so we will be making a second trip and maybe take in the castle next time too. Well worth a visit if you're looking for somewhere to go for an afternoon.

Sunday was taken up with church, allotment most of the afternoon and then church again in the evening which is kinda how I like a Sunday to be.  Nothing too strenuous, a good sermon or two - especially if it's thought provoking (which a sermon should be) plus getting some more work done outdoors which I also love especially as it's something hubby and I do together.  Today (Bank Holiday Monday) Dave & I got up early and headed off for a drive to a car boot sale which we also love to do when we can.

I picked up several things but I'm especially please to have bagged a few children's books.  It's hard trying to find character books with just the right kind of picture pages inside and ever since I used my WTP book to make story book bunting for our friend Jo for her new baby nursery, I have been hankering to have another go.  The Dandy and Beezer are probably my favourites but the Sponge Bob Square Pants one should be interesting.

It's fine to have some text on the bunting but mostly you need brightly coloured pictures back and front.  Once I get my invites done I will be cutting these out and sewing them up at my mother's one Wednesday evening.  

I promise I'll post pictures when I do.  They come up so fab and I'm excited about making more so I can't wait to share them with you all when I do.  

Well for now I have to take up the hem of a pair of trousers I'm planning to wear to work tomorrow.  I told myself NOT to leave it until the last minute but that's exactly what I've ended up doing!  Guess I'd best go do it before my eyes get too tired to sew - they're black trousers and it's hard to see black on black at the best of times.

I will be back as soon as I can.  Stay well & happy crafting!

Blessings

Suezie

Anatomy of a Card (aka A Tutorial)

It's been quite some time since I did a tutorial so I thought it would be fun but this is really an anatomy of a card.  Before I begin though I just want to ask - have you seen the Waltzing Mouse Day 1 DT samples yet? You so have to go 'CHECK IT OUT'.

I have been wanting Claire to do seed packets for ages and - well let's just say I still haven't calmed down yet LOL!  It will be hard to be away from my computer this week but I need to keep checking back to catch the new stuff as it goes out.  Well as much as I can at least since I made plans to get out walking with friends both tomorrow afternoon and Thursday plus we're going to pick Jess up unexpectedly on Friday now.

I also spied a scripture stamp in the sneak peeks so I am megga excited about that too and keen to see this set.  I just love getting the Plain Jane scripture verse stamps from Verve but it's a bit of a hassle getting them.  How cool would it be to be able to get clear scripture stamps right here at home and from one of my favourite companies too.

Anyhow - on to the tutorial.  I know many of you out there don't need instructions on card making so this is for anyone who does.

Take a base card (or create one yourself), round the corners and stamp a strip of text across it at about 1" up from the lower edge using black ink.  Take a smaller flourish stamp and stamp it in black at the lower right hand side of the card but leaning slightly towards the left.

Next stamp a larger flourish on the upper portion of the card with about 1/2" space above it and leaning to the left.  Be sure to leave enough room for the bow.  This is the card base prepared and ready.  Now choose a Nestabilities friendly frame stamp and coloured card stock and stamp a frame using black ink.

 

Next die-cut the frame out using low tack tape to keep the die in place and ensure a perfect cut.  Choose a further die shape that will fit neatly behind your frame for the sentiment and cut out.

Using a craft knife cut into the centre of your stamped frame and then take a pair of scissors to cut in and around the inner detail to remove the centre section.  It's easier to cut if you cut in from behind (take your scissors in from behind the image bringing the top blade through to the front).  Next stamp your sentiment into the centre of your die-cut shape to fit behind your frame.

Adhere your choice of ribbon across the card and then add the sentiment shape and your die-cut frame using foam pads.  Use glossy accents to add a bit of diamanté bling to your frame if desired. Finish with a bow and a brad and finally ink around the edges of your card with a co-ordinating colour if desired.

I used a different frame on this version just so I could show how different it looks.  I just love that I have WMS frame stamp sets and dies to match so I have a few to choose from to change things up when I need to.

And here's a shot showing some pretty colours.  I have stamped up frames in purple, orange and pink to make up but I really must get busy and tidy up my mess for now.  I crafted on the kitchen counter and table today and hubby is due home in an hour so it's off the computer and a quick clean up so I can start dinner!

Now go check out the WMS DT projects!

Enjoy!

Suezie