Family Birthday and Card Swap

 

Hi everyone.  This week has seen us celebrate Edward's 15th birthday.  He had a good time although it seemed quite low-key - a meal out and then a small family get together.  He was happy though that his birthday was over half-term so that he didn't have to go to school!

 

I wasn't sure what to do for his card this year, but after much discussion, Emily and I decided that a Hobbit theme would fit the bill.  I usually make this type of card as a 9-square one, but Emily insisted on 16 pictures and so the card size had to be increased to accommodate them all.  The card is 8" square.  Edward was delighted.

 

 

Of course we had to have a suitable sentiment inside.  Mark found this font on-line and it was just perfect.

 

Emily and I have been winding Edward up a lot recently by singing songs from Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat so it only seemed fitting to make a Joseph themed card for Emily to give to him!  He was SO impressed.

So, this month's card swap was all about banners and pennants.  This is the card I received from Ann.  It's really lovely and I like the shades of brown and the way she has used the banners to make the sentiment.

I really struggled for this challenge and I don't know why.  I think it's because I have recently made a card for Jane with banners on and I wanted to do something completely different.  I took my inspiration from Pinterest and pretty much CASEd this card.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out, even though there is no white space on it at all!  It took me a long time to make but I enjoyed it immensely.

 

 

The colours are Very Vanilla, Strawberry Slush, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso.  The stamps are Hardwood, Banner Blast, Best of Shelli and Chalk Talk.  I also used some Hot Cocoa Liquid Pearls.

 

Well, I didn't sleep much last night, too much on my mind.  Today is a very big day in the Stampin' Up world - retiring lists, Project Life, sneaky peaks, etc.  No wonder my mind was buzzing!

 

I'm also thinking about kitchens constantly.  Last Friday we received the news that Mark had won a prize in a monthly draw at work - A NEW KITCHEN!!!!  I'm not even joking.  We have a budget which we are really trying to adhere to (it's very hard!).  Emily has her ideas, Mark has his, Edward doesn't care, and I don't know what I think!  The catalogue is massive - so much choice.  We've been to the showroom, and I've been round to a friend's house to look at her new kitchen.  Again, my mind is buzzing.  It's so exciting, and scary.  Watch this space.

 

Anyway, thanks for dropping by,  Your comments are, as always, very much appreciated.

 

Take care

 

Michelle x

 

Card Swap Group - Post-it-Note Holders

Hope you are all enjoying this gorgeous sunny weekend.  It really lifts the spirits to see the sun out, as well as having all the windows and the patio door wide open.

 

So, today I'm getting round to sharing last month's card swap.  Jane tasked us to make Post-it-Note holders.  I made mine for Margaret, who makes the most gorgeous cards.  I decided to use Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla as I thought they would appeal to Margaret.

 

I masked off a panel and stamped the script stamp in Crumb Cake (can't remember which one).  My Stamp-a-ma-jig came in really handy for this.  I scored a couple of lines above and below the script.  Then using Papillon Potpourri, I stamped two butterflies and cut them out with the corresponding punch, as well as two in Crumb Cake cardstock.  I added a sentiment and then the butterflies, curling the wings a little bit to give some dimension.

 

I also made Margaret a matching card in exactly the same way.

This is the Post-it-Note holder that I received from Aileen.  It's really beautiful.  The photo doesn't really do it justice (not helped by the fact that I don't seem to be able to make it larger - silly Blogger!).

 

It's been really nice to have a calm, relaxed weekend.  The last couple of weeks have been crazy!  Edward had his practise expedition for DofE last weekend, and the weather couldn't have been more awful - rain, wind, hail!  Having said that, he had a really great time.  The real one is the middle of June, and I think we'll all be more that prepared for it.  This week has been the SATs tests at school which comes with its own stresses.

 

I'm on a bit of a countdown - 5 working days until half term!!

 

Have a great week.  See you soon.

 

Take care

 

Michelle x

Scrapbags Spring Retreat - Part 2

Hi All.  So I was meant to post this a couple of weeks ago but never quite got round to it, life kind of got in the way.

 

Here are the layouts that I completed at my retreat before Easter.  I didn't get as many done as you would have thought over three days, probably because I spent too much time chatting!  But I had a great time.

 

Most of these layouts feature Stampin' Up products.

 

And the next layout is my first attempt at Project Life.  I've started an album for Edward for when he's 18 (3 years to go - nothing like planning ahead!), and I wanted it to be different to the ones I made for Emily.  I'm really pleased how this turned out.  You can imagine how excited I am about Stampin' Up teaming up with Becky Higgins and bringing Project Life to us in the new catalogue!!!!!

 

Hopefully I'll be back soon, but you never know with me!  Must actually get some cards made because I haven't made any for ages :(

 

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend.

 

Take care

 

Michelle