The Play Date Cafe

Monday 29 September 2008

Crafting Up A Storm - Blog Candy!

Isn't it exciting when you discover a new blog full of beautiful inspiring creations!!!!! Alison is offering blog candy to celebrate 10,000 hits on her blog 'Crafting Up A Storm'

Please check out the wonderful designs on Alison's blog.

Sunday 28 September 2008

Sparkly Fairy


I have made around 8 cards this weekend but most are for friends' birthdays (friends who might just read this) so I am just showing one which I made with a challenge in mind. It seems like ages since I joined in a craft challenge!!!! This is for Cute Card Thursday's 'lots of sparkle' challenge No. 29.

The gorgeous fairy stamp is from Kerry Jo's lovely set of characters which I bought from Debbie Moore. Kerry's blog Curly Girly Me has some lovely creations on show so do have a look.

I watercoloured my fairy image then added sparkle with glitter glue and stardust pens and finished the card with some tiny gems. There is also a bit of sparkle on the rose backing paper (DCWV) but it is difficult to see in the photo.

I haven't been feeling very well (cough/cold/sore throat) and today I am croaking like a frog! I keep losing my voice so I bet OH is a happy chappy then!




Tuesday 23 September 2008

Art Nouveau


Today I used some lovely Art Nouveau style images from Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique CD set to make this card and matching bookmark and notebook. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss a piece of white card and matted the main image onto that on the front of my card and threaded some pink organza ribbon through punched holes. I used a rose corner punch on the card base and added the smallest toppers to the bottom right of the card front and also to the back of the card. I laminated some of the remaining images to make the bookmark and notebook covers.




Saturday 20 September 2008

ARTY GIRLZ BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE




Here is my latest card which fits in with the latest Arty Girlz challenge # 52. As their blog is 1 year old the challenge was to make an item for a birthday. They are offering a prize for one lucky participant.

I have only just discovered the fabulous Coredinations cardstock and bought 4 sheets yesterday from Paddy's Stamping Place where I saw some beautiful examples of cards and boxes made using this cardstock in conjunction with the Cuttlebug embossing folders. I embossed a piece of the teal card with the leaves folder and lightly sanded the surface to reveal the inner core colour of the cardstock, adding highlights. I coloured 4 small squares of Stampbord with various shades of blue ink and stamped the bird and branches over them with Black Versafine ink. The stamp is part of the beautiful Elusive Images bird set and is entitled 'Dawn Chorus.' I used a water brush over the finished image to add a bit of sparkle with Sakura Stardust but it doesn't show up in the photo.


Friday 19 September 2008

Thank You & 60th Birthday Cards



I made these two cards last night. The Audrey H one is for a 60th birthday and the image is from Joanna Sheen's Hollywood CD Rom. The papers are from DCWV, the dotty flower is a Flora Doodle from Joanna Sheen's store. I can't remember the name of the rhinestone strip along the bottom of the card but seem to recall I bought them at a craft show! I fastened the image to the backing card with my mini Fastenater and dotty staples.


The thank you card was made with a Stampin Up sentiment stamp, heat embossed in red and the teddy stamp is by Santa Rosa. The red flowers are Prima, fastened with a HOTP button brad. The teddy is one of my favourite stamps as it always gives a clear impression, a very good quality stamp.


Tuesday 16 September 2008

Good Luck Owl


This is my latest, very simple card, using an owl stamp from Papermania's 'Secret Garden' clear stamp set. The owl has been coloured with Sakura pens and mounted onto a Nestabilities scalloped circle brown card mat. The dotty paper is Sweet Nothings, again by Papermania. I added a simple sentiment and brown ribbon to finish off the card. I made the card last night but have only just found time to post on my blog as I have spent most of the day drafting up a new CV ready to send off with job applications tomorrow.




Saturday 13 September 2008

Wonderful Wales!





Yesterday was my last day at work and it still seems unreal as the Friday before we were enjoying the last day of our lovely holiday in North Wales. I haven't made a single card since I heard about my redundancy but hopefully I can get back into it soon! Although it was a shock at least I wasn't untreated unfairly and informed by text message as sometimes happens these days. I have missed posting on my blog so I thought I would share a couple of holiday photos. We stayed in a beautiful pine lodge near Pwllheli on the Lleyn Peninsula which has stunning scenery and remains unspoiled. I have always wanted to visit Portmeirion so that was on our list of things to see. I was very impressed and would go again as we didn't spend much time in the gardens due to the heavy rain. I did manage to get a few photos before the heavens opened but unfortunately the rain was so heavy that many of the pictures were completely blurred. In spite of the unpredictable weather it was a nice relaxing holiday.




Tuesday 9 September 2008

Carry on Crafting!


It seems like ages since I posted any cards due to being offline for a week during our lovely holiday. Yesterday I returned to work and the shock news that I have been selected for redundancy. I have just been preparing for my meeting with management tomorrow, making notes of questions I have etc. but am tired of mulling it all over so I thought I would post pics of my latest two cards.
The top card was made for the lovely Beverley several weeks ago to celebrate the second anniversary of Chop-O-Holics card club but I can only show it now it has been delivered. Most of the items used are from Joanna Sheen's online shop...the tapestry cardstock, the pink Flora Doodle wild roses, the wild rose stamp, the acrylic piece, Sparkle n Sprinkle embossing powder, Sakura Glaze pens and ribbon....in fact that only leaves the sentiment stamps which are Stampin Up and the gems...no idea where those are from!!!!!
The second card was made on Sunday to say thanks to my cousin and her hubby who made our holiday possible by generously allowing us the use of their lovely pine lodge in Wales. I must post some pics and a little bit about our holiday when I have sorted them out....the photos are still on the memory card in the camera! I used my new doggy stamp from Little Claire Designs which I am very pleased with, it is a clear unmounted stamp and excellent quality. I cut out the doggy images and mounted them onto a square of silver mirri, then matted that onto squares of blue and red cardstock. The ribbon, flowers and brad are all from Poppicrafts. I think everyone will be getting doggy cards from me now whether they like dogs or not because I love this set of little Westies!!!!!

Honey

Honey