Gram's Treasures

Good morning everyone.  It is so hard to believe that summer is nearly over.  The kiddies will be starting back to school again next week, with mixed feelings, I'm sure.  My oldest grandchild will be starting high school, while the youngest is starting grade one....my how they have grown!


Today I'm sharing my card for a teacher, with an image from Pink Gem....isn't he the sweetest!  He's coloured with copics, and some sparkle pen for the glasses.  I've admired the design technique of using a partial circle at the side of the card, and thought I would give it a try.  I do like the effect.

Nothing too difficult about this card, as the wording is a sticker and the flowers are rub-ons.  Otherwise, just a button and a bit of ribbon....all from my stash.

Have a lovely day!

Some challenges for my card:

A Gem of a Challenge - #94 Anything with a B (boy)

Paper Creators Crafts - #13 Anything Goes

Wags 'n Whiskers - #111 Back to School/For a Teacher

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Back To School

Inky Impressions - #122 Masculine

Delightful Challenges - Back to School - Use primary colors

Cupcake Inspirations - #225 Back to School       Top Picks

Love to Create - #80 Back to School

Tammy's Scrapin Corner - #77 Anything Goes

QKR Stampede - #53 Anything Goes

Fussy and Fancy - #96 Back to School

The Pink Elephant - #214 Back 2 School

Another beautiful weekend with lots of sun and no rain in sight.  Of course there is always a down side....the gardens are pretty much finished, and the grass is turning brown.  I'm already cutting down the plants for fall, which seems really early.  Does that mean a long hard winter?  Let's hope not!!


This card is for my brother-in-law, who says he refuses to get any older....enough's enough!  This wonderful image from Just Inklined is titled Morris Dancer, and I'm sure he has the identical  outlook on life. (lol)  Once again, I've coloured with copics and cut him out using the 'out of the box' technique.

As this is a masculine card, I've kept the embellishment to a minimum, with just some die cuts and some gold Glass Effect Gel to make the pearl trim.  The papers are from the MME Blink of an Eye collection.


Thanks for visiting, and I hope you enjoyed my card.  I also hope you have a wonderful fantasy day too!

Now for some challenges for my card:

Penny's Challenges - #141 Dies and/or punches

Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes

Cards for Men - #19 Funny Birthday

Creatalicious Challenges - #54 For the Boys

Sister Act Card Challenge - #21 Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - #34 - Anything Goes

One Stop Craft Challenge - #240 Spots and Dots

Rhedd & Rosie's - #13 Use Red

It's time for a new challenge at Charisma, and this week we are looking for your cards with more than one fold.  Lots of opportunity there, to show your creativity....and have a little bit of fun.  Be sure to check out the projects from the rest of the team for some wonderful ideas and inspiration.


Today, I've gone with a centre step card, and an image from one of our sponsors.  This little cutie has been coloured with copics and can be found here, at Saturated Canary.  The flowers in my garden don't look quite this lush, thanks to the heat and dry spell that we are experiencing, and in reality...summer is nearly over.  Where did it go??? 

Once again, I used the 'out of the box' technique with my Spellbinders die.  As you might have noticed, I cut on the angle this time using 2 different sizes and sponging some DI on the edges.

The papers are from Paper Mania's Burleigh Blue collection, and you will see I've used a number of die cuts, some pink pearls and a pretty blue bow for embellishment.  To make the butterflies, I backed the die cut with vellum, colouring the openings with glitter pen and adding stickles to the body.
Once again, we have some lovely prizes up for grabs this week from our very generous sponsors, and if you click on the pictures below, this will take you directly to their site.

Let's hope you get a chance to play along this week, as we do enjoy visiting your blogs to see what you create.  Where do you think we get our inspiration....

Take care and have a wonderful day.

Now for some challenges for my card:

Saturated Canary Challenge - #50 Winged Things

Allsorts Challenge - #220 Use your new stash (design paper)

Stampin for the Weekend - Butterflies

Natalie and Amy - Celebration

A Little Bit Crafty - Summer sun

One Crazy Stamper - Birthdays

Love to Create - #79 Fancy Folds

Crafty Cardmakers - #98 Fun in the Sun

Creative Craft Challenges2 - #17 Not a Square

Papertake Weekly - Flower Power

It is so hard to believe that it is almost time for back to school.  The little ones are getting ready with their backpacks and lunch bags, and even if they are not especially looking forward to classes and homework, there is still some excitement in the air.   Oh, maybe that is the Mommies....lol.


Today I am showing you a card that I actually made earlier, for my grandson to give to his teacher.  I thought I would share it now,  as the image would also be perfect for a back to school card.  The image is from Meljen's Designs, titled Desktop Mouse...he's a crafty little fellow!  Again, I've used my copics, adding a few gems to the design.

The frame has been made using 2 sizes of the Spellbinders Labels Twenty Three die, then coloured with distress stain and ink, and then stamped in black with a script stamp.

Nice and easy to colour and make up, with one little bow for just a bit more cuteness.

Hope your day is wonderful, and you can find time to enjoy it.  Thanks for visiting.

Some challenges for my card:

Meljen's Designs - #173 You've Been Framed   Challenge Winner

The Squirrel and the Fox - #50 Whimsical

Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges - #62 Clean and Simple

Stampotique Designers Challenge - #112 Polka Dots

Aud Sentiments - #87 Anything But A Birthday Card

Penny's Challenges - #140 Lace and/or Ribbon

Challenges 4 Everybody - #27 Anything Goes

Cutie Pie Challenge - #51 Anything Goes

The Crazy Challenge - #152 Animals

C is for Challenge - #4 Animals

Well, 'tis the weekend again, and it looks like we will be having wonderful weather.  Perfect for all those summer activities, though I think I'd best close the windows and put the air conditioning back on.  Today I plan on doing a bit in the garden....I'm getting there, and tomorrow I'll be on the road with my daughter, heading to a family wedding shower in Niagara Falls.


After checking the weather forecast, and seeing no rain in the foreseeable future, this image is quite appropriate....my grass will soon be turning brown!  This is one of the older images from Just Inklined titled Mexico Phil and Horhay, which I've coloured with copics and a bit of pencil.

The papers are from an old Cosmo Cricket collection (Wanted), with colours well suited to my card design.  Embellishments are minimal, just some twine and some paper candi which I have coloured up with markers, keeping to the masculine theme.


I do hope you enjoyed your visit, and your weekend is going good.  If your weather is a little on the cool side, perhaps this card will warm you up. (lol)

Some fun challenges for my card:

Creatalicious Challenges - #54 For the Boys

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Boys/Male Cards

Card Mania - #27 Favourite Embelishment (paper candi)

A Little Bit Crafty - Summer sun

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - #20 Anything Goes

Totally Papercrafts - #180 Favorite Colors (warm & bold)

Totally Gorjuss - #197 Die cuts and/or punches

The Crazy Challenge - #151 Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - #87 Anything But A Birthday Card  Top Picks

It's now the middle of August....where did it go?  This summer is just speeding by.  My gardens are coming along, but I still have more work to do....and it won't be long before I'll be putting them to bed for the winter.  So today, I've come up with a card with a taste of those summer gardens.


I've had a play with a Penny Black stamp set, called Touch of Whimsy, and I finally made use of a hexagon punch, that I actually purchased years ago......cutting out little bits of stamped pieces, and backing them with a floral paper.   The little umbrella and the yellow flower are paper pieced, and you'll see stickles and pearls for some extra interest. 

The butterflies are peel-off stickers, and the large one is mounted on vellum and coloured with markers.  After shaping it gently, I've attached only the body to the card, giving it a light airy bit of dimension.

Here's hoping you are enjoying a nice summer's day, and don't forget to take a peek at your flowers.  The end of season is closing in and they will soon be gone!   Thanks for visiting.

Some challenges for my card:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Bright & Sunny

Penny Black and More - In the Garden

Fashionable Stamping - #54 Clean & Simple

Make My Monday - 3D Elements

Cutie Pie Challenge - #50 Thank You

ABC Challenge - T for Thankyou

Fab 'n' Funky - #181 Anything that Looks Like Summer

Southern Girls Challenge - #75 Things Beginning with F (flowers)

Aud Sentiments - #87 Anything But A Birthday Card

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Make the Cut

Hello again!  I get to give away one of the spot prizes for this month's blog hop at Just Inklined.  The lucky winner is  Laine.

Laine, please contact me here with your email address, and I will arrange for you to receive the image that I used on my card!  Congratulations!

Another beautiful day, here in my neck of the woods...so why did I wake up with a headache?  Living in the country, it's probably allergies, but I did check the weather to make sure there were no storms in the forecast.  Oh, the pleasures of getting older, as we become weather barometers!

So how about a Christmas card, and a reminder of winter with it's snow and ice....and of course it also brings visions of excited little children's faces and Santa Claus.  Today's card is using a fabulous image from The Best of Just Inklined 2012 CD ROM, with just a little reminder that we are living in the 21st century. 

I've done my colouring with copics, sponging some DI for the background.  For extra dimension, I've used liquid applique for the snow, and for a bit of sparkle, some stickles add some interest to the fur on his suit.

My papers are from the MME Be Merry collection, and the ornaments on the left are made using a stencil.  This was so easy to do, using DI and the sponging tool!  As you can see, I then added a bit of sparkle and gold, and then a bit of greenery and a ribbon to finish it off.

Quite pleased with the result, and now I have another card ready for Christmas.

Some fun challenges for my card

Cute Card Thursday - #281 Die-ing to punch

Deep Ocean Challenge - #57 Christmas in July

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge - #137 Picture Inspiration

Winter Wonderland - Cute Christmas

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round - Christmas Extravaganza

Craftyhazelnut's Monthly Challenge - Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - #19 Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - #32 - Anything Goes

ABC Christmas Challenge - P is for....presents

Good morning!  Can you believe it's already Thursday again?  This summer is just flying by, so hang onto your hats and sunglasses, and check out this week's challenge at Charisma Cardz.  This week we are looking for some stitching on your cards, and it can be either real or faux.


Today's card uses a sweet little image from CC Designs, called Sweet Pixie Birgitta...such a delight to colour.  I played with my copics again, adding some stickles for the wings, and as you can see I cut her out on the one side only....leaving a white square to tuck into some punched corners.   This leaves a nice space for a sentiment.

The main sentiment at the top of the card is a stamp from Local King rubber, part of the Asian Blooms set, and the papers are from MME.  Lots of layers today, and colours that make me think of summer.

I've gone with faux stitching, both plain and zig-zag, and I've definitely kept the embellishments to a minimum, with only a ribbon and a tiny heart.  I think I'll let the image steal the show!

Once again we have some very generous sponsors and some wonderful prizes:

CC Designs - Summer Dreaming

Addicted to Stamps - #61 Wonderful Wings

Sentimental Sundays - #166 Child's Play

Dream Valley - #62 Summer Days

The Crazy Challenge - #151 Anything Goes

Country View Crafts - #6 Quotations & sayings

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes Crafty Ribbons -  #56 Anything Goes with Ribbon Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes Bearly Mine Challenges - #98 Tic Tac Toe (pink, ribbon, digi image)

Good morning fellow bloggers!  It's the first Monday in August already...where has the summer gone, but it's also time for another blog hop at Just Inklined.   This month, Jak is our lovely hostess and she has chosen a Monotone Theme.  Just to make sure that you don't miss any of the stops and the wonderful DT creations, I have listed the order below.

Jak, Lori, Joyce (that's me), Gaynor, Karen J., Dawn, Tammy, Tangii

And be sure to leave your comments along the way, for your chance to win one of the mystery spot prizes!


I must admit I like to see a bit of humour in a birthday card....at least for the ones that I give. (lol)  This is one of the newer images, titled Weighty Wendy, isn't she a hoot!  Just a simple birthday message for the outside, but I'll be sure to find something cheeky for inside.

She was nice and easy to colour up, and I've gone again with the 'out of the box technique' using my Spellbinder's Labels Twenty Two die.  I've traced the inner edges of the die to create the borders.  The coordinating papers are from the MME, and the flowers are handmade.   A doodled border and a couple of die-cut corners finishes it off and pulls it all together.

I do hope you enjoyed your visit, with both me and my creative teamies, and if you are so inklined....have a good day at the gym!  (ha ha)

Some challenges for today's card:

Paper Crafting Journey - Punches and/or Die Cuts

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #218 Monochromatic

Creative Inspirations - #225 Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - #280 Anything Goes  2 Sisters Challenge - #155 Anything Goes 613 Avenue Create - #31 - Anything Goes Challenges 4 Everybody - #26 Anything Goes  Totally Papercrafts - #178 8 Inspired by A Song (Pump it up) Crafty Cardmakers - #97  1-2-3 (3 flowers)        TOP PICKS Sister Act Card Challenge - #18 Anything Goes

Well, they say you are never too old to learn new tricks...I guess that goes for techniques too.  I finally gave it a go with some paper piecing, and I liked it!  Although it takes a little time to cut out the pieces, you save time on the colouring, and it is definitely a different look.


Today's card uses a stamp from Sugar Nellie, titled Manga Girl #1, which has been sitting around just waiting to be inked up for quite some time.  She was fun to colour, and worked great for paper piecing.  I then cut her out with a Spellbinder's die, adding some walnut distress ink to give her a frame.

The papers are from MME, but I've added some additional stamping to the upper corners, and some fancy faux stitching to the outer edge.  Once again, I stamped the sentiment and then cut it out and matted it, with a lot of fussy cutting.

Added some extra embellishments for this one...a couple of brads, a gemstone heart and even some fancy flowers with some die-cut greenery. 

Here in Canada, we have a long weekend starting...so of course it's raining, but it's not too bad plus the temperature is perfect!  I think I have company coming in, so it's looking good....and here's hoping you have a wonderful weekend too!

Now for some challenges for my card:

The Sugar Bowl - #106 Anything Goes

Make My Monday - Paper Piecing

Kaboodle Doodles  - #182 Anything with Ink or Paint

Divas by Design - Favourite colour combination

Creative Craft Challenges2 - #15 Blue & Brown Challenge

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Best Dressed             Top Picks

Crafty Cardmakers - #97  1-2-3 (flowers, brads, gemstone)

Penny's Challenges - #138 Add some stitching - Real or Faux

ABC Challenge - S for Stitching

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes