I have had a little time to create this card for my uncle, who has been a keen fisherman for most of his 84 years.  I am hoping he'll  like this creation.

  To create the background paper for this card.  I cut a piece of white card 4  1/2 x 6  1/12 inches and scored it every half inch.   Using three  stampin' up ink pads : almost amethyst, bashful blue and  river rock,  (all of these colours are now retired,  but any felt style ink  pad in  a light purple, pale blue and   light beige/ brown will do.)

I tilted the ink pads at an angle and dragged the edge of the pad down the length of the card stock. I started with  the purple,  then pale blue and finally the brown to achieve this weathered paint look. 
Using a circle die I cut an aperture in the weathered wood layer. I cut a second piece of white card for the underneath layer. I stamped the  bulrushes onto this layer in the same area as the aperture on the top layer.

The images are from the Stampin' Up  stamp set called "Best Catch." ( apart from the rushes,  that's from another company).  
I coloured the images with Copic markers, before fussy cutting them out. 
I have to say  that  flippin' "fishing fly " was a pain in the butt to cut out. 
I think, I cut the hook off three times before I managed to cut out a complete fly.
  
To cut the hook out in one piece, I  had to cut it out a little wider than it actually is,  this left a white edge  that didn't look very nice.   
Once I had a whole fly cut out,  I  applied Versamark  to the hook and heat embossed it in silver several times.

I used a sponge roller to add a touch of blue and lilac to the background of the rushes.
All that was left to do was to stamp the sentiment and  arrange all the elements into a design I was happy with and stick them in place.

Wilderness Awaits Stag card

I've never heard of anyone ever sending a card for a stag do, but why not??? 
The idea was obviously inspired by the stamp of the stag in the wilderness awaits stamp set from S.U.
This card will contain a special message for the bride groom  to kick up his heels , but also to take care.  
We wouldn't want him to end up tied to a lamppost minus his clothing or worse.

I used the tip of the pine tree in the  " Lovely as a tree"   stamp set along the base of the card along with a little sponging.

The background paper I made using a brayer and a texture stamp and two shade of green ink pads.   

Traveller Meets World Map

The ship on this card was going to be in a circle on this base card.

 But I kind if misjudged my paper size then I messed up my inked background. 

Rather than start again, it was a case of how much of my work could I salvage.

Out came the circle dies  and I managed to save enough of my work to to create this corner section. So then I needed to fill the dead space on the card.

What better than the world map background stamp.

 I heat embossed the map with black embossing powder and sponged ink over it with Old olive , Bashful blue and Hello honey  inks. 

Then I  did  the same with the sentiment.

I used very thin foam pads to raise the ship from the background slightly but I stuck the sentiment  directly onto the background with Tombow glue.Then mounted the piece of work onto brown card and then onto my base card of Hello Honey cardstock.

I forgot to say the ship is from the New 2015  Stampin Up Catalogue and the set is called Traveler. Yep!  you read that right,  it is Traveler with One L.

 I do find these spelling differences  very  annoying as I have to remember to spell things wrong.

 You'd think they'd change the spelling for the English market.  

Time to take the dogs out now so Cheerio until next time . LOL.

Greg's Birthday Card

Yesterday was our son's birthday and I was stuck for ideas for a card for him. .  My mojo  has definitely been hiding from me this last week or so. 
Time to get some inspiration from the internet.

After some time trawling certain facebook sites I came a cross a  very similar card to this created by Paula Knall which  took my fancy. 
So I went into case mode and recreated her card,  but with a couple of differences.
 I added the word son were  Paula's had a number and the sentiment is different as I don't have the stamp she used. I think this works.
The stamp set  used for the ink splatters and lines are from the Stampin' Up set Gorgeous Grunge and the chevron stripes were created with the chevron punch also from Stampin' Up.
 Fortunately  for me this card was very quick to make as I only had and hour  to do the card, create an insert for it and cook dinner, before rushing round to deliver the card.

World Map Card.

Today I went on the Stampin' Up demonstrators web site and came across a card made by Julie Gearinger which I thought  was great. 

(I don't visit the website very often as I know it will take up most of my day.)

 As you have probably know when I come across a card I love I have to have a go at re producing it and today was no exception.
Julie's card  had different background  paper and she used slightly different colour inks. I didn't have all the inks or the paper she used so I had to improvise.
Julie also added hemp string to hers. 
I didn't notice the string on hers immediately and figured if I didn't notice it, maybe other people wouldn't notice it immediately. So I didn't  put it on at all.


Also I didn't distress the edges as much as she did.
Julie has a tutorial on her blog if you would like to  re produce her work shoot over to her blog and take a look. She also has  a large collection of AMAZING card she has made.

 I have to say once my card was finished, I couldn't help feeling a little bit disappointed by it.  I  think it feels dark and gloomy rather bright and cheery.
This one is going to my brother I do hope he likes it.

Black and white plane card

A simple black and white card using a strip of S.U.'s designer series paper from the neutrals collection and the plane from the plane and simple stamp set.
This stamp set is is from the mini catalogue that was launched earlier this month. Boy!!!! have I spent a fortune on stuff from the mini.

Okay, now I going to make you think I am a complete Idiot. This is a father's day card. I know the background says thank you, but I kind of forgot what sort of card I was making. But I have some very good excuses, and to cut a long story short it has been a very stressful day, that has left me with a stiff neck and a headache from the tension caused by various so called professional people that cannot do their jobs properly.Starting with the postman that delivered my mail this morning. Stupid man folds my mail to put it through the letter box. He has ruined the die cuts I bought and a really nice Easter card we were sent. I chased after him to complain, but he disappeared. I'll be waiting for him tomorrow. hee hee.

The day got worse as it went along as more incompetent people stressed me out. Here's hoping for better day tomorrow.

Anyway that's enough moaning, back to the card . I guess this one could say" Thanks for being my dad , " or "thanks for being the greatest Dad ever", so this is not a total disaster.

To create the corners I used a small circle punch and just snipped of the corners as evenly as I could.

Plane and Simple

Another card using the Plane from the plane and simple stamp set. You are going to be so bored by the end of todays blog entries. lol This one is Black and white, No camera or lighting tricks on this one.
I really don't think I need to explain or give in instructions it really is Plane and Simple.
Notice the polka dot back ground, I got my new embossing folder last night. The Greeting was stamped using with S.U's white craft ink onto black card.

Another card using Plane and Simple stamp set

This a card I have cased, I really like this one. Mind you I don't case cards I don't like. So If you are the original designer Well Done and thanks for sharing.
I used the plane and simple stamp set again this time with Vanilla, Early Expresso and Soft Suede card stock and Early expresso ink, all from stampin' up.

Motorbike card

Motorbikes are not just for the guys, so this is my attempt to make this card a little more feminine for the female bikers. I used rich Razzleberry card DSP and ink, This was the first card I produced this morning still in my night clothes and still not focusing clearly.