Smiles and Stamping

Well the two things go together don't they.  How can you not smile when you get time to stamp?

My lovely friend Gwyneth invited me round for tea (dinner if you're not from up North!), and as I very rarely pass up being cooked for I jumped at the chance.  After a fabulous Syn free tea (she's found Syn free sausages - woo hoo), we decided to do a little crafting.  This her dining room table within 15 minutes of us starting to craft - messy but with 2 happy stampers sitting round it.

After a lot of faffing I managed to make 3 little cards.  Sometimes it just takes longer than it should!  I wanted something playful and summery so borrowed this cute stamp set by Papertrey Ink from Gwyneth.  What could be more summery than cruising with your music playing in one of these colourful little cars.  These cards were inspired by challenges at:

Saturday Challenge - Summer Holidays

Allsorts Challenge - Summer Days

Thanks for looking.

xxx

Out and About

I popped in to see a customer first thing this morning and then had a quick look around Hobbycraft - all in the name of work - of course!

Once home I spent most of the day on the phone, so come 6 o'clock I was ready for some quiet time and a little card making.  I needed to make a couple of cards to say whether or not we're going to a couple of wedding do's:

This one was inspired by challenges at:

Get Sketchy - sketch 47

Totally PaperCrafts - recipe - 1 x image, 1 x ribbon, 2 x papers, 3 x embellishments

Colour Create - warm pink, choclate and white

The Pink Elephant - brown

This next card was inspired by the challenge at:

Clean and Simple - sketch #99

As you can see my Papertrey Ink stamps have been out again - they're just so versatile.

xxx

Wet and Wild

It was a little blowy out today but it didn't stop us going for a walk to Rhyl - we know all the best places!  From my sister's it's a nice walk up the estuary.  It was lovely to be with Stevie, Jo, Ian, his cousin Steve and his missus Lou.

So when we got to Rhyl we found the paddling pool and what do you have to do when you see a paddling pool, kick off your walking boots and socks and go paddling.  Apparently it's only me that felt that way then!  Another lesson learned today - put your sock in your boot before you paddle so that it doesn't blow into the pool and you end up with a soggy sock!  Luckily there were some shops nearby so I could buy some new socks.

I really did get my feet wet.

We got the bus back as Steve was too tired to walk!  Then it was time to knuckle down and get the rest of the wedding invitations done.

Woo hoo, wedding invitations finished, so time to play.  First up is a Christmas card that was inspired by challenges at:

A Passion for Papertrey - to die for - I used my nestabilities and the border is cut using a tim holtz die.

Cute Card Thursday - get a head start - Christmas card

I might even make a few more of these to get ahead for Christmas

This card was inspired by challenges at:

Twisted sketches - sketch 16 - metal

Meljens Designs - long or tall card
Chicken soup - recipe 3 - I was inspired by the rainbow colours

Last but not least a challenge I struggled with this week:

Daring Cardmakers - we are sailing

I realised I don't really have anything suitable for the sea in my stash but did find this lovely chipboard square with a boat on it!  A cut new baby card.

So another weekend is done and dusted.  It's a good job I enjoy my job so much or I'd be a bit fed up.  I hope your weekend has been as much fun as mine has.

xxx

And the winner is ...

Thank you to everyone that left comments. It's great to know that you love these cute stamps as much as I do.  I've done the draw, very low tech.  I wrote the names on pieces of paper and drew the lucky winner out and the winner is ...

Gale Varland

Congratulations Gale, send me an e-mail at gingerpiedesigns@gmail.com with your address and I'll get your stamp set sent to you.

I've had a great day at crop and the girls made some lovely layouts.  I got started on the wedding invites I need to make.  I don't mind making invites but after the first 10 my creative brain goes to sleep!  So to wake it up I made a couple of cards. 

This first one was inspired by the challenge at:

Dutch Dare - criss cross card

The papers are from this months Scrap-a-gogo greetings kit.  I wasn't sure how I'd get on with them but love the contrasting colours on this card.  The little owl button I've had for ages and I'm not sure where it came from but isn't it cute.

This second card was inspired by the final theme over at:

Moxie Fab World - classy and elegant

It's all cream and brown.

I'm off to my sister's for the rest of the weekend, so who knows what adventures are in store.

xxx

Sealed with a Little Kiss

Today is official launch date for SWALK which means I can share some more cards with you.  Don't forget that there's prizes to be won until Saturday night here at my blog - sneak peeks an an even bigger prize at the Crafter's Companion Inspiration Blog.

This first card features the Little Madam, coloured with copics.  All the papers and the alphabet are from the SWALK CD and was inspired by the challenge at:

Charisma Cardz - Pink

Next up is the Mummy ... you're beautiful stamp.  I've really loved colouring these little beauties.  Again the papers and even the flowers are from the co-ordinating SWALK CD.  This card was inspired challenges at:

2 sketches 4 you - Laura's sketch 56 - I flipped the sketch 90 degrees

CRAFT challenge - babies/children

One more to share.  I've gone with some more yellow.  This card was inspired by the challenges at:

CPS - sketch #175

Papertake Weekly - in the garden

Well after another busy week, I'm looking forward to the weekend and a day of cropping with my friends followed by a visit to my sisters.  I wonder what Ginger adventures await me.

xxx

A little bit of vintage

I've been inspired by vintage today and had a great time with some old Graphic 45 I had in my stash.  I love Graphic 45 but tend to hoard it rather than use it.  So for me making 4 cards with this paper is some what decadent.

This first card was inspired by the challenge at:

Moxie fab world - create a card based on the layout below

I loved making this card as the layout made a great sketch to follow.

This next card and in fact all four cards were inspired by the challenge at:

Moxie Fab World - let's do shabby and vintage 

Inspirational card sketches - sketch 74 - I turned the sketch on it's side

The inspiration for this one came from:

Clean & simple - sketch 98 - OK I know it's not really clean & simple style but I loved the sketch and wanted to use it as soon as I saw the paper with the cherries on it

Card Patterns - sketch 72 - I loved making my own patchwork background and will definitely be using my scraps to do this again

Next on my list of things to do is a set of wedding invitations for my friend.  I've got the card and the ribbon but I need to get the priting sorted out.  So let's hope that the printer wants to play nice.
xxx

Ready for Crop

It's nearly that special time of the month again - crop day.  Big smiles from me as I'm looking forward to spending the day with my friends.  As the sun has been out we've gone all out summery for the morning kit from K&Co and here's what I've done with it.

This page features a photo of me at one of my most favourite places - Port De La Rague.  The layout was inspired by the challenge at:
Chicken Soup - recipe 2 patchwork - I used my word stickers to make a patchwork panel

This card was made with the left over bit and was inspired by another of this weeks challenges over at:

Moxie Fab World - clean and graphic - I managed to walk away and leave some white space!

My friend Anna also made a page using the kit.  I love seeing what other people do with the same products. 

For the afternoon class we've got a Rusty Pickle layout class.  It's a great way to scrap 6 photos or more on a double page layout.  It's great colours and would suits lots of different themes.

See you Saturday girls

xxx