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YOWZA!
Where did 2012 go in such a hurry?
It's been such a long time since any crafty blogging has happened here ... so thank you to all the faithful followers who haven't jumped ship during my absence. 
It's fair to say that 2012 was a barren year for activity here at MCC,  although 'real life' was anything but ... being pretty hectic at times and frequently verging on chaotic!  My biggest problem was finding the time and enthusiasm to deal with it all effectively following my surgery. 

The intention for 2013 is to be more organised in all areas of my life and hopefully my mind will follow suit ... so fingers crossed I'll be able to do all the things I want to do, both crafty and otherwise and still have enough time and energy to share snippets of it all with everyone.

But  ... before that and to kick things off, allow me to share just a few of my 2012 cards that didn't get an airing. 
If you have any questions about techniques or supplies used, then leave a message and I'll do my best to answer your query.

Babies

(Kanban Kit)

(Stamping and Embossing)

(Stamping and Embossing)

(Stamping, Inking and Mirri Card)

(Inside View)

(Digital Stamping and Promarkers)

(Digital Image and Stamping)

(Inside View)

Birthdays

(Digital Image and Computer Sentiment)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit with Butterfly Embellishment)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit and 3D Elements)

(Kanban Kit and Diamante Ribbon Buckle)

(Kanban Kit, Pearls and Glitter Paper)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit and Cupcake Wrapper Decoration)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit, Mirri Card and Ribbon)

(Inside View)

(Doodling and Stickles)

(Inside View)

(Easel Card and Diecutting)

(Recycling)

(inside View)

(Digital Stamp, Paper Roses and Ribbon)

Other Occasions

(Embossing and Stickles)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit with Black and Gold)

(Inside View)

Wedding Fever

I was recently asked to make a wedding card and was given free rein with both design and colours.  GULP!  Sometimes having this much freedom can be more difficult than when customers are specific about what they want, but I decided to try a few ideas and let her choose a favourite.
Which one would you choose? 
If your selection matches the actual card chosen then your name will go into a draw for a wee crafty prize. 
Deadline midnight GMT Sunday 22nd July.
Click the photos for close-up views.

Design 1
A linen effect white card base decorated with blue and white diecut hearts layered onto diecut blue and silver mirri card, embellished with a simple bow and greeting.

Inside shows diecut panels and a simple stamped message.
 
Design 2
I created an off centre gatefold from A4 white linen card, adding a panel of textured burgundy card and a matching Kanban wedding topper.  A simple bow and stamped greeting are the only decoration. 

The slim panel shows white padded hearts and satin ribbon matted onto layers of white and burgundy card.

Inside, a panel of white linen card has been corner punched and decorated with diamante gems before being matted onto burgundy card and stamped with a greeting.
I'd like to submit this card as my first entry to
Sparkles Monthly Challenges - 34 Weddings
 
Design 3
I opened an image from my flowers folder in PSP (PaintShop Pro), and typed a greeting before printing onto white linen cardstock, which gives a look almost like canvas. Both elements were then matted onto silver mirri. 

White organza ribbon was wrapped around the fold on a landscape base card and tied in a bow with pearl gems added for decoration.

The inside message was stamped onto white linen card before being matted onto silver textured card and placed inside.
I'm hoping this card is eligible for entry into
Southern Girls Challenge 48 - Pearls
Sparkles Monthly Challenges - 34 Weddings (2nd entry)

Design 4
I created an easel card base from cream cardstock and opened another beautiful rose image in PSP, adding a greeting onto the image before printing this time.

The easel card panels were then decorated with pretty paper from Papermania Confetti pack, matted onto black and gold mirri and the main image was then adhered to the front panel with foam pads.

Wide cream organza ribbon was wrapped around the back and tied in a knot and a matching bow was added to the image panel. 

The stopper was created using more layered panels of paper and card adhered to the base with foam pads before being decorated with paper flowers, pink ribbon bows and pretty iridescent fabric butterflies.
A greeting was stamped and embossed with gold powder, then diecut and matted onto black and gold card.

A matching box completes the ensemble as this card is way too bulky for an envelope.
I'm entering this card into
The Cupboard Trilogy - Colour Palette Challenge
The Cupcake Craftroom - July: Layers
Sparkles Monthly Challenges - 34 Weddings (3rd entry)

PLEASE REMEMBER...
Don't forget to leave a comment with your favourite from the selection and you may be lucky enough to win a prize.

Bunnies and Blog Hop

You can't have Easter without having bunnies and these little cuties from LOTV obviously love cupcakes ... well ... thinking about it ... who doesn't? 

They were coloured with Promarkers and cut out with Nestabilities Labels Four before being added as a topper to a 5" x 5" easel card, already decorated with gorgeous Easter papers from Paper Cellar.  A strip of multicoloured ribbon, a couple of pink pearls and some paper flowers with Stickle centres add some dimension and sparkle.

The 'stop' is provided by using a slim strip of paper, matted onto silver mirri and adhered to the base with foam pads to raise it.  The greeting is a simple silver peel off on a punched circle of paper which is attached to a silver daisy flower with silicon glue.

The card does fold flat enough to fit into an envelope although it would require a 'large' stamp for posting because of the 3D elements.

There are a gazillion Easter themed challenges on the go right now but I have chosen just a couple to play along with ...
C4E - #66 Bunnies and Chicks PLUS Blog Hop

Card Makin Mamas - #42 Easter
Crafty Sentiments - Bunnies
Incy Wincy Designs - #140 Easter 
Now I'm hippitty- hopping back over to join in the Crafts 4 Eternity blog hop. Have a super Saturday ... wherever you are and whatever you are doing. 

Spring Has Sprung!

We have been enjoying some beautiful sunny weather for the last week or so, which is not unusual for March EVEN here in Fife! It has been unseasonally warm, with temperatures up in the high teens and even tickling the twenties so it's been
March Madness INDEED!
Taking advantage of this, I decided to indulge in a couple of hours worth of 'Al Fresco' creativity,  armed with my trusty Promarkers and a selection of stamped images.
Using one of the completed LOTV cuties, I created this pretty easel card for a lovely fellow crafting friend whose birthday is today ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE xx

Once coloured, she was cut out using Nestabilities Labels One, (as were the other topper layers), and once assembled together,  the whole thing was adhered with foam pads to the folded front panel which had been previously decorated with embossed mirri card.

A touch of stickles provide plenty of sparkle to her outfit and paper roses dabbed with pearlescent ink and finished off with a ribbon bow are a perfect embellishment for the corner.

On the base I used the negative section previously cut with the nestabilities and added some pretty patterned paper behind ... waste not want not! ... before using a white gel pen to add some 'faux stitching' around the edge.   The greeting was stamped in black onto a smaller matching shape which was also outlined with 'faux stitching'.  Two simple flat backed pearl beads are all that's needed to keep the folded front panel supported.
The flowers made this card a bit bulky for an envelope so I made a box instead and as it was hand delivered this morning, (along with a wee surprise gift), postage costs were not an issue.
Talking of postage ... with the impending huge price hike on stamps due next week, (1st class jumps from 46p to 60p!), I will be bulk buying as many as I can reasonably afford in an effort to postpone the pain.  Like many others there will be a serious culling of the Christmas card list later this year too ... a sad but necessary evil.
I will be entering this card into
Week 4 - LOTV National Craft Month Competition.
Tomorrow marks the last day of the school term and hopefully we can look forward to continued lovely weather. Wishful thinking?  Well ... possibly ...  but on the other hand,  maybe Spring really has sprung!

Bah! Humbug! Challenge 22

It's 'Flaming June' and the sun is shining on this beautiful Friday morning. Over at Bah! Humbug! Challenges it's always Christmas and we have another terrific theme this week - Surprise! Surprise!!  

For my DT submission I decided to attempt an Easel Card with Drawer to create a card and gift in one fell swoop!  I found video instructions HERE and set to work with gusto ... well ... I set to work at least lol!
I made up the easel card using Smirk Christmas papers, which were already glittered and good old reliable silver mirri card for matting. 

The drawer was super easy to make and I even wrapped pretty purple ribbon around it before securing with a brad.  This not only looks nice but has the added advantage of holding it together if you're not too confident that your glue will stick ... tee hee.  

Then, I got into a bit of a guddle making the wraparound base.  UH OH!  Due to 'user error' rather than inadequate instructions, I hasten to add, as everyone knows that concentration is not my strong point.   Anyway, I managed to make it all fit eventually and have convinced myself that no one will notice the teeth marks unless they look closely.  *snigger*
So there you are ... FINISHED!    JOB DONE!

You'll be pleased to hear that we have 2 surprise new Guest Designers staying with us at Humbug Hall but I can't tell you who they are ... it's a SURPRISE!   Hahahahaha!   They have created fantastic projects to show off for this week's challenge so I suggest you hotfoot it over there PDQ.  
There's also a fabby-licious Prize up for grabs for one lucky randomly selected entry, to mark the 1st challenge of a new month and you definitely wouldn't want to miss out, so grab your bits'n'bobs and head over for a looksee before joining in the fun.  G'aaaaannnnn ... You know you want to!