Karma Chameleon!

As soon as I saw the theme at Just us Girls, I started humming the song!  Then I thought, erm.....what do I do?  Colour inspirations have never been my strong point, even simple ones.  I got my Mojo sketch, Stampin' Up papers, a Verve sentiment and 2 more of those glittery shapes from Lakeland.  You know the ones I told you about in a pack of 50 and I had 49 left.....Turns out it's a not a pack of 50, it's a pack of 80 *sigh*.

Stop laughing.

Inspired by some favourite challenges:

Craft for the Craic - Glitter
Fab n Funky - Christmas

Just us Girls - Red, Gold & Green

Mojo Monday - Sketch
Papertake Weekly - Take your Pick (Glitter/Red & Green)
Retro Rubber - Anything Goes

I really appreciate your visit and sweet comments, have a great day xx

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

One Layer Blues

Another one layer card to add to the list.  Not sure if I'm getting any better at them but at least I am making more!  This was the second attempt at this one, practice makes perfect you say?! Dashing off to keep making, time is ticking!

I had a look to see who made the stamp and it turns out to be a creative expressions one.  It also was reduced to £1 and I remembered a friend of mine calling me up and trying to describe a variety of stamps to me that were all on sale.  I think she bought loads for me that day, all at bargain prices.  Bless her.  A lovely memory just from a stamp and a reminder of my wonderful friend!

Inspired by some of my regular challenges:

Craft for the Craic - Glittery

Crafty Catz - Shades of Blue

One Layer Christmas - Silhouette
Papertake Weekly - Take your pick - Glitter
Penny Black & More - Christmas

Retro Rubber - Anything Goes (perfect challenge for me as ALL my stamps are older than a year lol!)

Thanks so much for dropping by,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Stella Saturday

I do love Stella from Bugaboo, she looks how I feel some days, her level of sarcasm is about equal to mine too, I think we'd be great friends in real life!

Now I'm not the most proficient colourer-inner but I try my best.  I thought I was doing ok until my in house critic said ' Mum, i'm not being mean, but you're really not very good at colouring hair'  

 Hopefully I have other redeeming qualities and my inability to colour hair won't hold me back too much in life....you gotta love 'em!

Inspired by the following fabulous challenges:

Aud Sentiments 145 - Anything Goes + Sentiment
Brown Sugar 173 - Anything Goes
Creative Corner - Happy Birthday

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Clean Ink-splattering

A brief visit to enter my card in to the appropriate challenges, I'm trying to keep up with them all but something might have to give this week!  I really rather like this one.  I was thinking about ink splattering for an interesting one layer background but couldn't work out how not to get it everywhere so I improvised.....I dabbed a purple ink pad on a cellophane bag and dabbed it on to the card with my hand inside the bag.  It sorta looks like ink splats, don't you think?  Then I stencilled over it with my aqua glitter paste and stamped my sentiment.  So simple but it appeals to me immensely

Inspired by the following challenges:

Craft for the Craic - Something Glittery

One layer Simplicity - Thank you or Gratitude

Shopping our Stash - Thanks

Thanks so much for popping by, I will be around to visit as soon as I possibly can.

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Twice as fresh as usual

*Waves* Hi folks, hope you're doing well.  It's a bit manic in my house at the mo, so it'll be short posts and minimal comments from me for a week or two.  I missed getting my entry in for last week's Freshly Made Sketch so here it is now:

I'd love to enter in to the following challenges:

Brown Sugar 173 - Anything Goes

Crafting with Friends 11 - Anything Goes

Creative Corner- Happy Birthday

Then I got straight on with this weeks:

Freshly Made Sketches - Sketch

Simply Papercrafts 18 - Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by today, have a great day!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Mojo Mojo!

Yep, it's a double Mojo Monday for me as I somehow managed to miss entering last week.  This is my entry for today and I used it to make an urgently needed sympathy card.  I don't enjoy making these at the best of times, even less so when they are for personal use.  Aside from the obvious sadness, I always feel like i'm 'showing off' completely inappropriately and I feel uneasy receiving compliments on them.  Is that just me?  

Thisone has been inspired by the following challenges:

Male Room - Sympathy

Mojo Monday - Sketch

************

Now I had made this with last weeks Mojo sketch but didn't get it posted in time.  I dug out the old Twinkling H2O's, remember when they were the absolute must haves of every crafter?  Well I got mine after that.  I'm not one to jump on a fashion fad lol!

This one was inspired by:

Brown Sugar - No patterned paper

Crafty Catz - Girls Only

Just us Girls - Watercolouring

Mojo Monday - Sketch 423

I really appeciate your visit, I hope to get some blog hopping done tonight or tomorrow to catch up.  Meantime, thanks so much for dropping by to see me.

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

There's nothing like a little rein-deer!

....must have been the maxim my OH was living by yesterday as he sent me out on a totally unnecessary errand in which I got drenched.  Guess who's in the doghouse lol?!

Anyway, I'm flying by with a super quick share using a Stampin' Up reindeer and sentiment, glitter and cardstock!  That's all.  I am busily playing catch up as the last few days have been a little unpredictable for me.  Hey ho, tis the way it goes and I am fit and well with a smile on my face so that's really all that counts.

Clean and uncluttered, I love this one. 

Inspired by the following fab challenges:

Brown Sugar - No patterned paper

Craft for the Craic - Glitter

One Layer Christmas - Reindeer

Papertake Weekly - Christmas Critters

Wishing you a clean and uncluttered day!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

CASS - Stars

Pfft, blogger does not like me today.  Two posts I've scheduled and neither published.  Maybe blogger isn't ready for so much Christmas chat?  I'm pretty well organised on the card side of things thanks to Christmas at Sweet Stampin' where the November theme is STARS, easy enough!

I've used a cute LOTV image & a mish mash of papers from who knows what company!

Now, this card was made using one of Jules' lovely sketches.  Jules has very kindly shared many sketches that she has created which are a great inspiration and starting point.  Here I've used sketch number 1.  Thanks so much Jules, mwah!

Inspired by the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge - W is for Wild (Polar Bear, although looks very friendly!)

Crafty Catz - Winter
Papertake Weekly - Christmas Critters
Sisterhood of Crafters - Beginning to look like Christmas

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Sketched Jugs of Allsorts

Just popping in with a quickie before bed otherwise I'll not make the challenges!  I've set myself a goal to enter several in order to help me build up stock for a Christmas Fayre.  I love these little chicks, they are from SJ's Little Musings although I can't find them any more on the site.  I couldn't decide on a sentiment, I think it needs something about 'having friends to lean on' but all suggestions welcome!

Inspired by the following fab challenges:

Allsorts - Ribbons and Bows

Just us Girls - Stripes

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Thank you so much for dropping by,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Freshly made sketch on Fire

Woohoo, another one layer card!  A one layer card for a man to boot, 2 difficult themes in one hit, go me!  Good job I accomplished something positive as this weekend has been stressful, one word for you......Teenagers!

Moving on, a lovely lighthouse from another company that's disappeared: Rainbow Studios and sentiment from a company that definitely hasn't: Hero Arts.  Other than that just ink.  Such a simple list.

Inspired by the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches - Sketch (Ladies, I fear this may be a bit too much to be classed as freshly made and clean so please feel free to delete me, ignore me or send me to the naughty step but thank you for inspiring me anyway).

Shopping our Stash - Light my fire TOP 3!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Sweet Stamped Autumn Leaves

Every now and again, I like to get a bit inky.  Not too often as it's not my strengths but sometimes it's good to get out the comfort zone! I pulled out the Autumn Splendour set from Stampin' Up, some Autumnal inks and some embossing powder.  All credit goes to the talented Susan for suggesting the use of vellum as I didn't want to cover up all that background.

Unfortunately I have to blame Susan for suggesting the vellum too....while searching for this I found vellum glaore!  Vellum with stars, stripes, leaves, words, swirls, snowflakes, hearts, sparkles and blue vellum.  So much vellum!  Please leave your vellum usage suggestions in the comment box lol!

This card is made for the Sweet Stampin' challenge where we want to see your Autumn leaves creations this week and we've a wonderful prize for one lucky winner from Crafty Ribbons.  I'd also like to enter in the following fab challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (entry #2)
Simply Papercraft 17 - Anything Goes

The Male Room - Hardware (brads, eyelets, charms etc.....)

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

A slightly earlier Mojo Monday

Unless it directly impacts your life, there are many things we don't think of.  One of the things I'd never thought about was what cards looked like to partially sighted recipients.  I've learned that high contrast colours work well in this instance whereas those beautiful subtle toning cards don't.  Lovely as they are.  So I make a point of always having some made, this being the latest.

I've used a Verve image and sentiment and I very cleverly (for me!) inked up my stamp with pens to get green stems and coloured flowers.  

Crafting with Attitude 9 - Anything Goes

Little Miss Muffet 124 - Anything Goes

Mojo Monday 422 - Sketch

Thank you so much for dropping in,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

A Christmas Sketch Saturday

Oh my goodness, what a totally miserable day it's been today.  Weather wise I mean, I personally am a little ray of sunshine!  Some days are just good, you know?  So while the mojo was working at full capacity I whipped up a card for this week's Sketch Saturday challenge.  It's a pick your own sketch which I am sure took longer than making the actual card!

Using up papers from an old Paper Cellar pack who (as far as I can see) no longer exist.  That gorgeous image is a Penny Black Stickeroo, love these for quick cards.  The backing is a fab brushed gold that I've had for ever but sadly it doesn't show in the photo.  I blame the weather.

Playing along with some great challenges:

Allsorts - Christmas
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (Option of Christmas Gift)

Penny Black and More - Christmas

Sketch Saturday - 

So pleased you dropped by, have a great day.

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Freshly Made Triple CAS

Well I'm still playing catch up with my challenges but hopefully I am now getting there.  I totally missed last weeks Freshly Made Sketch with being away so this first card is my take on that and another olc to add to my tally!

This is also being entered in to Just Us Girls who have a One Layer Challenge

My take on the current FMS is this CAS card for someone who's passed their driving test and I'd also like to enter this in the Shopping our Stash challenge who this week are asking us to go paperless!

I know there are people probably gasping in horror at the use of peel offs on my card but they are in my old stash, need using and frankly I had not one stamp that said anything remotely driving test related so there we have it.

Then because I saw these flowers that needed using in the box with the peel offs, I thought I'd flip the sketch and make a simple card with them (partly because I have no other idea what to do with them).  I actually like this, it looks a lot happier than all the sympathy cards I've been making lately!

Thanks so much for dropping by, your comments cheer my day.

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Mojo Stash Report

A ridiculously late entry for Mojo Monday this week and one of several sympathy cards I have been making.  Sadly they seem to be in great demand right now.

Using some very old Stampin' Up papers in Perfect Plum and a Verve sentiment.  I always feel simple is the way to go with sympathy cards.

Linking up with some fabulous challenges:

Brown Sugar - Flowers
Mojo Monday - Sketch

Now the Stash Report for October (lol, sounds like the weather!):

October has been another month where I haven't necessarily finished any old stash off but I have most definitely been using it.  I'm happy with my progress (even though I don't look like I'm getting anywhere) and my persistence!  So here's what I've noticed this month:

1. I have used very old stamps and even older papers!
2. I have used papers I don't like or find difficult to work with.
3. I've been trying to incorporate more ribbon on to my cards.
4. I've used up some of those dimensional toppers (£ shop buys!)
5. I've opened up a pack of stickers from the year dot and yes I made a card with them but no, I don't think I'll blog it!
6. A couple of the Lakeland crafty bits have been used up (I do know it's been a thousand years since lakeland did craft stuff, Susan kindly reminded me)
7. I'm working through the very old Making Cards magazine papers, stilll have ones from 2009!
8. I've had dies out that I've barely used despite having them for 7/8 years

One layer cards so far this year - 20

Thank you so much for dropping in, always appreciated,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Sketch Saturday with Sympathy

Phew, I've had a few days away this week and am way behind on my regular challenges.  So here's a quick and very late entry for Sketch Saturday.  Running very short on sympathy cards in my stash so this is one of a few I'm currently in the process of making.

Brown Sugar - Flowers

Shopping our Stash - Go Paperless

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

That's me done, thanks so much for dropping by.  I hope to be visiting later to see what I've missed on your lovely blogs

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

I'm late, I'm late....for Mojo Monday

It's fair to say I don't like tags.  I never know what to do with them and they just look like a card with a tag on, know what I mean?  So I nearly backed out of this weeks Mojo challenge when I saw the sketch!  I am very glad I didn't now as I'm really pleased with this effort.  

It used up some very old stash in the shape of that tag, ribbon and butterfly!  In fact I also used the sketch to make a get well card so that's two tags down, 22 to go!

I was stunned to discover I didn't have any pale orange card.  I had every other possible colour under the sun! I resorted to colouring white with promarkers and job done.  

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Ribbon

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Little Miss Muffet - Tags

Mojo Monday - Sketch

I really appreciate you popping by, have a great day,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Purple and Silver

I've really fallen down on my ambition of mastering one layer cards this year.  I've also slacked on the Christmas cards until quite recently.  So no prizes for guessing what's coming up!

Yep, a one layer Christmas card.  Masked, embossed, inked, splashed and stamped.  I wonder if I should have done my sentiment in silver too?

I love it.  Although my TH inks did not love that card.  That card did not do blending.  But I still love it.

I created this with the following challenges in mind:

Crafty Catz entry #3 - Anything Goes
One-Layer Christmas 20 - Anything Goes with twist of Stocking (I actually made this with the previous challenge in mind but clearly was a bit behind.  So I'm not using the twist this time)

One-Layer Simplicity - Weather
Sparkle n Sprinkle - Loose glitter/Embossing or Flocking.  I have embossed my snowflakes.

Thank you for dropping by and leaving lovely comments.

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Sketch Saturday on Manic Monday

Running in quickly to share this weeks Sketch Saturday card, it's a bit of a manic Monday here lol!  Good job I got this done on a quiet Saturday.  I've shopped, washed, vacuumed, tidied and more.  All boring stuff but maybe that means I will have more time the rest of the week to craft......Stop laughing!

I had to laugh at myself, I noticed that Stampin' Up had helpfully added the year of production to this paper....2006! You see why I need to use my stash?

I'll enter my card (complete with antique paper!) in to these fab challenges:

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Entry #2)

Sketch Saturday - Sketch
The Sugar Bowl - Anything Sugar Nellie Goes

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Freshly Made Thanks

I stumbled across Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Fresh clean lines and a great sketch....sounds like a perfect challenge for me!  I've always had trouble defining my 'style', I like to dabble in anything that takes my fancy.  But most of it ends up in a clean, neat, orderly arrangement.  I can't throw cards together randomly & make them look wonderful.  They just look like thrown together cards!  

This card came together so quickly and used up some scraps, can't ask for more really.

Playing along with:

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Fab n Funky - Make it Square

Freshly Made Sketches - Sketch

Hope you're having a lovely weekend.  I've been helping a friend celebrate her birthday, laughter all round!  Thanks for dropping by today,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

CASS - Christmas Travel/Transport

Morning!  Christmas is drawing ever closer.  I know there are people who are counting down in weeks and days!  I am not one of those.  I am however fairly well in to my gift shopping.  Not because I am a fanatic, because I just think ahead.  On my Summer holidays I purchased no fewer than 3 Christmas gifts.  I love that it spreads the cost too.

Now although this is my Christmas at Sweet Stampin' DT card I decided to keep the Mojo Monday sketch until today and I had seen a challenge by Jingle Belles where they donate $2 to the BCRF for each card entered in the linky.  Pretty cool & a great way to help by doing something we love.  So unless you're Susan, get your pink out and go enter a card, you still have a week

The bonus is, it also used up some very old paper & a Christmas tree that came from Lakeland (yes, it is THAT old!), only 49 more to use ;-)

Love to play along with:

A snowflakes promise - Anything Goes

Craft for the Craic - Inspired by Song (Driving home for Christmas by Chris Rea)

Jingle Belles - Pink for breast cancer awareness

Mojo Monday - Sketch
Unicorn - Think Pink

Thanks so much for dropping by, see you over at CASS with your Christmas Travel/Transport cards and don't forget the pink ones too!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Two for the price of one!

Yep, I'm giving you a really good deal today lol!  First up we have my DT card for Sweet Stampin' where we want you to use script or text, there are fabulous cards from the team so please do hop over to have a look and play along with us.  This card uses a beautiful roses stamp from Stamplorations which my lovely sweet teamie Maarit sent me on my birthday, isn't she the best :-) thank you hon.

I'd also like to play along with:

Allsorts - No designer paper

Craft for the Craic - Inspired by Music (It's been a good year for the roses by George Jones)

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Next up is my entry for Sketch Saturday using a blueprint TH stamp I was also given as a birthday gift, lucky me!  It's my first and don't they stamp beautifully? Wow.

Also playing along with:

Brown Sugar - Use a number

Shopping our Stash - Birthday (S.U. papers from stash, at least 4 years old) 

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Ok, that's me all done.  Am off to see what else I can create.  Have a lovely day and thank you so much for popping by/

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Mojo Monday/Tuesday

Mojo Monday on a Tuesday.  Had such a busy day yesterday I've only just finished the card this morning!  Still it was all busy in a good way and nice things so no complaints from me. 

I knew I needed more sympathy cards so that's where I went with the Mojo sketch.  Always a difficult one but hopefully I've carried it off.

Linking up to a challenge or two:

Fashionable Stamping - Words (entry #2)

Just us Girls - Sympathy

Mojo Monday - Sketch
Robyn's Fetish - Leaves

Thanks for dropping by, I hope you have a lovely day.

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Sketch Saturday and Aug/Sept stash report

Not much got made in August as I spent much of it on holidays!  Very decadent I know but I was celebrating!

So I don't really have a used up list as I honestly don't think I've finished up one package of anything.  But I have been making a conscious effort to use up old stash, such as:

1. Ribbons I've been collecting for years
2. Papers from really old (5+years here folks!) issues of Making cards.
3. More paper from the Faded China pad that I find difficult to use
4. Random stuff like buckles.

Owing to the fact that I have no idea where I tidied away my one layer card stock to, I haven't made any more one layer cards! Seriously, how can a stack of A4 card just vanish?  

Still not making much impact in my stash but I am persevering with using what I have.  Even on this card...I've had the pony stamp for ages and it doesn't see the light of day often enough and don't even mention how old the paper is!! 

This is actually my third attempt at this sketch, I just couldn't get something I was happy with from such a simple sketch.  However, my mistakes turned in to other things so all is good.

Alphabet Challenge - Q for Quick and Simple

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Still feeling BOLD!

Well it looks like I'm still feeling loud this morning!  Efficient too as I've cracked straight on with today's Mojo Monday sketch.  As soon as I saw it I knew exactly the papers to use.  They're from K&Co called Faded China.  I love these papers but do struggle using them. and this for me waas the perfect sketch to show them off.  I love a good start to the week :-)

So I'll join in with a few challenges:

AAACards - Word Play



Amusing Challenges - Anything Goes
Come and Get It - Clear it Out/Use Stash (Paper, had it for about 7years!)

Fashionable Stamping - Words

Mojo Monday - Sketch
Robyn's Fetish - Square or Rectangle

Who got up to see the lunar eclipse/blood moon this morning then? I did, despite OH thinking I am nuts lol!  I only meant to get up at 2, have a look and return to bed.  Was so enjoying it, I stayed up until 4!  It was pretty amazing and although I'm tired today, I'm very glad I did.

Thanks for dropping by, always a pleasure to read your comments,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

SS - A non white base...and a cow

You know some days you just feel pale and delicate?  Then some days you just feel in your face, here I am, loud?  I was feeling loud this morning!

I created it for this week's Sweet Stampin' challenge where we've come up with a corker for you...using a non white base.  Because let's face it, white is far too easy to reach for.  Now I'm doubly proud because this uses up my last remaining card base in this particular colour.  No, I've no idea why I bought card bases in this shade either!

I pulled out this fab Penny Black cow who looks like she knows how to have a good time to go with my in your face colour combo, teamed those with the sketch from Sketch Saturday et voila!

So I'm playing along with:

Crafting with Friends 7 - Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes
Di's Digi Designs - Animals acting Human!
Penny Black & More - Anything Goes
Simply Papercrafts 14 - Anything Goe

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Now, if you're really up for a challenge, we'll see you over at Sweet Stampin'.

Happy Weekend folks,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Major Mojo Monday!

An unusual occurence today....a post from me that isn't a DT post.  It's a completely random, just because, no particular reason post!

Also a not so unusual occurence today.....it's raining.  Clearly brightening up the day was in my mind when I picked the colours.

I was inspired by the Mojo Monday sketch so I'm entering over there with thanks for kicking my butt after a totally uninspired weekend!

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + Sentiment

Crafty Catz - Special Occasion

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

SS - Make a Scene

Hey there!  I'm back after my Summer celebrations, I turned 21....again and spent it in varying parts of the U.K. catching up with lots of wonderful people.  But now I'm firmly back to reality and making a vain attempt to catch up with everything that's been neglected (apart from the ironing!), starting with this week's Sweet Stampin' challenge to Make a Scene.

This is a very inky fingers card to make but so much fun.  Although it can be hard to judge when enough is enough ink, I hope I have got it about right.  I like it, which is good enough for me.

There are numerous Stampin' Up inks used here (too many to mention) a couple of tree stamps & some post it notes.

I'm going to enter in to the following challenges & then see if I can carry on catching up:

Crafting with friends - Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers 92 - Anything Goes

Creative Moments - Anything Goes (optional use a sentiment, which I haven't)

Simply Papercrafts - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for dropping by my little blog, it's lovely to hear from you

The Genius (Occasionally!) xxx

Bottoms Up!

You know how they say 'there's always one..........'

Well it's usually me lol! This week is no exception as with a theme of bottoms Up at Sweet Stampin' I decided to buck the trend of tea, coffee, wine & martinis (I did add a beer!) and go for a different sort of bottom ;-)

Not much more to say really.....

Crafty Catz - New Beginnings (building a house)

Sister Act - Anything Goes

See you over at the challenge where most cards will probably be a bit less cheeky than mine ;-)

Short and sweet as I'm off on my jollies, fingers crossed for decent weather.....

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Bon Voyage at Sweet Stampin' and a stash report!

OOh, the first of August &we've got sunshine so far this morning!  Could this be the start of better things to come for August?!  Let's hope so.  

We've a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' with a great theme of Bon Voyage and a fabulous prize from Crafty Ribbons.  Clearly I went very CAS with this one.  Some stamping & a little gentle colouring....job done!

Sentiment by Verve

Yacht by Stampin' Up

This card also counts in my 2015 goals/resolutions to make more one layer cards...yay!  That's a grand total of 15 so far and I definitely don't feel I've mastered them but I am trying!

Joining in some wonderful challenges:

Crafts 4 Eternity 237 - Anything Goes

Fab n Funky - No DP

Sister Act 117 - Anything Goes

We love to see you joining in so dig out those travel themed stamps & get creating!

Now for those of you that are interested, a used up stash update:

I can't believe I haven't done an update since February!  Which means I have forgotten many things I have used up.  Those things that live in my memory are:

1. A pack of Remember When decoupage.  
2. A card that is printed as a camera.  Purchased in Lakeland many, many years ago & unopened until recently, now just 3 more to use up!
3. 2 different pieces of decoupage that I was given, not quite my taste so even more impressive to have used it
4. I've also used up quite a few alphabet stickers, if anyone has any suggestions what to do with excess X's & Z's please do share...
5. A whole 12 x 12 sheet of a hideous colour card!
6. Quite a few rub on transfers
7. Several pre cut cricut pieces
8. I've finally broken in to a 12 x 12 paper pad whose colours I adore but find incredibly difficult to use.
9. A pack of 3D Cricket toppers & 3D car toppers
10. Shapes from those mahoosive Papermania boxes (1500 shapes per box!)
11. Even some peel off stickers!

It's making absolutely no difference space wise in my house yet but I am nothing if not persistent lol!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

No Designer Paper?!

I'm popping in with a card for this weeks Sweet Stampin' challenge, made for hubby's birthday.  This week we are challenging you to make a card without using designer paper.  I decided to go the route of sponging, masking & blending using inks from SU & TH, trees from Stampin' Up's Lovely as a Tree and birds from Verve. 

We're sponsored by the very lovely Emma at Flat Friends so why don't you come & show us your no dp creations.

Joining in with the following fabulous challenges:

Amusing Challenges - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + Sentiment

Fashionable Stamping - All about the Men

Papertake Weekly - Not Square

Simply Papercrafts - Anything Goes

Sister Act - Anything Goes

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Sweet Stampin' B/W with a POP!

As I am three days late for the Sweet Stampin' challenge this week, lets look on this as a mid week reminder (tee hee!).

This week we want to see your black & white cards but with just a 'pop' of one other colour.  For me it was the perfect combination to make this card:

Of course it also gave me the opportunity to test out those new dies that landed on my doormat recently....how that happened is anyone's guess?! Oh, and the spotty stamp to co-ordinate with the dies just *might* have landed on the mat too...oops!

I'd love to join in with the following fabulous challenges:

Craft for the Craic - Big Occasion

Crafty Catz - CAS

Sister Act - Anything Goes

Simply Papercrafts - Anything Goes

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Sweet Stampin' Birds and/or Bees

Here we are on another sunny (ha!) bank holiday Monday, There is baking going on in my house today, starting off with a quiche & following it up with a Battenburg cake, yum!

Now I must have made this card on a sunny day Spring day, look how bright & cheery he is for the Sweet Stampin' challenge of Birds and/or Bees this week.

It's a gorgeously adorable hedgie from Penny Black (that was one of my very first & most loved stamps), teamed with papers from American Crafts Neapolitan pad & topped off with a Verve sentiment.  How is it, no matter how many birthday sentiment stamp sets I own that there's never quite the right shape or size?!

I'd love to join in with the following challenges:

Allsorts - Happy Birthday
Aud Sentiments 132 - Cute + Sentiment

Amusing - Birds & Bees - TOP 3

Come and Get it - Tic Tac Toe (Designer Paper, Sentiment & 2 +Layers)

Craft for the Craic - Wings

Crafty Catz - Kids

Fashionable Stamping - Old Favourites (Old/Forgotten Stamp) SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT
Penny Black at Allsorts - Dies /Punches
Penny Black Saturday - Trees/Nature

Sister Act - Anything Goes

Enjoy your day folks, I might even find time to visit a few blogs while The Deputy bakes!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Sweet Stampin' CAS

Hi folks, i'm back again, don't fall off your chairs!  I love a bit of CAS so knowing that was the theme for team Jacky at Sweet Stampin' this week got me joining in.  That and my stock of cards needs serious rebuilding.

In the spirit of this years personal quest to use up my stash, I dug out this Papermania set of stamps. It must have been in my collection for 5+ years & never even been opened, shocking I know!  There's a rectangular frame too & I couldn't get a nice impression from it for love nor money.  Going to try filing it and if it doesn't improve it's being binned. This one however...perfect first time.

I'm playing along in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps - CAS

Simply Papercrafts - Anything Goes/CAS

Sister Act - Anything Goes

Hope to see you playing along & have a great day.

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

CASS - Cute Christmas

Just dropping by to let you know we have a new challenge at Christmas at Sweet Stampin'.  Now's as good a time as any to start getting organised with those Christmas cards so dig out your CUTE images & join us.  I used an LOTV image paired with some Tim Holtz papers.  If i'm not careful, it will be Christmas before I blog again lol!

I was inspired by the great sketch at Aud Sentiments & a few other challenges:

Aud Sentiments - Sketch TOP 3 WIN!
Brown Sugar - Layers
Ooh la la Creations - Use a pre coloured image
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Winter Wonderland - Oh Christmas Tree

Thanks for popping by,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Inky Layers

Despite having a crazy busy first half of Feb & a bleurgh second half I've done pretty well with using up some lingering old stash.  So what went?

1. A set of very dimensional baby girl buttons - Had these forever, got them in a sale & I still have the boy version to use up....
2. Last image on a sheet of Penny Black Stickeroos.
3. The last on a sheet of Fabric stickers (yeah!) Think I only bought these because they were a bargain lol!
4. Last image on a sheet of Dufex stickers....

This month hasn't been so hot on one layer cards though, I managed 3.  Two of which I have to confess are the same design but in different colourways.  

Now as well as my rambles which of course you love....I dropped in to let you know about the new challenge at Sweet Stampin'.  We want to see your all or nothing cards, so one layer or lots of layers.  Unusually for me, I went with the lots of layers option:

This resulted from a very inky session I had making backgrounds & actually has 9 layers!

Some of my favourite challenges:

Brown Sugar #135 - Anythng Goes

Craft for the Craic - Birthday or Anniversary

Crafty Catz #268 - Use Dies/Punches

Papertake Weekly - Take Your Pick....Cool Colours

Sister Act #95 - Anything Goes

Have a great weekend.

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Total one layer cards to date: 9