Forget about the dirty looks

Good Morning & welcome!  Sweet Stampin' has another fab challenge for you this week, a very timely one if you're needing to make a Father's Day card or have an upcoming male birthday as it's CARDS FOR MEN.

Recently I spent a chunk of time sorting out my SU stamps.  Gone are the random words or images that I know I will never use & what remains has been re-organised to make more sense to me.  Which is really how it should be but for some reason I persisted in keeping them in their sets.  Those are SU papers too & I broke out the DI's for a spot of watercolouring.  I even did that thing of mopping up my excess ink.  Because I absolutely definitely need more backgrounds to use up, lol!

I needed some layout inspiration so I nipped along to the talented Jules' blogs & borrowed sketch number 54.  Thank you Jules.

Playing along with:

Thanks for dropping by.  If you're breaking out the MAN stash this week, come & join in the fun.  Have a great week!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

(I'm Not Okay - MCR)

Greatest day of my life

I do love a sketch for inspiration, sometimes your my brain just doesn't know where to start!  So in the interests of efficiency (it does happen occasionally!) I combined this week's card for Sweet Stampin'. where we want to see embossing, with the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping and ended up with this:

I heat embossed that wee cake from Stampin' Up & i'm really happy with the result so i'm entering in to a few challenges:

Clean and Simple Stamping - Sketch

Stamping Sensations - One for the Girls

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Then because I was feeling so efficient & I need to make a ton of cards, I went and made a dry embossed card too, the image on this one is a digi from SK Digis (no longer trading)

I'd like to join in a few challenges with this one too:

4 Crafty Chicks - Flowers

Craft Rocket - Flowers

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (not used the optional Spring theme)

Fussy & Fancy - Add a Sentiment

I love the colours on this one but let me tell you, they look nothing irl like they do on screen, if anyone ever works out how to get a good representation on teals & aquas on a computer I want to know!

Thanks so much for popping by, if you're embossing anything this week why not drop by Sweet Stampin' and share with us :-)

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Love is a Battlefield

You'll be pleased to hear the urge to do housework has passed!  I am back to normal again ;-)

I got completely abandoned by mojo recently & asked Susan to give me a random word that I had to get inspirations from.  The second one she threw at me was...unicorn which I interpreted very literally!  Very proud here as I used up some very old paper, the backing is Brilliant Blue from Stampin' Up & the paper pieced body is a velvet paper.  Ideal for a little one as they can actually stroke the unicorn 'fur'.

So if you fancy a bit of paper piecing this week, come & join us at Sweet Stampin'.

Thought I'd join in with a few challenges too:

Come and Get it - It's a Girl Thing
Crafting when we can - One for the girls

Cupcake Inspirations -



Thanks so much for dropping by,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Just wanna dance the night away...

Over at Sweet Stampin' this week we have a 'Mellow Yellow' challenge.  Truthfully, your yellow doesn't have to be mellow.  It can be a bright as you like !

Every time I see yellow cards, I promise myself I'll use more yellow....it's lovely & cheery but I still forget!  I think I might go make another one while it's on my mind!

I used a lovely image from Stampin' Up's Simply Soft set and some spotty paper also from S.U. 

Participating in some lovely challenges:

Come and Get It - In the Garden

Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes

Penny Black & More - Spring

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

He was long gone when he met me

With a female card, if in doubt you can pop some flowers on & it works.  The nearest I can get to that for a man, are trees.  They may not drink beer, play golf, watch football or indeed have any hobbies at all but they can't take offence at a tree!

My distressed, inky, splodgy tree is for this week's challenge over at Sweet Stampin' where we're looking for masculine creations.  A fairly quick make but sometimes, that's all you can fit in!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Waking your heart & shaking your walls

Woohoo, getting in early for my July post lol!  Actually hoping i'll make it more than one this month.  Why does it take me such a long time to get back to blogging after the April/May festival?  Also, since when did July get here so darn fast?

Since July is a good holiday month, we want to see creations with a Summer or Holiday Destination theme over at Sweet Stampin' this week.  Here's what I made, not based on my hols at all:

Now, I LOVE this card & especially these papers which come from our sponsor this week, Michele R Designs.  I've never really used digital papers before and now i'm wondering why?  They were such a doddle to use and I love that I can layer before printing to help keep it in the lower postage bracket. 

Joining in with a few challenge:

Crazy 4 Challenges - Lighthouse/Ocean

Just Us Girls - Summer

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

That's Crafty - Masculine

It was really lovely to read your comments about libraries & being a librarian, it's great to know there are plenty of other book passionistas!  I'll think of you all while I'm on duty this week.

Right now, I'm reading 'Ship of Brides' by Jojo Moyes.  I only heard of Jojo Moyes when the lovely Lisa talked about the book 'Me Before You'.  I remember her being very passionate about it & thought that I would get a hold of it.  Eventually I read it & enjoyed it, which led to me reading 'The One Plus One' (also enjoyed) & now I am working my way through the rest of her books along with a heap of others.  I currently have 16 books waiting in my 'to read' pile, I don't like to run out!

I notice there is now a sequel to Me Before You called After You.  I'm not sure I want to read it.  I can't imagine where you can go from where it finished without being terribly cliched.

Have a lovely day folks, thanks for reading my waffle!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

February to May

Well I totally missed March & April but I'm sneaking in before May is over!  As regular visitors will know, March & April are my super busy months, I make cards at a fast rate of knots but have no time to blog them.  

I'm dipping my toe back in the water with this week's Sweet Stampin' challenge.  It's a subject that is almost as challenging as the objects themselves, Terrible Teens!  Something I am quite familiar with.

The image came from Dr Digi after a lucky challenge win and I thought he'd be great for teen boys (and older ones too lol!).The games console is a very old Sizzlets die & the Master at Work/Play cam from a set of golf stamps, gotta love versatility.

A few challenges to play along with too:

Allsorts - Happy Birthday

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

So if you've a tricky teen to create for, head across to Sweet Stampin' and play along.  Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Sit back & Chill out

I've christened it 'Man Week' in my house, I have made nothing but male cards since Monday, am up to 11 so far.  I'm quite impressed.  It was all sparked by a couple of comments about the general lack of men cards everywhere and I thought I'd challenge myself, you know how I love a bit of pressure lol!  Speaking of which, my 150 cards in 113 days is still going well and I am absolutely on target to make it, woohoo!

This fab digi image is from Karen's Doodles (find him here) and seems perfect for those hobby-less men.  Some DSP & CS from Stampin' Up and a few Promarkers completed the card 

I was also hugely inspired by:

Creative Moments - Anything Goes (optional embossing)

Fab n Funky - Male card

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Thanks so much for dropping by, I hope to be out visiting you all today and tomorrow after the chaos of birthdays and then getting hit by a hormonal mood, love 'em!  Who'd be a woman?!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Eleanor's first outing

The title refers to the Stampin' Up set I've used on this card....Everything Eleanor.  It's conceivable that I could have had this set for 3 years and not inked it until now.  But it's here now to let you know about this week's Sweet Stampin' challenge which is CAS, one of my favourites.  

I was inspired to make this card by the following challenges:

Craft for the Craic - Something to make you SMILE

One Layer Simplicity - Friends

We are sponsored this week by the lovely Nikki from Bunny Zoe, sadly Nikki has announced she is closing the shop but that does mean there are bargains to be had with at least 30% off in the store, click the banner below to go see if there's something you can re-home!

Now, I know it's been a while since I blogged but it's a very busy time for Birthdays in my house, still one more to go which finds me cooking a full roast dinner followed by choccolate brownie this weekend.  Plus I have some pictures to share with you (once I have them organised) after a certain small cherub decided with a weeks notice she wanted a Harry Potter Party.  Kids!

Thanks for popping by,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Be mine, Valentine?

Yep, Valentines is our new challenge over at Sweet Stampin'. Not a favourite theme of mine as I'm not a terribly romantic person!  I'm very practical and if OH sent me flowers for Valentines, I'd likely just think what a waste of money they were!  I might also be thinking that the money he's spent could have bought me that MFT smart phone die that I'm tempted by but (wo)manfully resisting!  Or on a VERY practical day, I could be thinking that it's 25% of a new Fridge freezer!  See, not romantic at all.

Anyhow, eventually I came up with this card using a cute kangaroo from SU and some gorgeous papers from Authentique.  I won't be sending it though!

Inspired by the following challenges:

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Crafty Girls Creations 13 - Anything Goes

Mojo Monday - Sketch

Thanks for dropping by, I plan on some blog hopping time later to check what you've been up to!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Game Time

I almost started crafting last night at 1am, it was another poor sleeping night.  Strangely though I don't feel tired today.  Maybe it will catch up with me later but for now, I am a whirlwind!  So here's another card for my tally, I am a wee bit behind schedule.  I recently sorted out all of my clear stamps and found a *few* lotv stamps that have never been inked.  I teamed this one with some SU paper and this lovely sketch and hey presto!

Inspired by these lovely challenges:

I love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - They say it's your Birthday
Simon says Stamp - Anything Goes
Sketch Saturday - Sketch

The Male Room - Babies or Little Ones

Thanks so much for sropping by,

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Birthday Blues

Another night of not sleeping enough last night, is this my new normal?  I have never ever had a problem with sleep before so it's strange for me but I suppose I will get used to it.  The big black panda eyes are another thing altogether though!

Here's one for the male card stash, ideal for those men who have no particular hobbies or interests.  I love the clean lines of this card.

I was inspired by the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - Word Art

Just us Girls - White, light blue & dark blue

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Thanks for dropping by, have a lovely day

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Roaring in at the last minute

I feel distinctly dozey this morning, had one of those nights where I just couldn't sleep.  I read a whole book while attempting to drift off!

Here's a card I put together for a couple of challenges, one of those tricky male cards.  I always need more of those but I still can't work out what you put on a man card if they have no hobbies, don't drink and don't like cars or bikes.  If only there was a male equivalent to flowers....

Inspired by the following challenges:

Brown Sugar 181 - Movie Madness

Freshly Made Sketches - Sketch

The Male Room - Anything Goes

My movie inspiration comes from watching Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone after hearing about the death of Alan Rickman, so very sad.  This bike reminds me of the one on which Hagrid turns up at the Dursleys with baby Harry.

Thanks for popping in, todays cake offering is fairy cakes with peanut butter icing, hurry or I'll have polished them off!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

New Stash Alert.....

Hello again!  Yes, I did say a NEW stash alert and NO, I'm not breaking my resolutions already.  It was a Christmas gift so I haven't spent anything! Everything else is old I promise.  This pretty stamp was found in the Sir Stampalot sale.  I love this company, super friendly and their parcels always arrive well packed and swiftly too.

See that panel with the orange crackle on it?  I HAD to have that stamp (Stampin' Up) after seeing it used as tree bark on a card.  I may have had it 3 or so years, do you think I've ever used it as tree bark?  No bonus points for the correct answer lol!

Inspired by the following fab challenges:

Allsorts - What's New
Brown Sugar 180 - Anything Goes
Craft for the Craic - january Blues (I'm chasing them away with this bright flowers)
Crafty Catz - Flowers

Mojo Monday - Sketch

Appreciate you dropping by, I'll make cakes for next time.  Chocolate ok for everyone?!

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

Happy New Year!

Yes, the chaos has finally receded enough, children have been packed off back to school (even if I did get the wrong day!) and I am back in the world of crafting.  I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year, we certainly did.  Lots of games and giggles

Of course, I have been reflecting on my crafty resolutions for 2016.  Really I want to continue in the same vein as last year.  So I'm going with:

1. Use up more of my existing stash.
2. Only buy essential items (adhesives, cards, envelopes etc).
3. Improve my one layer cards.
4. Experiment with shaped cards.
5. Send Birthday cards!!  (Cobblers children syndrome!).
6. Leave comments as often as I can.
7. Create more Christmas cards throughout the year.

So my first blogged card of 2016:

It uses some retired S.U. paper & my very oldest S.U. stamps.

I was inspired by the following challenges:

Penny Black & More - One for the Girls

Shopping our Stash - Monochrome (Pink for Leslie)

Sketch Saturday - Sketch
Southern Girls - One for the Girls

Thank you so much for dropping by, I will be around to visit soon

The Genius (Occasionally!) xx

P.S. I hate gloomy weather.  It took 4938 attempts to get an acceptable photo of this card!

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

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

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

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

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