Welcome Back Sunshine!

Hello

It is wonderful to see some sunshine today, after almost 4 days of continuous rain.  My back garden is totally waterlogged and the cats try hard not to walk on it by taking great leaping bounds to the next dry spot.  I've got some photos at the end of the post to show how they are enjoying the sunshine.

Before getting on to today's card, I would like to thank the lovely people who left a comment on my Blog Hop post.  Your support is really appreciated.  Also, thank you to all the visitors from Paper Punch Addiction  and to Kim for selecting my post to feature on 29 September. 

Recently, I decided to try out colouring with Copics and now I'm hooked.  I have avoided doing this  for ages, specifically because of the cost of getting involved in another craftt  product (so much for good intentions!).  I am very much at the beginning of the learning process and look forward to  improving with practice.  Today's card uses the first image I have coloured with Copics.  This is 'Marci' Ballerina and reminds me of the 'fairy' outfit I bought for my husband's niece a couple of years ago, that she loved.  It is her 5th birthday shortly (where have the years gone?) so I hope she will like it.  

I created a stage for 'Marci' with the Top Note die and added lots of dimension and texture. The top scalloped 'curtain' was cut with the Tasteful Trim die and then put through the crimper and the stage 'skirt' has been pleated. The floorboards are textured cardstock coloured with Copics and a Chocolate Chip ink pad swiped over the top. I've finished it with clear rhinestones to add some bling. This was a fun card to make.

Project Details
Stamps	'Marci' Ballerina
Card stock & Papers	Very Vanilla (Textured), Melon Mambo, Melon Mambo & Marina Mist Patterns Stack
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black, Chocolate Chip
Accessories	Pink Rhinstone brade, 1/8" Marina Mist taffeta ribbon, Basic Rhinestones
Tools	Top Note Die, Tasteful Trim Die, Timeless Type die, Big Shot, Circle punches, Dimensionals, Crimper, Copics

I also have a  'mini-card' to show you, using the 'Two Tags' die.  I have used the tag hole to add the flower embellishment, which makes it more of a 'mini-card' than a tag. Some friends came over to stamp last weekend, so I took the opportunity to stamp out a few images from the 'Easy Events' stamp set.  These small images are quick and easy to colour and perfect for mini-cards.

  
The next photo shows you the inside of the card.  There is still plenty of space to write (unless you have large handwriting!).  I love that it fits into the new mini square envelopes, which are lovely and smooth for stamping as well.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Easy Events
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Melon Mambo & Pear Pizzazz Patterns Stack
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories	Mini silver brad
Tools	Two Tags Die, Big Shot, Boho Blossoms punch, Itty Bitty Flower punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Copics

Finally, here are a couple of photos of Artie & Crafty enoying the sunshine today. Artie decided that the washing basket on the deck was the place to be.  It is pretty impressive that he managed to get himself tucked into the base of the basket, because he is a very large cat.

 
The next one is of Crafty, who decided that my rose pot was the place to be.  I'm not sure this rose is going to have a long life. What goes on in their heads?

 

Well, this has been a bit of a long post, so if you made it to this point, thanks for your patience!

Happy crafting!