Is it a Birthday or a Christmas card?

Evening Everyone
I hope you have had a good day.
Why is it that I always start off with the intention of dropping in on my wonderful blogging buddies, and then I get carried away with my card making, and here we are with another late post and no commenting done!!
I would say that I will try and do better but I just know that I will fall at the first hurdle, the half finished card on my desk will draw me in and I will be lost to my craft room once again lol.

I'm not sure whether my card tonight should be classed as a card for a Winter Birthday, or a Christmas Card.
Perhaps with a well placed sentiment it could be used for either.
I found the central panel in my bits box when I was searching for inspiration for our current challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers. This is to choose 3 from a list of 6 techniques to use on your project.
As one of them is masking you see why this panel was among the possibilities for my card.

The image has been stamped and embossed onto a piece of background paper made using the Faux Mother of Pearl technique.
I added a masked moon to the background before I applied my dye based ink.

All the other papers are from my stash, and I used the sketch at CLP Challenges for my layout.

I think the pine branch at the bottom of the card is what gives it it's Christmassy feel.

I must confess to a bit of a double take when I opened the door this morning, but fortunately our 'Snow' is distinctly pink and floral (Cherry Blossom) unlike the poor souls in Devon and Cornwall who woke to the real thing according to the papers.
Better stop now. I will get around to all of your wonderful blogs, but as I still have to finish my class prep for Saturday, I doubt it will be tomorrow. You see I'm a lost cause already :O)
Night night.
Hugs Kimx

Shabby Chic for a Baby Girl

Evening Everyone
I hope that you have had a good day and that you are not too cold.
We don't appear to have any of the thick snow here that the weather men have been predicting.... as yet, I will just wait and see when I peep through the curtains tomorrow morning before I go to work. I suspect that I will be in need of my very unflattering thermal underwear lol.
Now as you know I just love the challenges over at Our Creative Corner, and so no week would be complete without making a card for it.
This week they are looking for Shabby Chic Style, in their words  'Shabby Chic' style is generally characterized by a time-worn look achieved by inking and distressing.  There are layers of softness that can be achieved by the use of ribbon, lace, and crochet trim.  You will need to include feminine embellishments, such as buttons, pearls, glitter, and any other sweet embellishment. 

I have had several Baby Congratulations cards to make this week so it seemed the perfect fit.
I have used a Lili of the Valley pre-coloured image cut out using Labels 22. I added some Antique Linen Distress Ink to the edges of the image while it was still inside the nestie along with a faux stitched border.

The background panel that it is mounted onto is a piece of brown cardstock which has been embossed using a folder designed by Crafts Too.
I distressed it a little and added plenty of Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.

I used the lovely sketch over at CLP Challenges for my layout.

I also used some gingham, as requested in the challenge at Sweet Stampin.
The other background paper is by Magnolia with my favourite swirl stamped over it using the Brushed Corduroy ink.
Of course no 'Shabby Chic' card would be complete without a few pearls, a ribbon bow and punched border.
Off to bed now, see you tomorrow, lets hope without any of the white stuff :O)
hugs Kimx

Happy Birthday Saskia and Ciaran Part 1

Good Morning
Today is Saskia and Ciaran's birthday.
I can't believe that it is 4 years since they were born. I hope that the weather now doesn't mirror that week. We were flooded here in Whyteleafe. I had to walk to the school to collect their brother and sister knee deep in water.
It is even harder to believe that they will be starting school in September, they still seem too little.
As soon as I saw this stamp at the Lili of the Valley stand in Sandown last year I knew that I had to have it. He is called 'Back to School Boy' and is just perfect for Ciaran's card.

This wouldn't have been my usual choice of colours but as his new school uniform will be yellow and grey it just had to be done. I'm really pleased with how it has turned out.
I used the sketch over at CLP Challenge .

The image has been coloured using distress inks. The Happy Birthday greeting and the leaf punch are from Sir Stampalot as are some of the papers.

I bought the dinosaur punch at Sir Stampalot ages ago. When I showed the card to Ciaran's Mum she said that he has been talking about Dinosaurs all week, how spooky is that lol.
The house is very quiet at the moment as they are all out. I'm sure that all that will change when they get back and open all their presents and the visitors arrive. I think I'll make the most of the calm.
Stop by later for Part 2 Saskia's card.
Happy Crafting
Kimx