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Saturday, 4 August 2012

CHNC challenge 84: favourite colour(s)

We're into August now and getting nearer to the time when some people start thinking about making Christmas cards. Of course, some of us have been making them all year, which is why I started my CHNC blog at the beginning of last year so that I wouldn't be panicking towards the end of the year.

So it's time for CHNC challenge 84 which is to use your favourite colour(s) - couldn't be simpler!

I love using purple in cardmaking, particularly for Christmas cards. I've kept my card simple and have used card and other bits from the 'classic' section of the Hunkadory luxury card collection. I added a heart that has been in my Christmas bits box for a few years (originally came with a Kanban kit), which I mounted on silver mirror card and added some silver and lilac gems.


This is also for:

Cutie pie 23: Christmas in July
Lexi 70: Christmas in July
Creatalicious 36: Christmas in July
Christmas card challenges week 35: no stamping
The crafty pad 181: things with wings
Cute card Thursday 228: clean & simple
Totally papercrafts 128: monochrome
Stamp n doodle: use your favourite colour
CASology 4: bird
Crafty mess 14: birds
Our creative corner: bling bling
2 sisters 103: anything goes
Challenge up your life 75: everything goes
Paper-crafting journey: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Make it Monday 100

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Carol singers

This is another card for Daring cardmakers challenge 'the house that Jack built'.

I've used up some of the rest of the red patterned card that I used for the previous card, so this is another quick pop into the playground at Pixie's crafty snippets 31 and Squiggle stamps: stash attack - used an offcut.




This is also for:

Hiding in my craftroom 56: Christmas in July
2 sisters 102: Christmas in July
Cutie pie 23: Christmas in July
Lexi 70: Christmas in July
Creatalicious 36: Christmas in July
Bloggers challenge: Christmas in July
Sugar creek hollow 22: vintage Christmas in July
Christmas card challenges week 35: no stamping
Cute card Thursday 228: clean & simple
Clear it out: Christmas in July - something red or green or both
Paper-crafting journey: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Make it Monday 100

The house that Jack built for Christmas

'The house that Jack built' is this week's Daring cardmakers challenge so I've used the sketch for Sketches by Carly 61 to make this Christmas card, using Hunkydory supplies:



This is also for:

Hiding in my craftroom 56: Christmas in July
2 sisters 102: Christmas in July
Cutie pie 23: Christmas in July
Lexi 70: Christmas in July
Creatalicious 36: Christmas in July
Bloggers challenge: Christmas in July
Sugar creek hollow 22: vintage Christmas in July
Christmas card challenges week 35: no stamping
Cute card Thursday 228: clean & simple
Clear it out: Christmas in July - something red or green or both
Paper-crafting journey: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Make it Monday 100

Simply less is more

This is a card for any occasion, using the sketch for Less is more 78 (I turned the sketch upside down):


I used a scrap of pink paper to make the butterfly border with a Martha Stewart punch, with the addition of some stitched ribbon and sticky flower ribbons.

This is also for:

Charisma cardz 30: pink + 1 (black)
Card crafters circle 33: clean and simple
Cute card Thursday 228: clean & simple
Pixie's crafty snippets 31

Clean and simple blue and green

This is for the CAS sketch for Annabelle absc052 (I turned the sketch upside down):


Why is it that such a simple card took me three attempts?!

I've used some stitched ribbon and some flowers that have been in my stash for ages and ages.


This is also for:

Cute card Thursday 228: clean & simple
Card crafter's circle 33: clean and simple
Divas by design 46: flowers
Paper pretties Wednesday 217: thank you cards
DL.Art Thursday challenge: thankful
Art impressions 74: stitching or fabric

Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Happy ice cream day

Another ice cream themed card, this time using some offcuts of DCWV summer papers that I've had for a few years now. The ice cream was cut from a paper (it had two more layers on top, but I've kept it to three) and I added some stickles. I used some pink ribbon that I've had for ages either side of the DCWV striped offcut.

The sentiment was computer generated and printed.

This is another card inspired by Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 23 photo:



This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets 31
Squiggle stamps: stash attack - used offcuts
Tuesday alchemy 25: ice cream social
My sheri 90: national ice cream month
Soartful: colours of ice cream
My mum's craft shop 68: ice cream flavours - my flavour: strawberry yum yum!
Crafty creations181: cool summer treats
Dream valleyt 37: summer
Robyn's fetish 118: summer fun
Victorine 39: summertime
Creative craft: summertime
Everybody art 201: summer
Whimsy 49: summer fun
Creative cutter room: summer fun
Creative Friday: summer, sun & holidays
Mishelflo's August: long hot summer
Crazy 4 challenges 147: what you love to do on a hot summer night - eat an ice cream
Really reasonable ribbon 53: bling with ribbon
Deep ocean 31: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Make it Monday 100

Recycled cupcake

The cupcake I've used on this card was cut out from a leaflet that came through the post today - too good to just put in the paper bin.

The offcut of We R Memory Keepers paper was already out on the work surface, so I used that with a couple of sentiment strips. The cake had some silver balls on it so I put some golden gems over them to match up with the golden foiling on the sentiment strips.

Colours are for Color throwdown 203:




This is for:

There's magic in the air magical Monday: waste not - something recycled
Pixie's crafty snippets 31
Squiggle stamps: stash attack - used offcuts
Lollipop crafts: celebration
Kaboodle 130: birthday or any special day
Fashionista 5: baby or birthday
Hooked on craft 23: let's celebrate
Quirky crafts 16: quirky cupcakes
Deep ocean 31: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Make it Monday 100


Tuesday, 31 July 2012

I scream for ice cream

This is for All that scraps challenge: let's piece those papers.

The background paper is an offcut of Basic Grey and the striped paper is another offcut (DCWV). I've paper pieced the clothes and the ice cream on the Meoples I want candy digital images from All That Scraps, with additional copic colouring.

I've followed the sketch for My time made easy 67:


The photo is awful because of having to use flash this evening - the die cut bow is a deep bright pink mirror card which just doesn't show up here at all.

This was also inspired by Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 23 photo:




Adding a photo I've just taken outside - it shows the bow better:



This is also for:

Pile it on  31: cute as can be
Pixie's crafty snippets 31
Squiggle stamps: stash attack - used offcuts
Anyone for Anya: last summer fling - summery
Farm fresh Friday (splendid stamping): die cuts and/or punches
Tuesday alchemy 25: ice cream social
Celebrate the occasion 73: I scream for ice cream
Little Miss Muffet 40: Neapolitan icecream
My sheri 90: national ice cream month
Soartful: colours of ice cream
Dream valleyt 37: summer
Robyn's fetish 118: summer fun
Paper makeup digi makeover 47: endless summer
Victorine 39: summertime
Creative craft: summertime
Everybody art 201: summer
Mark's finest papers speedy fox and friends 118: juvenile birthday card
Die cuttin' divas 76: anything goes (die cut bow)
Kaboodle 130: birthday or any special day
Fashionista 5: baby or birthday
Paper pretties Wednesday 216: birthday cards
Hooked on craft 23: let's celebrate
My mum's craft shop 67: birthday girls
One stitch at a time: use a digi
Jacksons digital expressions: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Twisted Tuesday 17: free for all
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Make it Monday 100


Mystical mermaid

I printed the mermaid (a clipart picture that I found on Microsoft Publisher) on to an offcut of patterned paper (think it was Craft Creations, but not sure - has been lurking among the offcuts for some time), added a panel of sea made with a mix of Lumainarte radiant rain colour concentrates (a piece left over from when I used it for this card yesterday). I then added some very sparkly ribbon top and bottom and the card was done.

As an offcut was used to print the image, this is another for Pixie's crafty snippets 31 and also Squiggle stamps 'stash attack'.


This is for:

DCC & friends 1: anything goes
Di's digi designs: looking for mystical creatures
LEJ designs 14: mystical, magical or mysterious
My time to craft 184: fantasy
Emerald faerie garden 28: flourishes/swirls
Top tip Tuesday 82: focus on  the ribbon
Ladybug: summer fun
Crazy challenge 125: under the sea/beside the sea
Creative card crew 16: on the beach/under the sea
Just some lines: it's time for the beach, sand and surf
Creative Mondays (always crafting) 12: water
Creative stamp friends 56: summer, sun, beach and sea
Crafting for all seasons 32: splash me - water
Crafty ribbons 24: sea, holidays etc
Through the craftroom door: undersea life
Daisy doodles 65: outdoors
Cupcake craft 203: the great outdoors
One stitch at a time: use a digi
Fab n funky 131: no stamped images
The stamping boutique 44: anything goes
Jacksons digital expressions: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Bearly mine 46: anything goes
Twisted Tuesday 17: free for all
Going grey with Scrap-creations: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 79: anything goes
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Make it Monday 100

Acrylic block background

I've seen a few examples lately of making a background by inking up an acrylic block, so I thought I'd try this, using broken china and story sky distress inks. This is for Paperminutes 228: acrylic block stamped background, also for Wags n whiskers 84: try a new technique.

I then stamped the Penny Black sparklers using stormy sky ink.

I've used the sketch given for Sweet sketch Wednesday 164:


and colours were inspired by the picture given for Freshly brewed 106:


I've used papers from my patterned papers scrap box, so this is another opportunity to play at  Pixie's crafty snippets 31  (although, with this rain, I don't fancy sitting on the swings) and also Squiggle stamps 'stash attack'.


This is also for:

DCC & friends 1: anything goes
LiaStampz 22: birthday
Stampavie and more 173: birthday
Kaboodle 130: birthday or any special day
Fashionista 5: baby or birthday
Paper pretties Wednesday 216: birthday cards
Crafts4eternity R82: brilliant birthdays
Hooked on craft 23: let's celebrate
Scrappy frogs: red, white and blue
Raise the bar 108: red, white and blue
I brake for challenges: I brake for the red, white and blue
Unique crafters 5: patriotic - red, white, blue
Whoopsi Daisy: lots of layers
Sentimental Sundays 113: paint/inks
Nightshift stamping: no black lines
The stamping boutique 44: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 21: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Bearly mine 46: anything goes
Twisted Tuesday 17: free for all
Going grey with Scrap-creations: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 79: anything goes
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Fashionable stamping 27: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
The stamp man: anything goes/celebrations
Make it Monday 100

Monday, 30 July 2012

Something beautiful remains

The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand,
The sun goes down but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrains ...
for every joy that passes, something beautiful remains.
                                                                                  Anon

This is the saying that is stamped on this card - the stamp was bought a long while ago from Rubadubbadoo.

The beach and breakwater were cut from a remnant left from a 12 x 12 paper that I used long ago (can't remember the manufacturer, but I think it was called 'British beach' - I often wondered why I kept this in my offcuts box because I didn't think I'd ever use it. So this was yet another offcut used up, another for Pixie's crafty snippets 31 and also for Squiggle stamps 'stash attack' - not only did I just up an offcut, but also used stamps that hadn't been used for ages.

The little group of birds and the anchor are part of a Kanban set.

The other day I bought some Luminarte Radiant Rain colour concentrates and used Mediterranean, rich cobalt and mallard to make the sea - dabbing these on to a glossy piece of card and heating with my heat gun so that they blended in together a bit. I don't think it's brilliant, but it was my first attempt at using these daubers.


This is also for:

DCC & friends 1: anything goes
Wags n whiskers 84: try a new technique (using the Radiant Rain)
Squigglefly 3012: speak to me - add a saying to your card
Simon says stamp and show: what do you say? sentiment, quote, etc
Cupcake craft 203: the great outdoors
The house that stamps built DCCC718: outdoors
Creative Mondays (always crafting) 12: water
Creative stamp friends 56: summer, sun, beach and sea
Crafting for all seasons 32: splash me - water
Clearlyistamp 56: get wet
Crafty ribbons 24: sea, holidays etc
Just some lines: it's time for the beach, sand and surf
By the cute and girly July: a day at the beach
Crazy challenge 125: under the sea/beside the sea
Dream valley 37: summer
Robyn's fetish 118: summer fun
Timbro scrap mania 53: summer fever
Victorine 39: summertime
Creative craft: summertime
Everybody art 201: summer
Freshly brewed 103: summertime
Whimsy 49: summer fun
Creative cutter room: summer fun
Delightful: dog days of summer
Crazy 4 challenges 147: what you love to do on a hot summer night - be beside the sea
Little Claire 23: summer
Order of the opus gluei 136: seasons - summer (makes a change to lots of Christmas cards - lol!)
Sentimental Sundays 113: paint/inks
Stempelsonne 68: free choice
Tammy scraping corner 21: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Fashionable stamping 27: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Crazy amigo: free theme
Make it Monday 100

Green sparklers

'Sparklers' is the name of the Penny Black stamp I've used for this card - it's one of my favourites that gets used a lot.

The card is based on the sketch for A & T sketch challenge 9:


And colours are for My time made easy pretty palette 67:


I used a Martha Stewart punch that I won recently to cut into the DCWV coral textured card. THe other papers are offcuts of Nitwits papers that came with a magazine recently.


This is also for:

DCC & friends 1: anything goes
Stamptacular 174: patterns galore - at least three patterned papers
Paper pretties Monday 50: seeing double - two or more designer papers
Inky impressions: use dies or punches
Pixie's crafty snippets 31
Squiggle stamps: stash attack - used offcuts
Stampavie and more 173: birthday
Kaboodle 130: birthday or any special day
Fashionista 5: baby or birthday
Divas by design 45: happy birthday
Paper pretties Wednesday 216: birthday cards
Crafts4eternity R82: brilliant birthdays
Whoopsi Daisy: lots of layers
Stempelsonne 68: free choice
Tammy scraping corner 21: anything goes
Critter 126: anything goes
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Fashionable stamping 27: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Crazy amigo: free theme
Paper playtime 80: anything goes
Make it Monday 100

Sunday, 29 July 2012

Chocolate cupcake

This is for the sketch for Critter 125:

All papers are offcuts and the stamped image is from a Kanban cake set coloured with copics with the edge also bordered with a copic.

This is also for Cupcake inspirations 171 where this inspiration picture was given:




This is also for:

Great impressions July: show us your best stay in the lines colouring
Quirky crafts 16: quirky cupcakes
Drunken stampers 94: happy national milk chocolate and hamburger day - I went for chocolate!
One crazy stamper July: BBQ/food challenge
Stamptacular 174: patterns galore - at least three patterned papers
Cutie stampers 131: quadrate - squares
Pixie's crafty snippets 31
Squiggle stamps: stash attack - used offcuts
Stempelsonne 68: free choice
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
Fashionable stamping 27: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Crazy amigo: free theme

Pretty in pink

For this card I've used elements from the Hunkydory The Tea Party collection, adding some flowers and a sentiment.

Colours were prompted by The shabby tea room 124: oh so pretty in pink photo inspiration (we were also asked to use a flower as well as the colours):



This is also for:

Quirky crafts 16: quirky cupcakes
The pink elephant 158: summer
Moving along with the times: pink, pearly & pretty celebration
Totally Gorjuss 142: pearls
The sisterhood of crafters: diamonds, pearls and lace - at least one of these
Fashionista 5: baby or birthday
Divas by design 45: happy birthday
Paper pretties Wednesday 216: birthday cards
Crafts4eternity R82: brilliant birthdays
Fab n funky 131: no stamped images
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Crazy amigo: free theme

Yet another angel

Having made a mess of a card earlier this afternoon - I got sticky bits on the acetate (not a good look!), so it went into the bin - I decided that perhaps I could rescue some of it. So I careful took the acetate off and used the glittered picture from underneath to layer up with an offcut of the Kanban card used for one of the earlier cards shown below. I stuck it down before I thought about the holes left from where there had been brads, so they are now covered with some gems and I've added a sentiment raised up with some 3D foam.


This is for:

Hotshot 10: Kanban
Crafty pad 181: things with wings
Hiding in my craft room 56: Christmas in July
Cutie pie: Christmas in July
Lexi 70: Christmas in July
Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Stamp n doodle: Christmas in July
Bloggers challenge: Christmas in July
Friday mashup 69: Christmas in July
2 sisters 102: Christmas in July
Crafter's companion 26: ho ho ho Christmas
Order of the opus gluei 136: seasons - winter/Christmas
Pixie's crafty snippets 31
Squiggle stamps: stash attack - used offcut from previous card and very old sentiment
Christmas card challenges week 35: no stamping
Fab n funky 131: no stamped images
Pile it on 31: cute as can be
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Crazy amigo: free theme

Another Christmas angel

This is another card very similar to the previous one, made from components of the 'all wrapped up' Kanban Christmas kit.

Once again, the printed acetate overlays the glittered picture and is held in place by brads.

This is another card for Dawn's Christmas Card Club challenge to include an angel.


This is also for:

52 Christmas card throwdown July embellishment challenge: brads
CCEE 1230: step card
Creations by Gill M 7: the use of acetate
Hotshot 10: Kanban
Crafty pad 181: things with wings
Christmas card challenges week 35: no stamping
Fab n funky 131: no stamped images
Pile it on 31: cute as can be
Make it Monday 99
52 card pick up week 30

Christmas angel

It was Dawn's turn to choose a theme for today's Christmas Card Club challenge (a group of us have got together to produce a Christmas card every fortnight - details of the group in my sidebar) and Dawn asked us to include an angel on our Christmas card.

I've made a couple of angel cards in the last few days (was tempted to use one of those for the challenge, but thought I would be good and do another specially for it) - I've made a step card from the Kanban 'all wrapped up' kit that I bought fairly recently.

Unfortunately, the first card I made went into the bin, otherwise there would be been two - this is the second such card I've wasted in a couple of days because of trying to rush and then getting sticky marks on the acetate.

Anyway, this card has an acetate layer that has been printed with the same picture as the underneath one - that one is glittered so the glitter then shows through the acetate. It's not possible to capture this properly in the photo, but I've done the best I can.


These are also for:

CCEE 1230: step card
Creations by Gill M 7: the use of acetate
Crafty catz 143: all that glitters
Hotshot 10: Kanban
Crafty pad 181: things with wings
Whoopsi Daisy: Christmas in July
Hiding in my craft room 56: Christmas in July
Cutie pie: Christmas in July
Lexi 70: Christmas in July
Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Party time 78: Christmas in July
Stamp n doodle: Christmas in July
Bloggers challenge: Christmas in July
Friday mashup 69: Christmas in July
2 sisters 102: Christmas in July
Crafter's companion 26: ho ho ho Christmas
Pixie dust studio: Christmas
Order of the opus gluei 136: seasons - winter/Christmas
Christmas card challenges week 35: no stamping
Fab n funky 131: no stamped images
Pile it on 31: cute as can be
The poodles parlour: anything goes
ATCs and cards with attitude 19: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Crazy amigo: free theme

Warmest wishes

For this card (which I made yesterday - not started making any today!) I've used a digital image from Cute Daisy May's Daisy and friends CD - this is Daisy with her Christmas tree. The background paper is an offcut of Basic Grey Dasher flannel shirt, and the bottom piece is an offcut of some unknown card that was left over. The ribbon was free with a magazine and the sentiment was computer generated and printed.

This is another card for my CHNC challenge 83: tie a ribbon.


This is for:

DCC & friends 1: anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy: Christmas in July
Hiding in my craft room 56: Christmas in July
Addicted to stamps 35: Christmas in July
Sweet stampin: Christmas in July
Cutie pie: Christmas in July
Lexi 70: Christmas in July
Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Party time 78: Christmas in July
Stamp n doodle: Christmas in July
Bloggers challenge: Christmas in July
Friday mashup 69: Christmas in July
2 sisters 102: Christmas in July
Creatalicious 36: Christmas in July
Crafter's companion 26: ho ho ho Christmas
Creative Belli 148: Christmas in July - the CD was a forgotten one
Pixie dust studio: Christmas
Paper makeup digi makeover 46: favourite holiday - Christmas
Order of the opus gluei 136: seasons - winter/Christmas
Christmas card challenges week 35: no stamping
Fab n funky 131: no stamped images
One stitch at a time 124: use a digi
Pile it on 31: cute as can be
Twisted Tuesday 16: tie a ribbon round the old oak tree
Pixie's crafty snippets 31
Squiggle stamps: stash attack - used a CD that had been forgotten and also offcuts
Jackson's digital expressions: anything goes 15
Hanna and friends 150: we celebrate
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): anything goes
The poodles parlour: anything goes
ATCs and cards with attitude 19: anything goes
Willow sketchie: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Crazy amigo: free theme

Saturday, 28 July 2012

A peaceful Christmas

For this card I've used a snowflake background and angels image both from the MCS Magic of Christmas CD. I printed out the angels image twice so that I could decoupage it and also printed the background again so I could print and cut the sentiment. The snowflake was cut with a woodware punch.

This is my 'anything goes' card for fb Sunday's with Santa for tomorrow.


This is also for:

DCC & friends 1: anything goes
CD Sunday: A is for ... angels
Tuesday alchemy 24: very vintage
Hiding in my craft room 56: Christmas in July
Whoopsi Daisy: Christmas in July
Sugar creek 22: vintage Christmas in July
Addicted to stamps 35: Christmas in July
Sweet stampin: Christmas in July
Cutie pie: Christmas in July
Lexi 70: Christmas in July
Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Party time 78: Christmas in July
Stamp n doodle: Christmas in July
Bloggers challenge: Christmas in July
Friday mashup 69: Christmas in July
2 sisters 102: Christmas in July
Creatalicious 36: Christmas in July
Crafter's companion 26: ho ho ho Christmas
Creative Belli 148: Christmas in July - the CD was an old and forgotten one
Pixie dust studio: Christmas
Paper makeup digi makeover 46: favourite holiday - Christmas
Rudolph day for July
Fab n funky 131: no stamped images
Sentimental Sundays 112: things with wings
Card and scrap 35: wings
Jackson's digital expressions: anything goes 15
Hanna and friends 150: we celebrate
The poodles parlour: anything goes
ATCs and cards with attitude 19: anything goes
Willow sketchie: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Crafts and me 94: anything goes
Crazy amigo: free theme

CHNC challenge 83: tie a ribbon

It's Saturday, so that means it's time for a new challenge on my CHNC blog. And today for challenge 83 I'm asking you to use ribbon on your Christmas card.

For my card I've used some background DCWV card that I've had for a few years and never used before - this is flittered and glittered, as are the chipboard stickers from Poundland a few years ago and the ribbon is from stash, as are the flowers.

I used the colours for Festive Friday 29:


These are also ideal colours for Holly jolly Christmas: show us your non traditional colours


This is also for:

L E J designs 13: bling bling
Twisted Tuesday 16: tie a ribbon round the old oak tree
Oozak 4: bright colours
Secret crafter Saturday 196: bright and cheerful
Cutie pie 23: Christmas in July
Lexi 70: Christmas in July
Use it Tuesday 36: uncut paper