Addicted to CAS - Challenge # 50

Welcome to a new challenge at Addicted to CAS.  Your delightful host today is the amazingly talented Marie of bailyrosy (the lovely lady who is addicted to her Cameo!!! lol).

Here is the code word she's chosen:

Our Sponsor is

We are lucky enough to have the lovely Hannalie of Desert Diva with us again as Guest Designer.  Please pop on over to see what she's come up with.

Here is my card:

I decided to go with a Christmas card to try and boost my stock.  I started off with a piece of pearl cardstock 18cm wide by 28cm long, scored at 3cm, 6cm, 10cm, 14cm and 21cm.  I placed my Large Fretwork Corner (Britannia Dies) on the 21cm line and put it through my eBosser.  I then die cut some vellum using my Marianne CR1287  trees and placed them on the mountain folds.  I die cut my Clearly Besotted Merry Christmas sentiment from vellum and place it along the front of the card.  I added some Star Dust Stickles to the trees and that was my card finished.  Not too sure if it's a bit plain but I do like white on white.

Now we are waiting to see what gorgeous creations you come up with.  Please pop on over to Addicted to CAS to have a look at the cards the DT have made.

Frozen...................

A very apt title to this blog post I think!!!  Awful weather down here in Somerset - been pouring with rain all day and doesn't look like it's going to stop.

Thought I'd post a commission card I have just finished for a friend who's granddaughter Shannon is going to be six soon and thinks she's Elsa from Frozen.  Not having any little ones around I needed to Google the film and luckily enough found enough material on the web to be able to design this card. Here it is:

The base is A5 covered with a scene from the film and then I was lucky enough to find an image of Elsa that made a 3D model which I put together as the focal point on the card.  In CraftArtist I made the badge and covered it with Diamond Glaze.  I used Stick It on the front and back of the icicle so I could glitter it with Glamour Dust and also stick it direct on the card.  I've added some Stickles here and there and more Glamour Dust on Elsa's dress.

The inside of the card has a pocket made with another scene and there is a "dress up doll" for Shannon to play with when she gets her card.  I die cut the icicles (Spellbinders) from parchment and brushed with Wink of Stella and a ribbon and gems across the top of the pocket. The insert has been designed in CraftArtist using one of their embossing features which looks very realistic.  The sentiment was given to me by my friend Maria.

As Elsa was quite dimensional I made a simple box to hold the card and used Memory Box alphabet dies and a piece of matching ribbon.  I used an Embossilicious dotty A4 folder for the top of the box.

Thanks for dropping by - hope your weather is better than ours!

Happy crafting.

Clearly Besotted Challenge 14 - Christmas

Hi Everyone - well, what a very dismal and chilly Sunday here in Somerset and the forecast is for 30-40 mm of rain overnight and tomorrow!!!  So, to cheer myself up I decided I really needed to enter the Clearly Besotted challenge.

Now I must admit to owning just one or two CB stamps/die sets (!!! fingers crossed....hehe) and the other day was amazed to find I'd won a £20 e-voucher from Mandy's blog A Little Space of my Own. To say it got spend fairly quickly is an understatement..............

But what I really wanted to use was an exclusive stamp set that Stephanie had designed for Simon Says Stamp!  Once I'd seen it I knew that I needed it!!!

So I stamped the pine leaves in SU Always Artichoke and the cones with Close to Cocoa.  The sentiment was also stamped using Close to Cocoa.  This was then matted onto some dark brown cardstock and then onto an A6 top fold card.  I also used a stencil (sorry don't know the make) which looks like snowflakes and used Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium in Diamond.  This was placed over the top of the main design and I added a small brown bow to finish off.  This is such a lovely set I know it's going to get used a lot.

Thanks for popping by.

Happy crafting.

Less is More - Week 192 Colour Challenge

Hello everyone - well Autumn has certainly arrived and it seems that Less is More are embracing it with their new challenge:

For our Colour challenge this month we have chosen 

Autumn's Bounty

Sounds kinda poetic doesn't it...

so we'd love to see autumnal shades in your cards.

Don't forget to make them CAS of course!

Now it's been absolutely ages since I joined in the fun at Less is More but as I'd just made this card and it fitted the theme then I thought I'd give it a go.

At club tonight one of our projects is showing them the faux pearl technique as demonstrated so wonderfully by my ATCAS DT pal Loll of Stamping with Loll.  I decided to try out my Brushos to see if they worked with the faux pearl technique and to my delight they really did.  I die cut my Memory Box fern and coloured it with Brushos and then when my pearl paint was dry I sprinkled the crystals on the card and spritzed with water.  I layered it up on some brown cardstock, placed a brown strip across with the fern over the top.  The sentiment is SU punched with a circle punch and I added a ribbon.

This is really a great technique so pop on over and watch Loll's YouTube video.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to CAS - Challenge # 49 and a fab new product!

Hello Everyone - can you believe it's October already???  This year has just flown.  Talking of which it's time for a new challenge over at Addicted to CAS.  Your hostess for this challenge is our amazing leader Kylie of  Kylie is Addicted to Stamps.  Here is the code word she has chosen for us:

Our Sponsor is:

http://www.whimsystamps.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13_38

Welcome to our Guest Designer for October ... Hannelie of Desert Diva

Hi, my name is Hannelie Bester. So thrilled to be guest designer for October at ATCAS!

I've actually made two cards to show you today, both using stencils but in a slightly different manner.  Here is my first one:

I've used Memory Box "Texture Honey Comb" stencil and for this I've used Glitter Frosting Paste from Glitz Craft which is a fast drying paste (probably about 15-30 minutes depending on how much you have used).  I've matted it onto a light blue base.  The sentiment is Tattered Lace and the lovely snowflake is Memory Box "Precious Snowflakes".  

Before I die cut the snowflake I added a new product to my cardstock called Stick It Die-Cut Adhesive Sheets.  These are micro thin sheets of adhesive specially formulated for intricate die cutting and can also be used with electronic cutting machines...it creates a uniform layer of adhesive making it so easy to stick down those fiddly die cuts.  I bought the large sheets but there is also a smaller pack size.  You just cut a piece to size, peel off the easy release backing and stick it down onto your cardstock.  In this case I actually put it on the front rather than the back as I wanted to glitter the snowflake.  I then passed my cardstock and die through my Big Shot, removed the backing paper (super easy!!!) and then sprinkled it with Glamour Dust.  This product was extremely easy to use, it's lightweight and the backing removes perfectly even with an intricate die.  I'm definitely going to use this for all my dies that are difficult to add adhesive to!!!  I added the snowflake to the card using some Pinflair to raise it up.

Here is my second card:

I've used Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi "From the Garden" and sponged through using SU inks.  The sentiment is also Stampin Up!  I've added some gold Liquid Pearls to the centres of the flowers and matted onto a green base.

Well, that's about it from me.  Please pop on over to see all the lovely cards the rest of the DT and Hannelie our GD have made for you.  We're all gearing up to come visiting.

Have a great weekend.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #48

Hi Guys

Well, are you ready for another challenge at Addicted to CAS?  Hope so!

Your hostess for today's challenge is the lovely and talented Michelle of Handmade by Michelle. This is the code word she has chosen for us.

Our Sponsor is

and the prize is 3 images for the winner

Here's what I came up with...........

I've used my House-Mouse stamp called Dreampuff and I think that even if you don't particularly like mice you wouldn't have any trouble cuddling this little one!!! lol  Stamped twice in Memento Rich Cocoa, coloured using Flexmarkers and then one image fussy cut.  I used some cotton wool, glued down and then added a touch of Stickles for a bit of sparkle.  The fussy cut image was popped up using silicone.  The frame is cut using my Lil'Inker Pierced Squares dies.  The words are die cut from a Tattered Lace sentiment set.

Thanks for dropping by.  Please pop on over to the Addicted to CAS blog to see the great cards the other girls in the DT have made as inspiration for you.

Have a great weekend.

Happy crafting.

Faux Pearl Technique

Hi Everyone

My good friend and fellow DTeamie Loll of Stamping with Loll has just made her first YouTube tutorial on the Faux Pearl Technique and it's fab.  Please go on over to Happy Little Stampers and check it out.

It looked so luscious that I wanted to try it out for myself but then hit a snag...........couldn't find the SU (Tsukeniko) Frost White either in the SU catalogue or anywhere over here............oh!!! Disappointment struck but never been one to give up so bought some Frost Effect Paint in white from eBay.  Then I had to pop over to Hobbycraft in Yeovil to pick up an order and what did I see.......yep huge bottles of pearlised paint (in white!!!) at half price in their sale.

So I decided to see which one worked best, and it was definitely the Hobbycraft pearlised paint - gave much more of a shimmer and took the ink much better (although not sure how much shimmer you can see in the photo).  So here is the card I made, all due to Loll as I CAS(e)d her card.

I used Victorian Velvet and Dusty Concorde Distress Inks to colour the panel, the die cut flower is Memory Box Prim Poppy popped up with silicone and the greeting is SU Wetlands.  Final touch were the pearls.

I went to the Oyster Stamps demo day yesterday at Highbridge - we all had a fabulous time and Martine was her usual amazing self.............her cards and flowers are exquisite.  We had a great lunch, afternoon tea with homemade cakes (yum!) and to top it all we had the Oyster Stamps shop and the Honey Doo shop as well - what more could a girl want?  hehe

Thought I'd leave you with some photos of the gorgeous creations that Martine has made.

 

Have a great weekend.

Happy crafting.

Club Night - Shoe Box Challenge

Hi everyone - just a quickie from me as I'm just off to the Oyster Stamps demo - yippee!!!

It was our club night on Wednesday and Anne and I set the girls a shoe box challenge which is where they get a bag of items which they must use to make up a card - they are free to add other items but must use all or part of everything they get.  It's always amazing to see what they come up with.  Here is what was in their bag:

Here is what I made from it:

Here are a couple of photos of what the girls did - amazing how different they all are (sorry about the blurry photo).

Hope to be back over the weekend to share what I learnt today.

Happy crafting.

 

NBUS - Challenge 2

Hi Everyone - hope you all had a good weekend; we had lovely weather here in Somerset so definitely not complaining!!! lol

I didn't manage to enter my delightful friend Darnell's (Dippy to me.......) first challenge of NBUS (Never-Before-Used Schtuff!!!) so wanted to join in the second challenge.  The challenge is to use your virginal NBUS on a new creation, simple as that.

Unfortunately I had to make a sympathy card but it gave me the opportunity to break out my new Papertrey Ink "Harvest Berries" stamps and dies.  Now I first saw this set strangely enough when Dippy used it on a card not so long ago and it was just one of those "I need that"!!!  Luckily I have a friend over in America who belongs to the Papertrey Ink Forum and she orders goodies for me and posts them to me - otherwise I just wouldn't get any PTI items because they charge a huge amount for shipping to the UK.

So here's my card:

I had wanted to do it slightly differently, eg stamp the main ginkgo leaves on the mat and then the sentiment before die-cutting the leaves, but for some strange reason they have put a smaller set of ginkgo leaves die on the main die which negates you being able to do this (and I think Dippy had the same problem........).  So I had to stamp two identical images and sentiments and then die cut one (plus some from plain cardstock) to layer up so you could still see the wording.

I matted and layered onto some green cardstock, the bottom border is from Our daily Bread Beautiful Borders.  The embossing folder is Tattered Lace Fretwork Lace.

Dippy has put in another twist at the bottom of her post:

Optional

The side option this time is the following multiple choice. Just to be clear, this option is just for fun and will not be considered when I throw you in the random thingie for prizes. 

1. Christmas
2. Make two cards using the same stamp.
3. Both of the above.
4. None of the above.

So mine is "none of the above" but hope to have the time to fulfill numbers 1 & 2!!!  See you soon.

Anyway, if you haven't come across Darnell's blog before (where have you been????) please pop on over, but make sure you have a couple of hours free!

Happy crafting.

Addicted to CAS - Challenge # 47

Yes, I know it's only been a week but what gorgeous creations you all made for the LUXURY challenge. Certainly makes it hard to decide!

So onto today's newest challenge at Addicted to CAS.  Your hostess for this challenge is the gorgeous and very talented Sylvia of Poppy's Papercraft Patch.  Here is the code word she's chosen for you:

Our Sponsor is:

http://www.whimsystamps.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13_38

and they are offering a prize of 5 free digis

Now I must admit I really don't have many oriental stamps..........or not really any that I wanted to use so I turned to Joanna Sheen's Oriental Dreams CD and picked out this lovely bird graphic.  Very simply matted it onto dark blue cardstock and the greeting (computer generated) was treated the same.  All popped up on a DL card blank and I added two swirls of Memory Box Blooming Vine as it looked a little too bare!

As I was left with more of these images in different sizes I decided to make another card, not quite to CAS, to use them up.  I matted the various sizes of image onto dark blue card and then layered them up side by side.  The sentiment actually says "Love" in Chinese and was computer generated and punched out using my EK Success label punch.  I then added a double bow and some Liquid Pearls.

Now, let's see what you come up with - can't wait to come visit your blogs.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to Stamps & More - Anything Goes for Marie P!

Hi Everyone

Today sees the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More and the theme is:

       ANYTHING GOES with the optional twist of Get Well / Thinking of You

why the twist?  Well our great buddy and colleague, the stunning Marie of  baileyrosy has been having a pretty bad time of it lately and we all wanted to cheer her up and wish her a speedy recovery.

Here is my card and I so hope it makes her laugh, just couldn't resist Marie!!!

I've used an image that I got from somewhere on the internet and just added a little something to it specially for Marie............knowing what a fan of gin she is I thought it appropriate!!! lol

I've used my Lil'Inker Stitched square dies and the sentiment was computer generated.  The little bottle was found on the internet - only wish it was real!

You know we all love you Marie and we are sending massive hugs and kisses.

Addicted to CAS - Challenge # 46

Hello everyone - well I'm back in the saddle after having a short holiday to Derbyshire and the North Yorkshire Moors.............and boy was it COLD!!!  Had to make a quick stop halfway to stock up on some warmer clothing!

Seems like ages since I've crafted and I must admit to bringing some goodies back with me as we made a detour to Grimsby to visit The Hobby Horse - a bit out of our way but after Tony got all his wishes with the steam holiday I thought that I should fulfill mine which also included having afternoon tea in Betty's (yummy is the only word to describe that!).

So a new challenge is on the cards at Addicted to CAS but this one only lasts for ONE WEEK due to schedule hiccups.  Anyway I'm sure you'll all make that one week count.  Your hostess for this challenge is the wonderfully talented Sandie of London Days.  Here is her code word:

Our Sponsor for this challenge is:

$15 GIFT VOUCHER

Inspired by Stamping is a boutique online craft store based in Australia and was founded by Joanna Munster in July 2011. Our commitment is to bring you the highest quality in paper crafting supplies.

We design & manufacture the highest quality of photopolymer stamps that bring superior stamping to all crafters. Whether you're just starting out in card making or a "seasoned scrapper", you'll find that our stamps and products are a great addition to your collection.

Website- http://www.inspiredbystamping.com/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Inspired-by-Stamping/219235878105725

Pinterest- Inspired by Stamping (inspiredstampin)

Here is what I came up with:

 

I stamped my image (Martini Girl by Sassy Studio Designs) and coloured her using my Flexmarkers.  I used my Lil'Inker Pierced Squares dies for the image and the purple mat.  The sentiment is from Not Bossy by Acid Drops & Whatnots and the bow is Sue Wilson's Filigree 3D Itty Bitty Bows.  I added Crystal Lacquer to the martini glasses although I'm not sure you can see that too well.  

So now, what does luxury mean to you?  For me it was a no brainer..........what could be better that sipping a martini whilst sitting in a giant martini glass (presumably I've already drunk the contents of that!!! lol).

Can't wait to see what you come up with.  Don't forget to pop on over to the Addicted to CAS blog to see what the other girls in the DT  have come up with for your delectation.

Happy crafting.

Surprise party for Nonni - Happy Birthday!

Hello everyone

Today is Nonni's birthday - korttikarkuri - and I'm sure loads of you out in blog land know her gorgeous work.  If not then you're missing a treat - pop on over and have a look at all her inspiration.

The lovely Sandie of London Days has been kind enough to organise this surprise linky Birthday Party for Nonni so when you've finished her pop on over to Sandie's blog to see all the other cards.  The linky will be open from 5 am GMT today until 5 am on 12th September.........so if you fancy joining in please post on your blog and then link up via Sandie's blog.

Here's what I made for Nonni - and hopefully she's received it safely over in Finland!!! 

I have cased my friend Anne's card that she made for 
my birthday and another few that I've seen around blog land..........couldn't resist getting this die set as it looks stunning.  It's Spellbinders Shapeabilities Pendants Fleur De Lis.  The centre panel is made up of 9 separate die cuts on matching cardstock which is layered onto light blue embossed mirri card.  I've used dies from the same set for the corners, the sentiment is computer generated and the flowers are from my stash.  The flourish is Simon Says Stamp! Harrington Vine and I've added some liquid pearls to finish off.

Hope you have a lovely birthday Nonni.

Happy crafting.