Serendipity Dragonfly

Less is More - Week 52 - Sketch

2012-01-29T13:36:00.000Z

This week's challenge over at Less Is More is

For our challenge this week we have a SKETCH and we have a few basic ground rules.

We would like the card to be

rectangular
in landscape orientation
with the band remaining in a vertical position

As it's a very simple sketch, we would like it to remain as is without any rotation of either the card or the vertical band.

For my card I have used my Tall Trees stamp set by Elusive Images (now Chocolate Baroque). I started off stamping half the tree onto black card with Versamark and heat embossed it with white detail e/p. I then stamped the whole image onto my white DL card in black Versafine ink and heat embossed it using clear e/p. I then placed the image on the black card over the one on the white DL card and made sure it matched up before sticking down. The sentiment is from my Sincere Salutations which is a Stampin Up set - this was also heat embossed with clear e/p.

Thanks for dropping by.

This is the last one..............

2012-01-26T11:28:00.000Z

Front of card

Hi Everybody - well if you've been following the saga of the 18th birthday cards I have, at last, finished and this is the last one. It's mostly been constructed in CraftArtist and the mechanics of the card was inspired by Dave Brethauer and his Heart Tuckaway Card. The card has been made out of A4 card, printed on both sides with images of BMX bikers, grafitti etc. I used the cutout studio in CA to isolate the biker which is along the bottom of the card and I also decoupaged him for a bit of dimension. I have used my Spellbinders book pages for the cutout closure. The cogs/wheels are from the

Back of card

Sprightly Sprockets set die cut from pewter mirri card. I've added metal corners and a metal embellishment "go for it" - all from my stash. The sentiment was again done in CA matted

Card closed

onto a die cut cog. I partially embossed the tag using the Couture Creations Workshop e/f and then sponged with DI. I've added a BMX biker and various items stamped onto shrink plastic to use as "danglers" from the tag. The greeting on the back was made in CA, die cut using my book page die, sponged with DI and foiled using my foiling machine. I've also made a box to match.

Thanks for stopping by.

Karen x

Less is More - Week 51 - Theme - Cut it out

2012-01-24T13:19:00.000Z

This week's challenge over at Less is More is:

CUT IT OUT

I've used my circle and scalloped circle nesties to die cut an aperture in a square card blank and then made a frame from some cardstock I had printed on the computer. I then die cut the same size circle out of double sided sticky. I used my Memory Box La Rue Flourish on another piece of matching card and placed this in the centre of the sticky circle. I sprinkled purple glitter around the outside of the circle and silver glitter in the centre and then placed it on the inside of the card so it could be seen through the aperture. I used a Marianne corner die and put another piece of co-ordinating card at the back. The sentiment is a digi stamp from the lovely Lynne at Crafts4You - she has several sentiments specially sized to fit the Stampin Up punches.

Thanks for dropping by.

18th card for a girl

2012-01-23T14:12:00.000Z

Well, here's the second in the long running saga of the 18th birthday cards. I've used a template for an 18th word book. I was told that this girl was interested in drama and art so I had to have a look round the internet for suitable images. The artist on the first page is Little Artist by Whimsy Stamps, the girl shopping is Lydia does Shopping by Little Claire (which was a free download) and the Drama Queen on the end is from Tiddly Inks Digital. There is a variety of embellishments which were all from my stash or die cut elements. Here's the matching box:

Thanks for stopping by.

LIM - Week 50 - One Layer - Birds v2

2012-01-20T11:35:00.000Z

Just a really quick post to add another card to the LIM challenge this week. This was super easy but I like the simplicity of it. From a blank A6 card I used a nestie to make a nicer shape. I then inked the image (which is from Joanna Sheen's Wordy Words Two set) with Versamark and then gold embossed it. I inked round the edges (being super careful this time lol) with a gold pen and that was it. I just love the sentiment on this stamp. I ended up scanning this card as none of the photos showed that it was gold embossed.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 50 - One Layer - Birds

2012-01-18T17:15:00.000Z

The challenge set this week over at Less is More is:

ONE LAYER CARD

with the subject of

BIRDS

Now before I get told off by Mandi or Chrissie I know it's one layer but just as I'd finished my card when I was inking the edges......... well, you can guess can't you? Yep, my hand moved and I got an ink smudge........... didn't have time to do it again so I'm afraid I've stuck a small ribbon bow over the smudge to hide it!!!

The image is a free digi stamp called Love Bunting from San's Designs - she's got some lovely inspiration on her blog so why don't you pop over to take a look. I printed the image and coloured in using Promarkers. The sentiment is from the set Stampin Up Wonderful Words and was inked up with Dusty Concorde DI........ and then there's the bow...........! lol

Thanks for stopping by.

18th card

2012-01-16T16:50:00.000Z

I've been asked to make three 18th birthday cards - two for the same lad and one for a girl. I'm absolutely not bothered about the one for the girl but 18 year old lads are just as bad as men!!! lol Anyway the brief I got was that he was into sports but heavily into BMX biking................. it took me an awful long time to find a suitable image but luckily I found a clear stamp from KayCee Crafts. Then one Sunday I happened to be watching C&C when Joanna Sheen was on and she was introducing a new set of stamps called Speedy Celebrations JS332 with a speedometer, bike chains etc. I thought this would be ideal and one of the card samples really set my mind whirring so I'd like to give a big heads up to the lovely Sylvie of the Creative Mind of Sylvie who had done some sample cards for the show. One in particular was brilliant and I have adapted it to make this card. The base card is two 8x8 square cards joined together to make a K card. I've covered the card with backing paper from my stash and then added all the embellishments which are on the Joanna Sheen stamp set. All the chain was silver embossed onto bronze mirri and joined with brads to go round the cogs. The needle on the speedo is set to 18 and I've added the year of birth where the number of miles would go.

This photo shows the inside. I've used the number plate stamp "Just 4 You" also silver embossed onto bronze mirri card and then the sentiment on the last section.

I do hope he likes it.

Club samples - Awning cards and resist techniques

2012-01-14T15:35:00.001Z

Just to prove that Anne and I really do mean we've been busy making samples for our club night (!!!) we really aren't telling porkies........ lol Here are some samples of awning cards that we did with the girls. For instructions and digi stamps pop over to see the delightful Carmen at Beyond the Fringe Crafts - thanks Carmen, the girls really enjoyed making these.

The second photo shows samples of the resist technique using both chalks (couple on beach SU set) and inks with a Versamark inkpad. The inked examples have been done on coated cardstock. The Paris card used the Paris Postcard stamp set from Elusive Images (now Chocolate Baroque) and the floral card was made using a negative floral stamp which, I think, is buried under a heap on my craft table at the moment and I can't remember what make it is!!!

All ribbons and embellishments are from my stash.

Thanks for dropping by.

Birthday card

2012-01-12T11:49:00.000Z

It's my friend Jan's birthday today and I've made her this card. It's based around the gorgeous Sugar Nellie image called Verity. I printer her out on super smooth card and die cut using my large scalloped circles dies and cut a navy mat from the next size up. She was coloured using a mixture of Flexi and Promarkers. Base card is an 8x8 and all the papers, flowers, ribbon and lace were from my stash.

Thanks for dropping by. All your comments are really appreciated.

Less is More - Week 49 - Colour - Purple

2012-01-11T16:45:00.000Z

This week the LIMettes have been asked to base their card around a colour theme which is:

Predominantly Purple

On some white card I have stamped the Vogue Silhouette (Stamps Happen) using Dusty Concorde DI. I then stamped the same image onto acetate using Royal Purple Stazon in. I drew around the outline and on the shadows of the dress with a Quickie Glue pen, waited for it to dry, and then used purple foil to add more colour. I then cut the acetate out and used a purple brad to attach it to the original stamped image. I matted this onto some purple mirri card. The sentiment is from Hobby Arts and I stamped it in the Dusty Concorde again and clear embossed it. It was then die cut using a labels die and mounted onto purple mirri. This was very difficult to photograph as the purple seems almost to turn black but I've taken the front view and a side view so you can see the acetate overlay.

Birds...............

2012-01-06T16:18:00.000Z

Sorry for the lack of posting but I've been busy making sample cards for our club night next Wednesday. However I knew I wanted to take up the current challenge at Make My Monday this week; the theme is Nature and this week's challenge is Birds. Also over at Judith's blog Forgotten Friday the theme is Winter Wings.

I decided to make a card from A3 pearlised card - not sure of the correct name but guess it's a stepper card without the "centre or side"!!! I cut the A3 card lengthways at 5 1/2" and then scored at 5 1/2", 11" and 13 3/4" which basically gives you a 5 1/2" square card which will fit into a 6x6 envelope. The papers are from a Chocolate Baroque set called Pretty Birds. I printed out one of the backing papers and then two of the main page with the blue tit on it. I cut the piece to size and mounted onto matching pink and blue card and edged this with lace. I then cut out the bird from the other sheet and decoupaged over the first bird. I then used my Memory Box branch die to cut the branch for the bird to sit on. The front "step" has more backing paper and lace and I've computer generated the sentiment onto a spare piece of the Pretty Bird page and die cut using my Spellbinders Fancy Tags 3 set. I cut out a flourish using a Marianne die and then added some pretty flowers and leaves.

Thanks for taking the time to drop by.

Less is More - Week 47 - Just One Word

2011-12-30T13:40:00.000Z

Hello fellow Bloggers. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas that was filled with joy and lots of crafting goodies!!! I had some lovely presents amongst which was an OttLite which is brilliant and a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.......... just so I can get my crafting fix everywhere! It was a very busy Christmas with all the family staying over - so lots of cooking, eating and drinking. Now I'm trying to play catch up with all the washing, changing beds etc - but decided I just had to get back into my craft room. For this week's challenge over at Less is More the girls have asked us to create a CAS card using "Just One Word".

I decided to use a digistamp which I've had for ages. I printed it out on my laser printer (which was set up over Christmas by my brilliant nephew Keir) and then put it through my foiling machine. I'm hoping you can see the foiling but it's difficult to photograph! The hearts were coloured with Promarkers and I then die cut the image using the largest scalloped heart nestie which I then gold inked around the edge. It's been attached to a square top fold card and I've added three roses and some gems.

Thanks for dropping by. I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year.

Less is More - Week 46 - Music

2011-12-22T14:07:00.000Z

It's theme week over at Less is More and the theme they've chosen is:

MUSIC

I didn't have any music stamps and then found this great digi stamp and sentiment from TLC Creations.

I printed out the sentiment and the three kings image with the music background and die cut them with a mixture of nesties. The image was coloured using Promarkers. I ran a piece of miri card through my Joy with a music embossing folder. I've used a piece of black Anna-Marie's ribbed card for my A5 base and just added some gems to finish off.

As this will be my last post til after the festivities can I wish everyone out there in blogland a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. May everyone's stockings be filled with crafting goodies!!! lol

A last minute Christmas card........

2011-12-20T14:17:00.000Z

Hello everyone - things have been pretty hectic lately hence my not posting as much as normal but I'm sure it's the same for everyone. I recently bought the country landscape die from Memory Box and made this card. I saw something similar on a blog a while ago but unfortunately can't remember which one. I placed the die on an A5 card blank and ran it through my Joy Trouvaille. I then cut a piece of navy card to size and punched a circle for the moon. I then sprayed the navy card with Crafters' Companion Iridescent Glitter Spray. The country landscape die cuts a convenient slit in your base card and you can then slip the navy card through from the back. I lightly sponged shadows under the trees and houses using Faded Jeans DI. I die cut the tree from black card - it's the Twiggy Tree also from Memory Box and edged the branches in white. The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat printed out and cut to size. I added some silver peel off borders and gems to finish off the card.

Thanks for dropping by.

Let it Snow - Let it Snow - Let it Snow...........

2011-12-12T15:33:00.000Z

The latest challenge over at both Less is More and at Winter Wonderland is Let it Snow. The Less is More challenge is for a one layer card. I have used a digi stamp from Imag-e-nation and the sentiment is from a set by Pink Petticoat. I copied and pasted the winter scene into a Word document and did the same with the sentiment. I then resized them to the card size I wanted. I have lightly coloured the image with Flex and Promarkers and then used Stickles Star Dust over areas to create the snow. I've also dotted some in the sky as snowflakes (not sure if it's come out as well as I hoped in the photo). I also coloured the letters "o" in the sentiment and again added Stickles. For the border down the side of the card I used a Martha Stewart punch.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 44 - Colour - Green

2011-12-04T17:01:00.000Z

The challenge this week over at Less Is More is the colour GREEN. I decided to use a word block stamp from Darkroom Door called Christmas. I stamped it onto cream card using Stampin Up Old Olive and then clear embossed it. I then die cut it using nesties. The mount and card base were then die cut using my Go Kreate XL Frilly Frames. A simple green and white dotty ribbon finished it off.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 47 - Cute Christmas Critters & St Luke's Charity Challenge - Let it Snow

2011-12-03T16:07:00.000Z

I just can't believe that this is the last week of challenges over at Bah! Humbug! - and it's Cute Christmas Critters - it doesn't seem like 5 minutes since we started way back in January! Also over at St Luke's Charity Challenge their challenge is Let it Snow. I had already started on a card and it will match in with both challenges. I have used the great Stamp Addicts set called Polar Bears SA-6019. I just love using the polar bears as they're soooo cute!! On a piece of black card I stamped the icicles and embossed with white embossing powder. I stamped the star and embossed with silver detail e/p. The polar bears were stamped with Memento ink onto white card and then cut out. I have used a Letraset Fleximarker to add a blue tinge around the outside of the images. I cut around the arms of the large polar bear so I could "sit" the baby one inside. The sentiment is from the same set and I have used my Stampin Up oval and scalloped oval punches to cut out and mat onto silver card. The whole thing has been mounted onto silver mirri which I embossed with a Cuttlebug dotty e/f. I added a ribbon to the side and a snowflake die cut out of silver glitter card using my Whimsy Stamps Winter's Jewel 1 die. I then mounted this onto a black DL card blank and added some snow.

Thanks for stopping by - have a great weekend fellow bloggers.

Shabby Chic birthday card

2011-12-02T13:32:00.000Z

It's my sister Val's birthday today (why not pop over to her blog to wish her Happy Birthday). I decided to use my JustRite Shabby Chic stamp set which match my nesties Labels Four set.

I used a piece of Kanban card to create an A5 card blank and then used my dies to make the front opening for the label. To do this you need to place your die horizontally across the front inside of your card with the edge nestling up to the edge of the card. Mark the halfway line of the die (vertically as this will be your fold line) and tape the die onto your card so it doesn't move. Line up your cutting plates with your pencilled line - eg you will have half the die hanging over the end of the plates. Put it through your cutting machine and then put it through again but this time the whole card and die to emboss it. What happens is that the inside half of the die cuts but the outside just embosses so you can make the fold in your card with the actual shape protruding from the main card. Possibly this is a better photo for you to see what I mean...........

I then stamped and gold embossed the three images, one main and two smaller for the right hand side of the card, and these were coloured using a mixture of Letraset Flexi and Promarkers before die cutting them and mounting onto mats. As the front of the card is now actually the inside of the card it didn't have any embossing so I used a Clarity swirl stamp to add some gold embossing to match the rest of the card. The small perfume bottle was stamped, embossed and coloured as above and then cut out and added to the front of the card using Pinflair Glue Gel. The hatpins and flowers were from my stash as was the ribbon which was tied around the card and then I added super sticky tape down the length to allow me to "ruffle" some more ribbon over the top.

Here's another view of the card....................

JustRite Friday Challenge #063

2011-11-29T10:38:00.001Z

The current JustRite Friday Challenge is asking that you use JustRite stamps on your project. For those who aren't familiar with these stamps they are the ones that have been manufactured specifically to match the Spellbinders dies. I have stamped and embossed with WOW glitter embossing powder a Christmas ornament and sentiment from the JustRite Merry & Bright stamp set. I then die cut it using my Spellbinders Heirloom Ornaments 2010 dies and cut a red mat which had been sprayed with Crafters Companion gold glitter spray. I took a blank DL card and adhered some paper from my stash, added an edging of red liner tape all around the edge of the BP and poured over red glitter. I also put a line of red liner down the centre of the card to act as a ribbon. I also used the top hanging part of the ornament, from the same stamp set, and embossed in gold e/p, added a red bow, some poinsettia flowers and some gems.
Thanks for dropping in today. Happy crafting.

A 1940's card............

2011-11-28T10:16:00.000Z

It's my friend Anne's birthday today. She and her husband Andy are really into the 40's era and go to lots of events centred around this time - they are going away for a weekend in a few months where you have to dress up!!!!! Perhaps it's their age.......... lol. Anyway I decided to theme her card around this and used my 40's disc for CraftArtist. Everything on the card, which is an 8x8, the insert and the envelope (which you can just see in the background) was made using CraftArtist - with the exception of some Tim Holtz Kraft Resist paper on the base and some lace which I coloured with Distress Inks - oh, and the photo of Anne herself. I printed out the main layer which I then tore, crumpled and distressed and then printed all the elements which I decoupaged. I've just had a phone call from Anne and she's over the moon with it! So much so she wants to come over and see how CraftArtist works - perhaps we will have another convert!

Less is More - Week 43 - A bit of Bling......

2011-11-27T13:31:00.000Z

This week the lovely ladies at Less is More's challenge is:

A BIT OF

I decided to use the lovely snowflake border stamp in my IndigoBlu "Here Comes Santa" stamp set. I used VersaMark ink and stamped it twice across the DL card blank and then heat embossed with detail gold e/p. I then did the same with the sentiment stamp which is also from the same set. The "bling" is obviously all the jewels............ I started off just using the clear but decided it needed a touch of colour and so found these tiny red gems. I then tried - and failed - to take a good photograph of the card and ended up having to scan it (which I know Mandi & Chrissie don't like but needs must!).

Thanks for stopping and spending time at my blog.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 46 - Fabric

2011-11-26T14:30:00.000Z

The lovely ladies over at Bah Humbug have challenged us to make something with fabric this week. Well I just so happened to be making a felted calendar for 2012 so this is ideal for the challenge. I started off making my own felted fabric from wool tops. I then made a template (using an old CD) and created my design within it which I numbered and cut out. I pinned these pieces onto the various coloured fabrics and cut out. I cut out a circle from black felt and then added my cut out coloured pieces in the correct order. I used my Janome embellisher to attach the design to the felt backing. I cut out another circle of black felt and embellished it to the main design around the edge - before finishing the circle I slipped in the old CD for added stability. I added a piece of black felt as a hanging loop and a piece at the bottom to attach my calendar to. The calendar has been covered with black card and peel-offs attached for the 2012 and around the edges. To make it more Christmassy I die cut a Christmas tree from red velvet using a Marianne die and backed it with silver card to make it stand out.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Steampunk birthday card

2011-11-24T11:41:00.000Z

It was my DH's birthday the other day and I made him a Steampunk card. I used an image from Jem's Designs Steampunk for Men CD and decoupaged up the layers and added to die cut mats from my nesties. I then took some pewter metal sheet and die cut some cogs using my Sprightly Sprockets dies and aged them with alcohol ink. The sentiment in the corner is a digistamp which says "you must know everything.......with age comes knowledge"!!! Not that I was trying to say he's getting old but........... lol.

Thanks for dropping by.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 45 - Bags & Boxes

2011-11-22T14:14:00.000Z

This week's challenge over at Bah! Humbug! is Bags and Boxes and I must admit I was thinking "oh, that's good - we made these at our recent Stampin Up day"!!!!! Then I thought better about it............... I have added a couple of photos of a brown kraft bag and clear pail that we made on our day but they are at the bottom of this post. I decided to make a Scallop Bag and started off with a piece of cardstock measuring 10" x 4" and made it into a basic box. I then die cut scallops using my nesties; firstly in red card, then gold mirri, then b/p from my stash. I glued these together for the back and front of the box and scored the bottom of both to give me six scallops which would fold under the box. I used my Crop-a-Dile to add some eyelets for the ribbon which is red rickrack. The poinsettia on the front of the box is a die from Cottage Cutz and is called Ornate Poinsettia. Must admit that after I'd put it on I thought it overwhelmed the bag a bit but had already stuck it down!

Here are the photos of the bag and pail full of Christmas tags that we recently made at our Stampin Up Extravaganza workshop. The insert in the photo of the pail shows the top of it with it's embellishment.

Thanks for stopping by.

Less is More - Week 42 - Theme - Silhouette

2011-11-20T17:04:00.000Z

The girls over at Less is More have challenged us to come up with a card designed around silhouettes this week. I decided to use this image from a Debbie Moore CD and die cut it using my oval nesties. I then triple embossed using Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel. I die cut the corresponding scalloped oval in black card and mounted. I've used a square white linen card and put it through my Joy using a Tim Holtz embossing folder but just embossing the bottom 2/3rds of the card. I tied on a polka dot ribbon and added the silhouette. I then stamped the sentiment (Hobby Art) using black Versafine ink and added three black pearls to the bottom.

Thanks for dropping by.

Make My Monday - Week 24 - on a roll.............!

2011-11-18T16:34:00.001Z

Hi everyone - well I think I'm on a roll at the moment...... isn't it strange that you can go for ages without much inspiration and then all of a sudden it hits you!!! lol So, I thought I'd better strike whilst the iron's hot............. Another two cards for the Make My Monday challenge for a CAS card with the emphasis on the sentiment.

For the first one I have used a Memory Box die (think I'm addicted to these!!!) where it die cuts just the holes/bubbles in the word Joy and leaves the actual card intact rather than die cutting the word out. I have backed it with red glitter card and then white pearl and put on a black DL card with some black and red spotty ribbon. The edge has been punched with a Martha Steward edge punch. I can hear you all saying there should be a lot of white space ..... but thought a lot of black space would suffice!!! lol

The second one is using the Stampin Up Something for Christmas stamp. I stamped it using a Kaleidacolor Royal Satin inkpad and clear embossed it. I then used my Labels 20 to die cut it and mount onto red card. The addition of some red ribbon onto a white DL card is all that was needed.

Thanks for stopping by.

Make My Monday - Week 24 - CAS Christmas Card

2011-11-17T15:35:00.000Z

The latest challenge over at Make My Monday is:

Make a CAS Christmas Card with emphasis on the Sentiment.

CAS means Clean and Simple, minimal layers and no bulky embellishments - we want to see lots of White Space.

For this I've used the lovely Peace stamp from Clarity Stamps. I've gold embossed it onto white pearl card and then stamped again onto copy paper and cut an aperture in the letter C. I placed the copy paper over the top of the embossed image and taped it down. I punched a circle out of the top of a sticky note for the moon and placed it on the card. I then used my blending tool and Distress Inks to colour the sky and mountains. I then removed the moon mask and using the Clarity miniature stamps used Memento ink and stamped Santa and his sleigh in the sky and then the fir trees - using the ink, blot, plot method to get a look of trees in the distance. I then die cut the sentiment using my Spellbinders Creative Book Pages, ran a gold pen around the outside and mounted it onto a square white card blank. Then came the tricky part of the operation - photographing it!!! I have posted two photos so you could see one that shows the gold embossing and one that doesn't but shows the colours better in the letter C - so, you choose which is best!!

Bah Humbug - Challenge 44 - Baby's 1st Christmas

2011-11-17T09:01:00.000Z

Those lovely ladies over at Bah Humbug have got us making a Christmas card with the theme of Baby's 1st Christmas this week. Hmmm - didn't have much in the way that would suit this challenge so went on the hunt and found a lovely digi stamp at Pink Gem Designs. I've coloured her (could be a boy or girl depending on what colours you use) with Letraset Flexmarkers, die cut the image with my beaded oval nesties and sponged the edge. I've used a blank 6x6 card and covered it with backing paper from my stash. I've added a piece of pink edged lace and a holly vine (Memory Box die) made out of silver mirri. The final touch was some Stickles.

Thanks for looking.

Less is More - Week 41 - One Layer - Leaves........ No 2!

2011-11-16T13:51:00.000Z

I've obviously been hit with some inspiration this week!!! lol Here's my second offering for the Less is More challenge. I took an 8x8 card blank and placed a Prima mask on top. I then used Distress Inks and a blending tool around the edges. The sentiment is from Hobby Arts and stamped using the DI's. Very quick and simple.

Thanks for looking.

The Craft Barn Blog Candy

2011-11-15T13:09:00.000Z

Wow - exciting news over at The Craft Barn as they're giving away a mega bundle of blog candy. Check it out here.

All you have to do to win this is....

- Be a follower

- Write a new post on your blog with the image above and a link to this post

- Come back here and leave us a little comment with a link to your blog

You have until November 25th to enter.

The lucky winner will be announced on this blog by the end of the month.

Good luck!

Less is More - Week 41 - One Layer - Leaves

2011-11-15T12:41:00.001Z

First of all I must apologise for the lack of posts over the last week or so but things have been pretty hectic as I was getting ready for our craft club night last Wednesday; then our lovely cat Fern went suddenly blind on Wednesday evening so it was panic stations and visits to the vets on Thursday where they said both her retinas had detached due to sky-high blood pressure. They gave us tablets to give her and we are keeping our fingers crossed that she may possibly get her sight back as this morning you can actually see her pupils which you couldn't before - just a grey blank which was awful. Then with all that going on my sister and brother-in-law, Val & Jim arrived on Friday ready for our Stampin Up Extravaganza on Saturday (which was thoroughly enjoyed by all). On Sunday we went to the Taunton Craft Show and they left yesterday. So hopefully back to normal now!

This week's challenge over at Less is More is One Layer - Leaves. For this card I have used my Stampin Up French Foliage stamp set. I took a blank cream square card and stamped the French text using Distress Inks. I then sponged Flitter onto the leaf stamps and let them dry slightly before covering with gilding flakes. I then stamped the Paris postmark and added some pearls.

Thanks for looking.

Less is More - Week 39 - Stars

2011-11-01T12:00:00.000Z

This week Less is More have asked the LIMettes to theme their card around stars. As it's getting close to Christmas I thought I'd make a Christmas card. I decided to use this digi stamp of two carolers in a wintery scene. After I'd printed it out I coloured it using a mixture of Flex and Promarkers and used an embossing pen to gold emboss the star. The background sky was sponged using Distress Inks. I die cut a circle from the centre of a card blank and then die cut a scalloped frame. I added acetate to the back of the aperture, added some foam tape and a little "snow" and placed the image over to make a shaker card. The sentiment is from my Stampin Up Contempo Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 43 - Die Cuts

2011-10-30T15:55:00.000Z

This week's challenge over at Bah Humbug is die cuts. I've just received my Memory Box Poinsettia Wreath and matching stamp so just had to use them! I started off with a square white card blank and die cut sage green backing paper from my stash with nesties and then put it through again with an embossing folder. I stamped the poinsettia image and then used the die to cut it out. This was then coloured using Promarkers with a little added Glamour Dust to the centres of the flowers. This was mounted onto gold mirri which had again been die cut using my circles dies. I've placed a gold ribbon across as a border and added a strip of red card punched using my Martha Stewart snowflake punch. The sentiment has been gold embossed and I've used Spellbinders Fancy Tags 3 to die cut. This was curved slightly and placed over the centre of the wreath using Pinflair Glue Gel. The finishing touches are a ribbon bow and some card candy in the corners.

Thanks for dropping by.

Anniversary card

2011-10-26T13:40:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post today. It's our wedding anniversary on Thursday - married for 21 years........ perhaps he'll give me the key to the door!!! lol Had a hard time deciding what type of card to make Tony but he normally appreciates anything I do which is great. Unfortunately he's had a bad back for a while so I just couldn't resist this image and especially the sentiment! They are both from a set called The Wrinklies from Dimension Fourth. The image has been stamped onto cream card with Memento ink and coloured with Letraset Flexmarkers and Promarkers, cut out using Nesties and Diamond Glaze added to his glasses and pipe. I've used Stampin Up backing card and a Martha Steward large edger punch. I added a piece of gingham ribbon and some gems. The sentiment was stamped and clear embossed and cut out using the same Nesties. After I had made the card I realised it didn't mention anything about our anniversary - doh!!!! So I created that on the computer using Kon Tiki Enchanted font and used a Stampin Up punch to cut it out.

Thanks for looking.

Less is More - Week 38 - Polka Dots

2011-10-25T14:01:00.002+01:00

This week the Divas over at Less is More have asked us to create a card on the following lines (or dots!!!!!)......

This week we have a really easy recipe which is simply

POLKA DOTS

As long as your design is Clean and Simple, has some white space (or its equivalent) and polka dots in evidence somewhere, it will be perfect for this challenge.

I have used a stamp from a Creative Expressions set and paper pieced using Stampin Up paper. I've used Letraset Flexmarkers to colour where necessary. The image has been cut using Labels 20 which is one of my favourites and matted onto red card which was then put through my Joy in a Swiss Dots embossing folder. The sentiment is from the same set and stamped in red and clear embossed and again cut out using Labels 20. It says "Fashion fades, only style remains. Coco Chanel". The only added embellishment is some red and white dotty ribbon.

Thanks for looking.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 42 - With men in mind

2011-10-24T16:36:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Humbug Hall is With Men in Mind - well, I ask you, when aren't they!!! lol

I've used Mistletoe Gilly from Prairie Fairy which is a digi stamp. She's been coloured with Letraset Flexmarkers, die cut using nesties and mounted on a larger nestie. Backing paper is from my stash. I have added some lace. The sentiment is computer generated and I've added some flowers and gems. I've also used Diamond Glaze on Gilly's glasses which gives a good effect. Hopefully whoever received this card will pucker up..............

Bah Humbug - Challenge 41 - Good to Eat

2011-10-19T12:35:00.000+01:00

The lovely ladies over at Bah! Humbug! have challenged us to make a Christmas card with the theme "Good to Eat". Unfortunately I don't have any food related Christmas stamps so went to the Me to You CDs and picked out the lovely Tatty Ted offering a chance to pull his cracker with a plate of mince pies on the table. I printed out the decoupage on pearl photo paper and used silicone on all the various layers. This has then been matted onto red card and the whole thing put on an 8x8" card blank. The bp is from my stash. The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set punched out with their square scalloped oval and matted onto red card again. The ornament and corner flourish are Memory Box dies. I have added Stickles to the hat and garland round the chair and a ribbon bow.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 37 - Cocktails

2011-10-17T10:03:00.000+01:00

Morning everyone - this week's challenge over at Less is More is:

COCKTAIL
You may interpret this however you wish... your favourite tipple, the colours of a cocktail or a simply cocktail of colours. Let your imagination run with this one, it will be interesting to see how imaginative you can be.
Here is a little fun... you can follow the link to see what cocktail you are... it's interesting to see that both of us are 'poised' ladies in the same proportions what's more!

What's the recipe for your personality

Blogthings: Learn something interesting about yourself

This is what they say about me!!!

You Are Made Of Understanding, Laughter, and Mischief

3 parts Understanding
2 parts Laughter
1 part Mischief

And a Splash of Power

Finish off with an olive

Why don't you follow the links and see what they say about you!!! lol

Now to my card for this challenge. I can't remember where I got this stamp set from but I've had it quite a while and it fits the bill for this challenge to a T (or perhaps that should be to a Martini.........). I have stamped the cocktail glass three times onto white card and then stamped the cherry in each glass in red. These were cut out and matted onto red card. The backing paper was made up from stamping another cherry in red and matting onto red card. The sentiment was stamped onto white card and then was punched out and matted using Stampin Up punches. I added some Glossy Accents to the cherries in the glasses. I must admit the sentiment makes me giggle each time I see it.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 36 - One layer hearts

2011-10-10T15:36:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Less is More is One Layer:

The ♥ can be singular, multiple, any colour, but, MUST be a one layer card, with no additional layers stuck on, apart from the odd embellishment or ribbon!

I've taken a cream 5"x5" card blank and placed the largest of the Spellbinders scalloped heart dies centrally on the card front and then placed a smaller plain heart die in the centre of this. I then ran them through my Joy machine with the embossing plates so nothing was cut. I then die cut a piece of copy paper using the scalloped heart die so I could place this over the embossed shape on the card. I have used Distress Inks all through this project and first stamped the heart stamp from SU Punch Potpourri which just fits inside the small embossed heart and then I placed a mask over the top of it. I used my ink dusters to colour the inside of the scalloped heart and then stamped a Clarity Stamp large floral flourish stamp over the top. To finish I inked the smaller heart and stamped the sentiment which is from the SU Wonderful Words set.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 40 - Glitz & Glitter & Timeless Tuesday Ornaments

2011-10-09T12:31:00.001+01:00

This week the Head Honchos over at Bah! Humbug! have asked us to create a Glitz & Glitter card. Over at Timeless Tuesday their challenge calls for you to use an ornament in your card or to make an ornament so I thought this would fit the bill. For this I have stamped and embossed with WOW glitter embossing powder a Christmas ornament and sentiment from the JustRite Merry & Bright stamp set. I then die cut it using my Spellbinders Heirloom Ornaments 2010 dies and cut a red mat which had been sprayed with Crafters Companion gold glitter spray. I took a blank DL card and adhered some paper from my stash, added an edging of red liner tape all around the edge of the BP and poured over red glitter. I also put a line of red liner down the centre of the card to act as a ribbon. I also used the top hanging part of the ornament, from the same stamp set, and embossed in gold e/p, added a red bow, some poinsettia flowers and some gems.

Thanks for dropping in today. Happy crafting.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 39 - Nativity

2011-10-06T10:48:00.000+01:00

The latest challenge over at Humbug Hall is Nativity. Now I was pondering on this one as I didn't have any rubber stamps, or digi stamps, that fit the challenge. It's not often that I do some decoupage but thought that it was the only option this week. I had a free download from Cuddly Buddly which is a cutsie and then realised I had another nativity scene which was more traditional from a company called Card Making Downloads - so I've made two cards for the challenge. Nothing much to say except I printed them out, cut them out and stuck them together!!! lol I've added some Stickles Icicle glue to the stars on the traditional card and that's all I've done.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Less Is More - Week 35 - Colour of your eyes

2011-10-05T12:11:00.000+01:00

This weeks challenge over at LIM is:

Here we are again and it's time for another COLOUR challenge.

This week we have chosen

THE COLOUR OF YOUR EYES

You don't necessarily have to have an exact match, but if your eyes are blue, then any shade of blue will be fine, likewise with brown, grey, green etc.. (We aren't as mean as all that!)

However, the colour you choose should be the predominant colour on your card... we don't want to see just a hint of it.

I decided to use this stamp again and I think it's from Impression Obsession but I've had it so long I can't quite remember. I've got green eyes so have used Distress Inks in Crushed Olive and Forrest Moss to stamp the image and then die cut using my Spellbinders Blossom dies. I've decoupaged the layers using Pinflair onto a cream card blank. The sentiment is a Hobby Arts stamp using Forrest Moss.

Thanks for dropping by.

Anniversary card

2011-10-04T09:59:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone - just a quick post this morning showing an anniversary card I made for my sister Val and husband Jim. I took an A5 card blank and die cut it using nesties and done the same with gold mirri. I've used a Marianne cut and emboss folder for the main image and added a digi stamp sentiment and flowers die cut using a Spellbinders set called Anemone Flower Topper.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 34 - Sketch

2011-09-30T17:30:00.000+01:00

Think I've just got this in by the skin of my teeth this week........... the challenge over at Less is More is a sketch. For this quick card I die cut an aperture out of paper using Nesties so I could mask off the rest of my card. I then inked the edges with Distress Inks and stamped the butterfly image from my Stampin Up set "A touch of Nature" using brown Versafine ink. I then cut out a mask for the butterfly so I could stamp the large SU French text background stamp over the butterfly. I inked two borders using the same Distress Inks (which are straight but look a bit wonky from taking the photo at an angle) and then stamped the sentiment which was from the same stamp set. The two punched butterflies are from my new EK Success 3 butterfly punch and were inked before being adhered to the card.

Thanks for looking.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 38 - Rudolph

2011-09-29T17:11:00.000+01:00

The challenge this week over at Bah Humbug is Rudolph/Reindeer. I am afraid this has been a real rush for me as I've been busy getting ready to do a Macmillan Coffee Morning tomorrow and had nearly 70 cards to do inserts for, get envelopes, bag etc etc................ Still everything's nearly ready and I just couldn't give up my 100% challenge entry to Bah Humbug so here's my card.

I have used a stamp set from IndigoBlu called Here Comes Santa (HC1) for the snowflake border and sentiment and the reindeer stamp is from Stampin up and I've used IndigoBlu's Flitter to attach the metallic flakes. You use a piece of cut and dry to add the Flitter to your stamps, then stamp, leave a short while and add the flakes. It is an extremely sticky glue and you must make sure to wash your stamps immediately afterwards in warm water.

Thanks for dropping by.

Make My Monday - Challenge 16 Metal Steampunk

2011-09-20T17:20:00.000+01:00

This weeks challenge over at Make My Monday is continuing with their Steampunk challenge using Metal on our cards. I have used a Kanban image of the dapper gentleman. Backing paper is from their Industriana pad, as is the sentiment and ribbon border. I took some sage green card and put it through my Joy with a TH embossing folder. I then rubbed some metallic rub on over the raised areas, used my Versamark pad and clear embossed the piece. The metal element comes from the gears which I have die cut using Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets and my pewter Art Emboss foil and then they've been coloured using alcohol inks. The car registration number strip came from my stash. Don't think the photo does it justice as it's quite a dark card but hopefully manly enough!!!

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 33 - 1000 challenge Anything Goes CAS Entry No 2

2011-09-20T10:39:00.000+01:00

Here is another entry for the Less is More 1000 Challenge. Another Christmas card and I just had to use this gorgeous Polar Bear stamp set from Stamp Addicts. Stamped both the large and small polar bear and coloured round the edges in my Glacier Blue Flexmarker. I then cut each of them out, cut around the large bear's arms so I could "sit" the baby bear inside looking like it's being cuddled! On a piece of pearlised white card (Anna-Marie's) I stamped the icicles and then stamped and silver embossed the star. I sponged around the outside with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and then added Glamour Dust to the icicles. This has been mounted onto an A6 pearlised card blank. The sentiment is from the same stamp set and I've inked around the edges with a silver marker.

Happy crafting.

Less is More - Week 33 - 1000 challenge Anything Goes CAS

2011-09-19T09:00:00.001+01:00

This week the lovely ladies at Less is More are trying to get 1000 submissions for this challenge partly to see if Blogger goes down!!! lol I do hope they achieve this figure. It's a CAS challenge again this week so I've taken an A6 red card blank and stamped up my Christmas tree and Joy sentiment from the Chocolate Baroque Steampunk Christmas set. Stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with gold detail embossing powder. I've added some gems and a "faux" ribbon bow at the top.

Thanks for visiting me today.

Bah Humbug Challenge 37 - Swirls & Flourishes

2011-09-18T11:53:00.001+01:00

This weeks challenge over at Humbug Towers is Swirls & Flourishes. I decided to use one of my new Me to You Winter Wonderland stamp set as I think these images are so cute. Stamped in Memento and coloured in with Letraset Fleximarkers which are brilliant. I do love my Promarkers and Tria pens but love the brush tip on the Fleximarkers. Can't wait til they bring out new colours to add to the range. I've used my nesties to die cut the image and mat. The backing paper is from my stash. I put a piece of silver mat card in an embossing folder (swirls) and ran it through my Joy Trouvaille, rounded the corners and added a pink spotty ribbon. The main image was layered on top. I have used a Marianne Flourish, Stampin Up sentiment (cut using SU circle and scalloped circle punches) and added a piece of ribbon to this. The snowflake is a Whimsy Stamps die and this was a strange bit of serendipity. I wanted to cut the snowflake out of glittered paper but thought it would be too thin and might tear, so placed it on a piece of the pink card and ran it through my Joy. When it came out the other side it had sort of welded both pieces together which was quite a nice effect so I left it. I added some Embellishment Attic Snow for Tatty Ted to stand on.

Thanks for dropping by.

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Less is More - Week 32 - One Layer Seeing Double

2011-09-15T17:20:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Less is More is One Layer - Seeing Double. For this card I've taken a square white card blank which has a slightly textured finish - must admit I wished I'd used a plain card at the end but I've been short of time this week so carried on regardless! I started off with the sentiment which is computer generated and then I have used my butterfly stamp by Inkadinkado. I've stamped with Broken Glass Distress Ink and then clear embossed it. I then cut out a mask and placed it over the image and inked up my stamp with Faded Jeans D/I; stamped the image and again clear embossed it.

Thanks for dropping by.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 36 - Paper Weaving

2011-09-12T17:00:00.000+01:00

This weeks challenge over at Humbug Hall is paper weaving. Had to have a little think about this one but ended up with a heart shaped Christmas card. I started off using two pieces of light cardstock from my stash cut to 14cm by 9cm and I rounded the top of each piece (I used an old CD). I then made four cuts (giving 5 strips) from the bottom edge to about three quarters of the way up to the top. I then inked all the edges and used a swirl stamp over both pieces. I then put both pieces together at right angles weaving each strip over and under the co-ordinating strip on the other piece. I then fastened the loose ends and used d/s tape to attach it to a 6"x6" card base. I then cut around the heart shape. The cute baby polar bear and star are from Stamp addicts Polar Bears SA-6019. Coloured with Promarkers and die cut using nesties with matching scalloped mat behind. Flowers are from my stash and leaves were made using my Nellie Snellen punches. The sentiment is from Stampin Up Contempo Christmas set. I added a bow and matching ribbon.

Thanks for dropping by.

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Steampunk ATC

2011-09-09T10:14:00.002+01:00

This week over at Make My Monday the challenge is to design a Steampunk ATC. I really love anything Steampunk so dug deep in my stash to find some watch parts - cogs, springs etc - which I haven't used for a few years when I used to design for Stampers Mall an American website.

I cut my base ATC at 2.5" x 3.5" and sponged the edges using Distress Inks. I then added the tag, which already had cogs etc on it, after I'd embossed it with a Tim Holtz e/f. I then embossed a small piece of pewter using the same embossing folder. From this I punched two photo corners using my EK Success punch and cut a strip to go across the centre of the ATC. I printed out the hot air balloon which was a free digistamp from the lovely Carmen at Beyond The Fringe Crafts - she is amazingly generous in sharing her fab creations.. I sponged with Distress Inks and added to the ATC. I then added various cogs, springs, wheels etc from my stash; an old pen nib and a watch glass. I then used Diamond Glaze on the hot air balloon.

I've got into Steampunk so much I have even managed to find a Steampunk Clock (on my side bar)!!! lol

Thanks for visiting my blog.

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LIM Week 31 - Colour - Metallics

2011-09-06T15:59:00.000+01:00

This week the Divas over at Less is More have asked us to create a CAS card using a colour theme which, this week, is:

METALLIC

I've been dying to use my new Marianne's Christmas Ornament dies and this was the perfect challenge for them. I took some Art Emboss medium weight Pewter which I normally use in my free machine embroidery and die cut three shapes; two of the more open designs and one of the slightly more solid design. They cut beautifully and, because the pewter is quite flexible, came out of the die easily. I attached some metallic black and silver cord to the top of each ornament and then mounted onto a piece of black card to which I had put a strip of red liner tape around the outside edges and added metallic flakes to. I then used Diamond Glaze on the inside of each of the ornaments to give a nice shiny finish and mounted this onto an A5 ribbed black card base. The sentiment is from Stampin Up Contempo Christmas and embossed in detail silver e/p. To finish I've gone round all the edges with a silver pen.

Thanks for leaving your comments - they are very much appreciated.

Bah Humbug Challenge 35 Christmas Sentiments/Text

2011-09-04T14:16:00.000+01:00

This weeks challenge over at Humbug Hall is to use Christmas Sentiments/Text. Now I've got lots of sentiment stamps but had seen an idea I liked so thought I'd give it a go.

I took some Christmas backing paper that went together and cut various widths (2 of each and only one of the central one) which I rolled up making sure I had some d/s tape at the end to stick it all together. I then die cut two mounts, one green and one red, from my Go Kreate Frilly Frames #5. I then used silicone to glue the tubes (for want of a better word.....) centrally on the smaller mount and then computer generated my Merry Christmas sentiment which I cut down to size, sponged with Distress Ink and added brads at each end. This was then placed over the tubes and stuck down onto the mat. I have used an 8x8" card blank and cut a piece of pearlised white card to 7x7", clipped the corners and added some border peel-offs. Edges were inked with a gold pen and I added an organza ribbon.

Thanks for dropping by.

Take 3 and Faux Postage Challenges

2011-08-31T16:31:00.002+01:00

This week Mandi and Chrissie over at Less is More have given us a recipe challenge as follows

Take 3 Challenges

We want you to choose 3 from any of our previous 29 and combine them in your design.

I am also going to enter this into the challenge over at Rainbow Lady where Chocolate Baroque are sponsoring a Faux Postage challenge.

Now giving us a challenge is fine but expecting us to choose three out of the last 29 challenges goes a bit far!!! lol For my card I have chosen Week 4 Three Squares, Week 15 Embossing and Week 19 In the Frame.

I've taken an A5 card blank and stamped my Judikins Square Postage Frame. I then masked off the outside, punched a circle for the sun/moon and then brayered using Big & Juicy Foliage. I removed the punched circle and then moved onto the other two postage frames in turn. I then inked up my Judikins African Safari cube stamp and stamped an image inside each of the frames. To finish the card off I used my Hougie Board to add some embossed lines.

Thanks for dropping in.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 34 - Here come the Girls

2011-08-28T17:33:00.000+01:00

The lovely ladies over at Humbug Hall have set this week's challenge as Here come the Girls. I had just got a free digistamp from Jossi Designs and she's a lovely girl in full Xmas outfit. I printed her out onto super smooth card and coloured using Promarkers. I then die cut the image using Labels 20 and gold inked around the edges. I've used an A5 red card base and the backing paper is from my stash. I used a die cut shape in red (kindly given to my by my friend Anne) and put it through my Joy in a Cuttlebug embossing folder called snowfall. The central border is a Martha Stewart snowflake punch. After I'd layered everything on the card I decided the main image was perhaps a wee bit too wide so scored and folded it at the sides and mounted it using double sided tape at the side and silicone glue in the centre - although I'm not sure if that shows up in the photo. Glamour Dust has been added to all the white fur on her outfit and I've added some poinsettia flowers, gems and a ribbon to finish off.

Thanks for dropping by.

Congratulations

2011-08-27T16:43:00.000+01:00

I've just had the wonderful news that my youngest nephew, Keir, and his wife, Lara, are expecting their first baby. As you can imagine they are over the moon (as is my sister!!!). I thought I'd send them a card congratulating them on their achievement.........

Both the image and sentiment are digi stamps. Keir was trying to explain to me that the scan of the baby looked like a peanut in it's shell I thought this image of the baby in the pea pod was pretty appropriate. They don't know the sex of the baby so I have played safe and used a white and green palette. The background paper and white embossed frame are from my stash, as are the papers, dangling gems and flowers and I've used my Nellie Snellen embossing punches to make the leaves. Added some gems and ribbon and the card was finished.

Purple Poppies - A colour challenge - Chocolate Baroque

2011-08-25T20:40:00.000+01:00

Glenda's just issued a challenge over on her blog which originated from beautiful poppies seeding themselves in the gravel where they park their cars. They are such an unusual colour she has issued the challenge based on their colours. As I've been off line all day due to problems with BT I thought I'd play along with this as the colours are gorgeous.......

I started off with the Artylicious Essence of Nature CD and printed out some background paper and a tag. I then found some lovely circle frames which I also printed out. I've then taken an 8x8" scalloped card blank and matted on some purple card which had the top and bottom edges punched with a Martha Stewart edge punch. The background paper was matted onto some pewter mirri and black card and I then criss-crossed some purple ribbon over. The main image is a Penny Black stamp called "Flying Stars" which I inked with Distress Inks and clear embossed. I then used a Quickie Ink Pen and added glitter. I cut out the circle frame using my EK Success circle cutter and added some acetate behind the aperture. I used some shaker tape around the frame and added some more glitter to the image and mounted on top of the background papers. The sentiment and tag were from the Essence of Nature CD and I then added some flowers.

Thanks for stopping by - please leave a comment as they are always appreciated.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 33 - Something new

2011-08-24T16:01:00.001+01:00

This week Ann and Max over at Humbug Hall have asked us to make a Christmas card using something new. As I had recently bought this lovely stencil from Dreamweaver I thought it was about time I used it. I taped it onto black card using low tack masking tape and then spread embossing paste through. I carefully lifted up the stencil and then sprinkled it with Art Glitter from the Monochromatic Brown set. I left it to dry thoroughly and then brushed off the excess glitter (most of which attached itself to me!!! lol). I mounted this onto copper mirri and punched the corners with my SU ticket punch. I then found the backing paper in my stash which went perfectly with the image. The black border is a Martha Stewart edge punch with some copper ribbon underneath. The corners have been punched using an EK Success photo corner punch. The sentiment is from my SU Contempo Christmas set and fitted perfectly into my EK Success ticket punch.

Thanks for dropping in.

DYSU Challenge - Thank You

2011-08-23T17:35:00.000+01:00

The challenge over at DYSU is Thank You and as I had to make a thank you card for some friends who hosted a party on Saturday. I started off embossing a piece of white linen card using a Crafts Too butterfly folder. I then cut this out around the image, inked it with Distress Inks and then sprayed with iridescent Crafters Companion spray. I tied some purple ribbon around a 6x6" card blank and then stuck the embossed panel on the left hand side. I die cut some butterflies out of pearlescent and mirri card using my Stampin Up Beautiful Butterflies embosslit and added them to the card. The final touch was the sentiment (again SU) which I cut out using a Stampin Up scalloped square punch and added some gems.

Thanks for stopping by.

Less is More - Week 29 - Things that Move

2011-08-21T11:58:00.002+01:00

This weeks challenge over at Less is More is Things that Move. I haven't made a man's card recently so thought I would use this Stampin Up motorbike stamp. It's stamped in Black Soot DI and clear embossed. The sentiment is a digistamp. This was die cut with a labels nestie and mounted on black card. The border is a Martha Stewart edge punch and I've used some gun metal pearls to finish off.

Thanks for stopping by.

St Luke's Charity Challenge - Oh I do like to be beside the seaside......

2011-08-20T16:14:00.003+01:00

The latest challenge over at St Luke's Charity is "Oh I do like to be beside the seaside". I've recently been taking the mammoth task of sorting out all my unmounted stamps which were in poly-boxes but kept getting mixed up - so I thought I'd mount them all on laminating sheets and file in individual sections in binders. You know when you start a job and half way through wish you hadn't...............!!!! lol Anyway I came across this lovely A Little Bit Sketchy stamp set "Time Flies" by Sheena Douglass and it was perfect for this challenge.

I stamped the main image using Memento ink and coloured using Flex and Promarkers. I then cut out the image and mounted it using silicone glue on a piece of card which I had sponged with blue DI for the sky. The heart shaped clouds were also stamped and cut out and added using silicone. This has been matted and layered and placed on a top fold 6x6 card. The sentiment is from the same set cut using nesties labels and I've added a dotty pink ribbon and some gems.

Thanks for looking.

Less is More - Week 28 - Ink

2011-08-19T11:57:00.005+01:00

Well, what a wonderful excuse to get inky this week over at Less is More. But I have a confession to make........... I've actually made 3 cards as I got a bit carried away, but with all the frustrations of the email hackers this week I completely overlooked the fact it had to be a one layer card! So although mine aren't technically one layer I am going to post them anyway and hope I'm forgiven after my disastrous week - pretty please!!!! lol

I got my spin art toy off the top shelf and dusted it down. Just in case you don't know what these are they are actually kiddies toys, battery operated (although you can get smaller manual ones) and you put your piece of coated cardstock in the centre and set the machine to spin whilst dripping inks through the central opening. I've used alcohol inks here but you could just as well use acrylic inks etc etc. You can get the most amazing effects with this and for my first card I overstamped with an image which I think came from I Brake for Stamps in the States. All it needed was the addition of some ribbon.

The next one I haven't actually done anything to as it looked so much like a bird in flight that I thought it would be spoilt if I added another image. So again a piece of ribbon was added together with the sentiment which is an Anita's rubber stamp.

The third card - can you tell I was on a roll here!!!! lol - I squidged the lid of a Big & Juicy Soothing Sunset inkpad and smooched a piece of coated card over it. I then stamped the Inkadinkado butterfly on top. The butterflies are a Stampin Up sizzlet and the sentiment is from the Stampin Up Flight of the Butterfly set.

Have a great weekend.

Nightmare 24 hours..............

2011-08-18T10:08:00.000+01:00

Firstly can I offer a huge apology to all my friends who received an email purporting to be from me yesterday saying I was in Madrid and had been mugged at gun-point!!!! My gmail account had been hacked into and they had changed my password etc so I couldn't access my emails or anything - it even stops you logging into your own blog. Talk about frustrating. But what lifted my spirits were the dozens of phone calls I received from friends checking that I was okay - they mostly realised it was a scam but wanted to check anyway - so a huge THANK YOU. I must also say that Google have been great as I have now managed to recover my gmail account although every single email and contacts had been deleted........ what a way to have a spring clean eh? I have managed to recover my email contacts but nothing else unfortunately but it has allowed me back onto my blog so I'm now going to post my challenge card for Bah Humbug which was what I was in the process of doing yesterday when all this blew up.

This week the lovely ladies over at HumbugHall have set the challenge as "Kiss-mas". I've recently bought some lovely digi stamps from Teddybo and I thought the one I've used fits this challenge beautifully. I am also entering it in the Teddybo Tuesday Challenge "Love is in the air". The image is coloured using my new Letraset Flexmarkers and glitter glue has been added to their various "furry" bits!!! lol It was then die cut using a Spellbinder frameability set with the outside frame being cut from red mirri. Paper is from Papermania Classic Christmas. The sentiment is from the Stampin Up Punches Three set and punched using a SU scalloped square punch. The corners are a Marianne's die and the twiddly bits on the border are waste from the same. The addition of a bow and gems finished the card.

Thanks for dropping in and again, many thanks to all my friends xxx

Wedding card

2011-08-16T12:24:00.000+01:00

Sorry not to have posted for a few days but things have been a bit hectic here (nothing new there then!!!). Also I was asked to make a special wedding card for some neighbours who had seen the last one I had done. Trouble with that is you have to come up with something different which also has that "wow" factor (hopefully). There were no suggestions for what they wanted on the card apart from pastel colours. So I started off sorting our my nicest card/papers that I could use and I also used some of the lovely backing papers from Robert Addams Complete Wedding CD. When all this was sorted out I used my new Go Kreate Bookish dies which are remarkably like the Glitter Girls Bookatrix but easier as there are six dies and no physical cutting with scissors.

On the base layer I added some lace around the edge and then backed this layer with a photograph of the wedding location, which is Sherborne Castle Orangery, added their names, date etc and manipulated this in CraftArtist to get the right colour and theme. Each layer was then decoupaged up using silicone and I've also added vellums to a couple of the layers to give a softer effect and run some through my Joy using an embossing folder. The sentiment was computer generated and die cut using nesties and the bouquet was made using various flowers and gems that I had in my stash. The butterfly is from printed acetate cut out and layered. I then put an organza ribbon bookmark threaded through a heart embellishment and added pearls and gems to finish off.

I then made a box to match but as it is quite a large card even 12" card wasn't big enough. Luckily I had recently bought some 14" square pearlescent card from Crafters Companion and this was the exact size I needed. Even with my Joy I couldn't get the lid through to die cut the centre aperture so cut round one of the dies and then cut a frame from matching rose paper. I added some lovely glittered vellum to the aperture and added the finishing touches of a smaller bouquet, ribbon, a butterfly, their initials on a die cut heart and the sentiment.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less Is More - Week 27 - Colour of Your Nation's Flag

2011-08-09T17:02:00.000+01:00

This week Mandi & Chrissie have challenged us to use the colours of our nation's flags which should provide a riot of colour. I've decided to go with the Union Jack and red, white and blue for my card. I've taken a white linen square base card and added a strip of red organza ribbon across it. The blue mirri and white patterned paper were die cut using nesties. The butterfly is die cut using a Marianne's die with added gems. I didn't have any navy/dark blue gems so coloured some pearls with a dark blue Sharpie pen.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.

Bah Humbug Challenge 32- White on White

2011-08-08T13:28:00.000+01:00

The lovely ladies over at Humbug Towers have challenged us to make a Christmas card using
only WHITE ........... I think cards made like this look really elegant although you do get to appreciate just how many shades of white there are! For this card I started off die cutting my base card using a Go Kreate XL die. I then used the smaller die to cut my base layer and then put it through my Joy Trouvaille in a docrafts ornament embossing folder. I then die cut three circles, going from large to small, and put these through the same embossing folder. Everything was then decoupaged up using silicone glue.
Happy crafting.

You need a bit of humour when you reach 70...................

2011-08-07T12:36:00.000+01:00

My friend and neighbour Annie had been hunting round the shops for a card for her friend's 70th birthday but couldn't find anything appropriate. So she asked me if I could make one and when I said what type she started off mentioning floral etc etc but then said her friend had a sense of humour so I knew just where to go with this one.

I made a stepper card and used backing papers recently received from Chocolate Baroque as part of my renewal of membership to the Guild. I then got out my set of "The Wrinklies" stamps from Dimension Fourth and stamped the lady with the turban and coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment is also from the same set. I have used my Grand Nesties Book Pages for the mats, added some gems and a ribbon. The circle sentiment was made using CraftArtist.

Thanks for dropping by.

Bah Humbug Challenge 30 - Lace

2011-08-04T16:20:00.000+01:00

The latest challenge over at Humbug Hall is Lace. I've taken an 8" square card blank and using my Grand nesties cut some backing paper from Dovecraft "Let it Snow" using the largest die. The main image is a Lili of the Valley Christmas topper die cut using the same shape nesties but in the smaller set and mounted onto some red mirri. I've punched a border of gold linen cardstock and pleated my lace across the page. The sentiment is from the Stampin Up Contempo Christmas set, again die cut and mounted onto gold mirri. I've added a poinsettia, some gems and a sprinkling of snow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Less is More - Week 26 Lucky Dip - Fruit

2011-08-01T17:04:00.001+01:00

This week's challenge over at Less is More is FRUIT. The only stamp I have with fruit on is a Stampin Up one which has already been used by Chrissie so I turned to CraftArtist and imported a photo of a lovely apple, had a play with the layout and made up the sentiment. Very simple and I think it confirms to the CAS design theme. I added Diamond Glaze to the apple to make it nice and shiny although I'm not sure if the photo shows it up to its best as I had to turn it sideways for it to show up at all.............. think I need to go on a photography course!!! lol

Thanks for stopping by.

Gold mad.............

2011-07-31T14:22:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone. Next weekend Tony and I are going to his cousin's Golden Wedding Anniversary party so I've been working on a special card for them over the last couple of days...... in between cooking breakfasts for over 100 people!!!! Enough said.......

I decided to use my Bookatrix embossing board as everyone always seems to appreciate these cards. I decided to see how many different types/colours of gold card I actually had and was quite surprised at what I found. The base is a double sided pearl card , the second layer is a gold embossed gauzy type fabric which I've stuck onto cream pearlised card. The top layer is a fairly dull gold card which has a faint sparkle to it. On this layer I have used my SU Manhattan Rose embossing folder on each side. I've used flexible peel-offs around the edges of these layers and after shaping them around a bottle (empty!!! lol) used silicone to put them together so they kept their shape. For the sentiment I have printed this on my computer onto a clear adhesive backed sheet and used gold leaf on the back - this and the mat were cut out using nesties. The flourishes are a Marianne die and the butterflies are a Stampin Up Sizzlets die. I've used wired gems and flowers from my stash and added gems here and there. The central ribbon has been put through a diamante buckle. I've also made a box to match. Hope they like it.

Whoopee!!!! A new craft shop opening in Yeovil, Somerset

2011-07-28T17:05:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone - just wanted to give you heads up about a new craft shop opening in Yeovil next Saturday, 6th August. The shop is called:

Stamp'N'Craft
Unit 2
Merlin Road, Lynx Trading Estate Yeovil
Somerset BA20 2GZ
Tel: 01935 473115
Web: www.stampncraft.co.uk
(Note: I don't think their website is up and running yet).

I've been in touch with the owner, Beth, who said the following:

We want the shop to be a really social place where crafters can come whenever they want and have a drink and a chat and relax with like minded people. We are going to be running many workshops as we have a wonderful light and airy space set aside for workshops and demos. We would love to have some craft clubs come as well. We are specialising in stamps, such as Joanna Sheen, Chocolate Baroque, Penny Black, Sweet Pea Stamps, Hobby Art, Sheena Douglas, Stampendous and more. We will also stock inks such as Big n Juicy, Distress inks, Adirondacks, Stazon, Memento and more. We will have the entire promarker and aquamarker range. Embossing, micas, and watercolours from cosmic shimmers. Craft CDs from Debbi Moore, Joanna Sheen, My Craft Studio and Crafters Companion, which we will demo as I wont buy a CD if I cant see what is on it. Tools such as Cutting Mats, Craft Knifes, adhesives, glitters etc. Dry Embossing and die cutting tools and machines. We will also be stocking Miyuki beads and everything needed for beadweaving.

We are having 10% off on the launch day and a prize draw for anyone who makes a purchase.

The opening hours are, Mon - Sat 10:00am to 5:30pm.

Beth will be delighted to see everyone on the launch day and will appreciate your support. They
will have a suggestion box as they want to supply what their customers want while ensuring that the goods they sell are all of a very high quality.

Black, white and one other colour

2011-07-26T15:59:00.000+01:00

I'm really late for this month's challenge over at St Luke's Charity so have made two cards to compensate!!! They are both in the same colourway of black, white and Dusty Concord Distress Ink. For the first I have used my Marianne Designables DS0912 cutting and embossing folder which I just fell in love with when I first saw it. This has been mounted onto black card and then onto a 5" x 7" white pearlised card. The flower and sentiment is an Anita's stamp which was actually too long for the space so I covered the flower and inked the sentiment, stamped it and then covered the sentiment, inked the flower and placed that above. The butterflies are a new Stampin Up Embosslits folder using pearl card and colouring with the Distress Ink.

The second card was inspired by Aileen and I just couldn't resist doing a similar card using my Stampin Up Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder and Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die. This has been mounted onto some purple pearlised card and then onto black and I'm not sure you can see from the photograph but I've coloured a peel-off sentiment to add to the black margin at the right side and then placed some gems.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Blog Candy from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop

2011-07-26T13:11:00.000+01:00

Just wanted to give you heads up about some gorgeous blog candy being given by the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. Why don't you pop over and leave a comment for a chance to win.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 29 Beads

2011-07-25T15:44:00.000+01:00

His weeks challenge from Humbug Towers is beads. I've gone really small for this with a 4" square card with decorated edge from Craftwork Cards. It's covered with backing paper from my stash and the main image is stamped and embossed onto white pearl card. This is from the Stampin Up Contempo Christmas stamp set. It's been matted onto some co-ordinating card. I've then raised it up with foam pads after putting a piece of organza ribbon across. The beading on this card has been made from various beads on craft wire and I've used a Coiling Gizmo which is a really fun piece of equipment for making all kinds of wire jewellery etc.

Thanks for stopping by.

Less is More - Week 25 Recipe Button or Ribbon

2011-07-24T13:07:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge at Less is More is a recipe using either button(s) or ribbon(s). I have gone with a very simple pearl white A6 card which has been embossed with a harlequin Quickutz embossing folder. I have tied some lilac ribbon around the card making slits in each edge so I can adhere the ends to the backside of the card which will be hidden with an insert. The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set called Sincere Salutation. The addition of three gems finished it off.

Thanks for stopping by.

Die Cut Dreams - Animal Antics

2011-07-23T16:42:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Die Cut Dreams is Animal Antics which must feature an animal with four legs. I decided to make another card using CraftArtist and it was based around this lovely photo of a cat and her kitten which I couldn't resist.

Have a great weekend - at least the weather here in Somerset is looking up so I was just forced to get out and do some jobs in the garden this morning!!

Contest over at Create with TLC

2011-07-22T13:53:00.000+01:00

The lovely Paulette over at Create with TLC has set up a contest to celebrate her 300 member party and 1 year anniversary celebrations on Crafters Digital Art Centre. She has provided us all with two images to chose from to use in a creation Icard, page layout, ATC etc). The twist is that we have to provide an original sentiment to go along with the image. There will be a total of 4 winners - a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner using a random draw. The 4th winner will be chosen by Paulette based on their sentiment and if it makes the grade Paulette will turn it into wordart for everyone to see and enjoy.

I've made my card using CraftArtist and decided to use this very feminine crab.......... she looked ready to go out for a night out so came up with the sentiment Hair's done, make-up's done..... all I need now is a manicure! Hope Paulette likes it........

Thanks for stopping by.

Less is More - Week 24 Circles

2011-07-21T10:51:00.000+01:00

This week Lady LIM Chrissie and Diva Mandi at LIM Towers have challenged the LIMettes to make a CAS card using circles. For my card I've used an A5 white pearlised card blank. I've used a piece of circle backing paper and used a variety of punches to cut circles out of the paper. I then cut a piece of acetate the same size as the backing paper and ran it through my Xyron. I then placed the circle paper on top of the acetate and sprinkled Diamond Dust on top which stuck wherever I had punched the holes. I tied a ribbon (dotty pink and black of course) to the left side of this and mounted it on a piece of co-ordinating card. The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set called Congrats and I stamped the main message in pink and embossed in clear e/p and stamped the remainder in black Versafine.

Thanks for dropping by.

Hope she sees the funny side!!!!!

2011-07-20T15:57:00.000+01:00

A friend of mine has recently had to have an operation on her back which has been causing problems for a long time. As I had recently bought this stamp set called Wrinklies from Dimension Fourth I just couldn't resist using it to send Maria a card wishing her better............. I do hope she sees the funny side and it makes her giggle!!! lol

Bah Humbug Challenge 28 - Shapes

2011-07-20T13:32:00.000+01:00

This week the ladies over at Humbug Towers have asked us to make a shaped Christmas card.

At the weekend we had a marvellous workshop with the lovely Jenny, our Stampin Up demonstrator, and she had done a really nice double diamond card so I decided to use this shape for my challenge card. I began with some card I had in my stash which was cut to 12" x 5" and then I folded it to make the double diamond shape (there are lots of templates/tutorials on the net). I matted and layered silver mirri, blue pearlised and green pearlised card and stamped and embossed a snowflake from a Stampin Up set. The sentiment is also from a Stampin Up set and was cut out using the oval and scalloped oval SU punches. I have also used a Martha Stewart punch to add interest to the edges of the card and a small Tonic holly punch for the embellishments on the diamonds.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sew what.................?

2011-07-13T13:20:00.000+01:00

I've just finished my free machine embroidery classes and wanted to make a card for our tutor Lynn. It obviously had to be something associated with sewing so I used a combination of the Sewing & Stitching stamp set from Local King Rubber Stamps in Canada and a Creative Expressions stamp set.

I started off making a square easel card using my book pages nesties. I then made some backing paper using a variety of the rubber stamps, adhered to the top and then folded to make an easel card. I then die cut some felt (which absolutely cuts beautifully) using a nestie and then some card using the next size down. The main image is an old sewing machine which I stamped and clear embossed and then cut out carefully. I stamped and cut out some bobbins which I then wound threads around. The stopper on the inside is actually an EK Success button edger punch which was embossed in clear e/p to make the buttons shiny and then I added some more "real" buttons. The sentiment (inserted photo top right) comes from the Creative Expressions set and just about sums up the feelings of crafters everywhere!!! lol I also added some safety pins, more buttons and a flower.

Thanks for visiting.

Bah Humbug Challenge 27 - Meeces

2011-07-11T13:48:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Humbug Towers is Meeces!!! Hmmmmmmmm.......... I've just realised the one thing I don't have are any Christmas Mice stamps or digis so - what to do? I hunted around my digi images and came across this cute image of mice taking tea and eating biscuits. It was entirely the wrong colour for a Christmas card so took it into MCS to play around with it I then went into Word and created the sentiment using text boxes. Both the image and sentiment have been die cut using nesties. I decided to make a twisted easel card. The backing papers were from my stash left over from my recent penguin card. I ran a piece of ribbon through and under the sentiment and used the extra for an embellishment.

Thanks for looking.

Less is More - Week 23 - Something with Legs...........

2011-07-10T12:43:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Less is More is a one layer card and something with legs!!!! Hmmmmmmm!!

I decided to use the lovely basque and feminine set from Clarity Stamps. To start I made up an A5 card from white pearlised card and ran it through my Joy Trouvaille and embossed the smallest die from my Go Kreate XXL Frilly No 5 frames. I then inked up the basque stamp and put some Angelina Fibre Cobalt Sparkles on top, placed a piece of baking parchment over and then ironed. I then cut out around the image and threaded through some blue cord for the lacing. The sentiment feminine was inked with Distress Ink Faded Jeans and stamped once one way, then I turned the card around and stamped it again to get the two legs. I then added the basque using Pinflair Glue Gel. The addition of some blue gems finished the card.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - week 22 - Colour

2011-07-08T17:02:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone. This week the LIMettes have been challenged to produce a CAS card using different shades of blue. Again I've had to make a very quick and simple card and I have used my Stampin Up Rose embossing folder which is very versatile. I have used a textured blue card, a blue vellum and plain blue card - all put through my Joy to emboss the card. I then decided to decoupage one layer over the others and cut each down to suit. I then used Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans to colour the embossed areas and, on the final piece at the front I sponged half of the card making sure to colour the areas that hadn't been embossed. They have been placed on a white linen square card. The sentiment is from a Hero Arts set CL001 and has been stamped directly onto the card using the Faded Jeans Distress Ink.

Thanks for calling by. Hope you all enjoy your weekend.

Bah Humbug Challenge 26 - Acetate

2011-07-07T17:04:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the lack of posts over the last week but things have been a bit hectic........ hopefully after the weekend it should start to settle down again!!! This week's challenge at Humbug Towers is acetate. I am afraid this was a very quick card for this challenge. I have coloured a piece of acetate on the back with alcohol inks and then stamped on the front with black Staz-on. The stamps are all from the same set but I've no idea where I got them from as there isn't a name anywhere on the packet...... I matted onto white pearl card and then onto a matching pink card which had been put through my Joy in a Christmas embossing folder (although I don't think you can see that on the photo). This has been mounted onto a white DL top folded card and all I've added are some gems.

Thanks for stopping by.

St Luke's Charity Challenge - Come Fly with Me

2011-06-29T12:38:00.000+01:00

The theme of the challenge over at St Luke's Charity is Come Fly with Me. I decided to use a range of digi images from the lovely Paulette over at Create with TLC called Ready for Take Off - these were freebies and comprise different backing papers, sentiment and image of the plane. These were printed out and die cut using nesties. I then sponged the edges with Distress Inks and painted with these as well. I've made a small easel card which I covered with the backing paper and the rosette is a Tim Holtz die and I used the remaining piece of backing paper for it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bah! Humbug! Challenge 25 - Penguins

2011-06-28T12:07:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Humbug Hall is Penguins. After having a look through my stash I decided to use this digi stamp from Prairie Fairy which is called Polar Pals. I've coloured with Promarkers and added Stickles for the snow and wings. The image has been die cut using nesties and I sponged around the edge. This has been layered onto another die cut in a co-ordinating colour. The backing paper is from Dovecraft "Let it Snow" pad and has cute little penguins on it. The borders are made using a Martha Stewart snowflake punch. The sentiment is computer generated using Summer's Snowman font which you can get here. The photo corners are an EK Success punch and I added a ribbon to finish.

Less is More - Week 21 - Sketch

2011-06-26T15:02:00.001+01:00

This week the LIM Divas have asked us to follow a sketch which they've posted on their blog - pop over to have a look and maybe join in. I've taken a white 8"x8" card blank and cut a piece of pearl card to go across the centre. I then used my nesties "Blossom" to cut three apertures in this piece of card. This was put through my Joy using a Creative Expressions embossing folder. On the three die cuts I stamped images from a stamp set by Elusive Images (now Chocolate Baroque) using Stampin Up inkpads in co-ordinating colours. I used shaker tape to place the piece of card on the base and then photo glue on the stamped die cuts (so I could wiggle them around a bit if needed). The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set. I added some Diamond Stickles to highlight areas on the stamping.

Happy crafting.

Die Cut Dreams - Red, White & Blue

2011-06-24T16:09:00.000+01:00

The latest challenge over at Die Cut Dreams is Red. White and Blue. I have chosen a digi image for this which is called MotoDog and it was a freebie from Bird. It's been coloured with ProMarkers and Diamond Glaze used on the metallic elements of the bike and his helmet etc. The image and mat have been cut out using nesties. The papers were free with a magazine and I've added a ribbon border. The sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps and is called Film Strip Sentiments and the die used to cut out the film strip was also from Whimsy Stamps. The roses were made using a die and the blue fern leaves were punched out.

Thanks for stopping by.

Do it with Digi's - Animal Magic

2011-06-21T10:08:00.001+01:00

The latest challenge over at Do it with Digi's is Animal Magic. Recently I've managed to put all my digi images into folders because they were all over the place so I just popped into my Animals file and found this cute image of a bear with a huge ice cream cone which was a freebie from Anne and the other day the lovely Paulette at Create with TLC gave away a sentiment which fitted perfectly with the image. I have made a box easel card and die cut the image and sentiment and their mats with nesties. The image was coloured using ProMarkers. I used a snow writer on the ice cream - left it to dry and then heated it for a raised effect. I then added a few flowers and a tassel to the drawer.

Thanks for dropping by - happy crafting!

PS Thanks to everyone who left messages wishing my printer better........... it worked!!! It's feeling fine and dandy and is doing what it does best - printing in every colour!!! lol

Monograms

2011-06-19T16:23:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Less Is More is monograms. I've got a slight problem with my printer at the moment and it will only print out in black and blue and as I don't have any stamps that would fit this challenge I needed to create something on the computer. So, here is my blue card!!! lol I created the monogram, text and fairy image in CraftArtist and all I've added is some glamour dust. It's been matted onto matching blue card and then onto white. Both the mat and front of the card have been put through my Joy machine in a Stampin Up embossing folder.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bah! Humbug! - Scarves & Mittens

2011-06-18T17:20:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Humbug Hall is scarves & mittens. I must admit to having a slight problem this week as I was going to have a look through some of my Christmas CD's but my printer is poorly and even if I'd found something suitable I couldn't have printed it out. I think it's taken pity on Max and come out in sympathy!!! lol

Anyway I couldn't think of any stamps that would fit the bill but came across one of these lovely toppers from Lili of the Valley which has scarves and mittens in abundance. I started off by die cutting my base card using my Spellbinders' Book Pages dies. I trimmed the topper and then die cut the mat with a scalloped square die which was then embossed with an Impressabilities plate and then sponged through with Distress Ink Fired Brick. The backing paper and ribbon are from my stash and the sentiment is a peel off. The addition of a couple of gems and some flexible border peel offs finished the card.

Thanks for dropping by.

More blog candy

2011-06-16T10:47:00.000+01:00

Paulette over at Create with TLC is giving away some Digi Blog Candy - pop over and have a look at her wonderful creations. She is so generous in giving away free digi stamps so if you sign up for her newsletter you will never miss out.

Yummy blog candy........

2011-06-15T17:12:00.000+01:00

Roberta over at the fantastic Prairie Fairy has got some yummy blog candy up for grabs - see my side link. Pop over and have a look and get yourself entered via Mr Linky. Good luck.

Bah Humbug Challenge 23 - Whateva............ Teenagers!!!

2011-06-15T09:00:00.003+01:00

Well, the ladies over at Humbug Hall have definitely set us a challenge this week........... I must admit when I saw the title of Whateva............. I thought we had a free rein on the design - but reading further down the post this card needs to be focused on Teenagers............. so off I went muttering Bah Humbug to myself softly!!!! lol

Then I remember a great Debbi Moore CD called Funky Divas Kerry Jo Christmas CD and knew I'd find something suitable. After having a good look round at the images I decided that this image would fit the bill nicely. The actual template for the shaped card is also on the CD. Each element was printed out and the sentiment was computer generated using text boxes in Word. The actual phrase was on the CD but I didn't think it had enough pizzazz to go with the card. I decoupaged a couple of Christmas puddings and added a bow and some Stickles to finish it off.

Less is More - Week 19 - One Layer "In the Frame"

2011-06-14T13:47:00.000+01:00

This week the challenge over at Less Is More is for the LIMettes to design a one layer card using a frame as inspiration.

I die cut an aperture using a nestie in a scrap piece of paper and laid this over my base card. I then sponged Tumbled Glass Distress Ink around the edges moving in towards the middle. I then stamped the mushrooms and fairy using Versafine black ink. These stamps are from a set by Personal Impressions Fairy Silhouette. I cut a circle aperture for the moon and sponged Faded Jeans D/I through. The foliage is from Chocolate Baroques Teeny Weeny Meadow set and these were again stamped using Faded Jeans D/I. I used a Quickie Glue pen on the fairy's wings and the fairy dust and used Glamour Dust Crystal over the top.

Thanks for looking.

Die Cut Dreams - Recipe

2011-06-11T13:48:00.000+01:00

The latest challenge over at Die Cut Dreams is a recipe to use 3 stamps, 3 flowers and a bow. I have used my Stampin Up church and sentiment for this card. I decided to make it monochrome and so started with a cream card blank and added two background papers from my stash and a ribbon bow where the papers joined. The large floral swirl is from Clarity Stamps. I have used Distress Inks for all the stamping. I cut out the main image with a nestie and added a frame around it. The final addition was three flowers in matching colours.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 18 - Colour - Monochrome

2011-06-06T14:09:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Less is More is a monochrome colour challenge but still keeping to the CAS brief.

I have taken a cream square card blank and used my Penny Black Flying Stars stamp. I have inked it up using Stampin Up inkpads in Summer Sun, More Mustard and Really Rust and clear embossed the image. The sentiment is also from Stampin Up using the same inkpads and cut out using the Stampin Up labels punch. I have also added a few dots of Quickie Glue and some Glamour Dust.

Hope everyone had a great crafty weekend.

Hugs.

Bah Humbug - challenge 22 Surprise Surprise

2011-06-05T16:17:00.000+01:00

This week's challenge over at Humbug Hall is Surprise Surprise and to produce something which contains a 'Surprise'. My sister recently made me a birthday card with a surprise and so have decided to make one of these tea light cards (my one contained pots of glitter - what else!!!).

The backing card I've used is from Dovecraft "Let it Snow" pad and the main cardstock is a pearl copper card. The stamp is by Judikins called "Angel Peeking" and it's been stamped with Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers. I used a Quickie Glue Pen around the halo and wings and added Glamour Dust. I have used nestabilities labels 4 to die cut everything on this project including the aperture in the box which has an acetate window. The sentiment inside is from Dovecraft Christmas Wishes clear stamp set. Everything has been finished off with some gold glitter ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by.