Just us Girls Colour Week #298, Craft Stamper June Challenge, Happy Little Stampers June Challenge and Addicted to Stamps Clean & Simple

Hello everyone to a wet and miserable Somerset Monday!  You can tell it's Glastonbury this week eh?

There are a few challenges out there which my card fits into hopefully and they are the Just Us Girls Colour Week Challenge #298 (Autumn Colours),  Craft Stamper Take it Make it Challenge for June which is Texture, Happy Little Stampers June Challenge which is Spray/Mists and Addicted to Stamps and More and they have a ton of fab prizes up for grabs.

For my card I used my Special Touch Distressed Dots stencil and sprayed some Sweet Poppy colours through the stencil.  When it was dry I then added Glass Beads Texture Paste on top, removed the stencil and set it aside to dry.  The ivy spray is Joanna Sheen and the butterfly is from a stamp set called Elegant Butterflies by Clearly Besotted and die cut using the matching die set.  The sentiment is also Clearly Besotted from a stamp set called Fresh Flowers and cut using a SU punch.  Butterfly was heat embossed using Judikins Iridescent Sparkle e/p and coloured using Wink of Stella pens.

Thanks for dropping by.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to Stamps & More! Bingo Challenge #4

Morning everyone.......... well it's a new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps & More! and this week it is a Bingo challenge.  All you have to do is choose a line either horizontally, vertically or diagonally and make your card from the three elements you've chosen.  Here is the bingo card:

I've chosen diagonally with Orange, Free and White and have taken a little bit of artistic license by using gilding flakes "Sunset" which is mostly coppers.    So orange is the gilding flakes, free are my stamps and white is the base card.  I've inked my Clarity Stamps Hummingbird stamp with FlitterGlu and stamped onto a white pearl cardstock panel.  I then added the gilding flakes, rubbed over and then used a scoochy pad (like a soft Brillo pad!) to buff up.  I put some red liner tape around the edges of the cardstock and used the same method to add the gilding.  The sentiment is from Penny Black and is popped up on foam pads.  This was then layered on a DL card.

Thanks for dropping by - please pop over to the ATS&M blog to see all the wonderful creations made for you by the DT.

Addicted to Stamps & More! Make your mark #4

Hi Gang - welcome to Wednesday and another challenge over at Addicted to Stamps & More!  This week the challenge is Make your Mark - so anything goes as long as you colour using your markers.

Here's my DT sample and I've used a gorgeous image called "Beneath the Waves" by Sureya at Deviantart.  Please take a minute to pop on over and see the wonderful images both line art and coloured that are offered free - you have to become a member but it doesn't cost you anything and there's some amazing inspiration over there.

I've coloured her using Flexmarkers and then added Diamond Glaze to her hair so it looks wet and glitter to her fish tail and wings.  I've die cut the image using Docrafts Xcut Nesting Dies Leaves 2 and mounted onto card from my stash.  The first mat has been put through my Joy in a Sizzix e/f as I thought it looked a bit like waves.  The backing paper was a digi freebie.  I've added a border across the card and then die cut a piece of glitter paper using my Memory Box Riviera Corner.  I've sponged around the edges with Peacock Feathers DI and used a flourish stamp around the edges using Versamark Dazzle Frost inkpad.  The sentiment is computer generated and punched out with SU punches.  As a finishing touch I've added pearls in various colours and a bit of waste from the corner die cut.

Thanks for dropping by - please go and have a look at the wonderful DT cards over at ATS&M!  We're looking forward to seeing all your wonderful entries.

Addicted to Stamps & More! Sketch Challenge #3

Hi folks

Welcome to another Wednesday and another challenge over at Addicted to Stamps & More!  This week it's a sketch challenge:

I've used an 8x8 square card base and then taken some Christmas b/p from my stash which I've backed with a piece of gilded vellum.  I then ran this through my Joy using a square nestie with the embossing plates so I had a guide through which I could cut my diagonals.  I cut very carefully using my craft knife diagonally from corner to corner to enable me to fold/roll back each section showing the vellum.  I then attached each corner to the main piece using a gold brad.  I thought it was lacking some definition so I added a gold border around the aperture.  This was then matted onto another piece of gold card and attached to the main card.  I've used two corners in red using my Memory Box

Foiled border

snowflake corner.    The flowers have been made using my two sizes of Nellie Snellen Poinsettia cut and emboss punches and I've added gems to the centres; the holly leaves are die cut from Marianne LR0244.  For the bottom border I place a piece of red liner tape across the card and then put gilding flakes on top.  The sentiment is from a Chocolate Baroque set Pears & Baubles (which I was lucky enough to win), gold embossed and matted and layered.  I've added some gems to the corners to finish.

Thanks for coming to visit.  Hope you've enjoyed your stay.  Please pop over to the ATS&M! site to see all the amazing inspiration provided by the talented Design Team.

Addicted to Stamps - Theme Challenge #3 -SPRING

Happy Wednesday to everyone and welcome to our new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More which is:

S P R I N G

Now, you have to understand that although all of us in this hemisphere acknowledge we are now very firmly in AUTUMN............ to all those Antipodeans it is now SPRING...... topsy turvey or what!!!  lol  Anyway lets play nicely and do what the esteemed Kylie asks!!!

My card is hopefully Spring-like enough for this challenge.  I've taken a cream square card base and added a piece of cardstock in a deep yellow on top which was first embossed using a Cheery Lynn XL embossing plate called Foliage.  I then rounded the corners and die cut a lighter piece of card with my Memory Box Spring Border die.  I've used my Spellbinders Blossom dies for the main focal element of the card - again in a lighter piece of yellow card and smaller white card.  This was topped off with another circle of the yellow.  I've added roses and hatpins from my stash; the leaves have been punched using Nellie Snellen duo cutting and embossing punches.  The ribbon is from my stash but actually bought from Lidl's a while ago - it's lovely and has pearls and wooden butterflies on it and, luckily, matched the colour of the card.  The sentiment is from Stampin Up's set called Apothecary Art stamped in Mustard Seed DI.

Please pop over to the Addicted to Stamps blog and have a look at the lovely samples the DT have made for your delectation.   We look forward to seeing all your marvellous entries.

Addicted to Stamps - Monthly Scrapbook challenge

Hi Everyone

Welcome to our latest monthly scrapbook challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  This month's challenge is entitled "Autumn".

For my scrapbook page I have used Serif CraftArtist and a mixture of digikits.  The main photo was taken by me at Stourhead in Wiltshire, a National Trust property whose gardens are a delight in any season - there is always something different to look at.  If you're ever in the area I think it's a must to go and wander round (there's a great pub in the grounds as added incentive!!! lol).

Please pop over to Addicted to Stamps to look at the scrapbook pages put together by other members of the Design Team.  We look forward to seeing your entries and popping over to visit you.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to Stamps - Make Your Mark Challenge #3

Welcome to our new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  This week's challenge is Make your Mark which gives you a free rein as long as you use your markers - Copics, Promarkers etc - to colour in your main image.

For my card I have used a digi stamp - Melissa by Sugar Nellie.  I just love these images.  She's been coloured with Flexmarkers and die cut using nesties.  I've used my Creative Expressions Floral embossing folder to partially emboss the backing which is Bazzill card.  The main card has been made up into an A5 using Anna-Marie's brushed satin card which is gorgeous.  I have made the roses using the floral e/f and the leaves are punched using Nellie Snellen two stage punch and embosser.  A dotty ribbon and some pearls finish the card off.

Please pop on over to the Addicted to Stamps challenge blog to have a look at the lovely cards made by the super talented members of the Design Team.  We look forward to seeing your entries and coming by to visit you.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to Stamps - Sketch Challenge #2

Hello Everyone

Welcome to our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps.  This week it's a sketch challenge:

For my DT card I've started off with a 6" square blank textured card.  The backing paper is from my stash and I think it is an old sheet from Graphicus (now Chocolate Baroque).  The main image is a digi stamp from Sugar Nellie called Victoria - absolutely love their digital images - and she's been coloured in using Flexmarkers.  I've added liquid pearls for the buttons/studs and some Glossy Accents to her eyes and the centres of the flowers.  She's been die cut and mounted using nesties and I veered away from using the circles as per the sketch as I thought this shape suited her better.  The sentiment is from SU Whimsical Words.  I've added a strip of pearlised card with a strip of darker card embossed with Creative Expressions Floral e/f which I've also used to make the

Close up of Victoria

flower.  The leaves are part of the SU bird on a branch punch.  I used a hand punch for the card candy in each corner and used an embossing tool and the palm of my hand to round them.  A touch of Stickles finished the card.

Please do pop over to the Addicted to Stamps blog to check out the great inspiration from the rest of the DT.  We look forward to seeing your creations and visiting your blogs.

ADDICTED TO STAMPS - CAS #2

Hello everyone - today we're up with our latest challenge over at Addicted to Stamps which, this week, is CLEAN AND SIMPLE.   I think people aren't quite as frightened by this type of challenge as they used to be so here goes with my DT entry.

I've used an embossing folder from Creative Expressions EF-004 Floral for the whole of my card.  I've embossed two panels of card in pink and purple and cut to size.  With the offcuts of the pink card I cut out four of the flowers to make up my rose and then I added some Cosmic Twinkles.  The two panels have been placed onto a square card blank and I've added the rose with Pinflair Glue Gel.  The sentiment is from SU Wonderful Words stamped in SU Perfect Plum onto a spare piece of pink card.

Please pop over to the ATS blog and have a look at all the inspirational cards made by the Design Team.  We look forward to seeing all your cards and visiting your blogs.

Addicted to Stamps - Addicted to (GOLD) Challenge #2

Hello fellow bloggers.  Yep it's that time of week again and our new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps is Addicted to GOLD.  There is no theme so subject matter is totally up to your imaginations!!!  lol 

Now I've been having a huge clear out of my craft room and lots of unwanted goodies have gone to a good home BUT........ you know what it's like when you have a tidy up etc?  Yes, you've got it - I JUST CAN'T FIND ANYTHING!!!!  What I wanted to do for my DT card was to use FlitterGlu but I can't find it anywhere - so I've had to use the next best thing (not really in my mind but heyho...) which is detail gold embossing powder.

I've used my IndigoBlu stamp "Frosted Baubles" which is lovely and stamped in VersaMark and gold embossed onto red card.  The sentiment is part of a clear stamp set which doesn't have a manufacturer's name on it.  This has also been embossed.  I've then cut out the design and mounted onto gold mirri and more red card.  I've used a 5" x 7" card blank and put another piece of gold mirri through my Joy machine in my new and much coveted and loved Tied Together embossing folder by Couture Creations.........this is the e/f that was made as a limited edition but by the time most people found out about it everywhere had sold out!  It's made in Australia and they aren't making any more...........  I know you can't fully enjoy it's deliciousness but believe me it's absolutely gorgeous!  I've tied some gold ribbon around the card ending up with a bow.  The finishing touch was to add quite a few teeny tiny gold balls to each of the elements - but I'm not sure the photo actually shows them too well.

Please go over to the Addicted to Stamps challenge blog to look at all the wonderful creations made by the rest of the Design Team.  We really look forward to all your entries and popping over to your blogs for a "chat".

Happy crafting.

Addicted to Stamps - Theme Challenge #2 - Cards for boys

Hi again everyone.  It's that time of week again for a brand new challenge at Addicted to Stamps.  The theme this week is Cards for Boys...........yep those tricky critters!!!!  lol

For my card I have chosen to use stamps from the docrafts Wellington 8"x8" set.  He's such a gorgeous creature and I think much more male oriented than a "cute" teddy you might use for a card for a female.  I've taken a blank 8" square card and have used a variety of Coredinations card stock added mats and layers which have been embossed with my Cuttlebug Wicker Weave embossing folders and then sanded back.  A couple of pieces I've just sanded.  The main image has been stamped onto watercolour paper and coloured using Aquamarkers with an added touch of atyou Spica glitters.  I then die cut the image with nesties and then added a layer of acetate over the top.  Holes punched and brown gingham ribbon added.  The sentiment No 1 Nephew is matted onto a Spellbinders Fancy Labels die cut and the other (which I think is so true) has just been layered onto matching Coredinations.  I had a bit of ribbon left so added it to the top left with a brad.  It's my eldest nephew (hence the No 1 - my other, younger, nephew is No 2!!!) Dominic's birthday in a few days time and I thought this would be good for him (although he's all grown up......) as Wellington is sitting on a very adult leather armchair in possibly a library - and as he's an author what better?  lol

Please pop over to Addicted to Stamps and look at the amazing inspirational pieces the DT have made for your delectation this week.  We look forward to your entries and popping over to your blogs.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to Stamps - Bingo Addict Challenge #2

Morning everyone.  Hope you're all well and enjoying the summer.........hmmm!  Right, onto this week's challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  We would like you to choose a line, any line vertically, horizontally or diagonally, on the bingo card and make your card up from those three elements.

For my card I've gone for the centre vertical line - Die Cuts, Free and Pearls.  I just had to do this one as I've been waiting an age for my new Marianne LR0242 Anja's Squares dies to arrive - I was really excited when they popped through the letterbox as I think they are one of the prettiest sets I have seen for ages.  My second choice was FREE and I've chosen the colour BLUE which, co-incidentally is the colour of the card we set our craft club ladies to produce a card from for tonight's club night!!!!  The last element is PEARLS and I have used Liquid Pearls in the corners of the card.   As you can see this is a quick card but looks really nice - I've used a textured white card base and two different coloured BLUE cardstocks for the main die cuts (four layers) with the central layer of the flower cut out of mirri to give it a little lift.

Please pop over to the Addicted to Stamps Blog and have a look at all the inspiration provided for you by the rest of the DT members.  We look forward to seeing your entry this week.

Thanks for dropping by.

Addicted to Stamps - Make Your Mark Challenge 2

Hello everyone.  Well, it's that time of the week again and it's our second Make your Mark challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  So the world's your oyster........... as long as you use markers of some form or other!!!  lol

My card is actually for a friend who has recently had a hip replacement (hence the corny sentiment!!!).  I've used a House-Mouse stamp from Joanna Sheen's Get Well Soon set and coloured using Flexmarkers.  I've also used Atyou Spica pens to add a bit of glitter.  I then cut out the image using Spellbinders book pages die and made it into an easel card.  Backing paper is from the JS House-Mouse inserts CD.  I added some flower soft on the bunch of flowers the mouse is offering up, some ribbon and pearls.  The sentiment was computer generated.

Please pop on over to the Addicted to Stamps blog to have a look at the great inspiration the Design Team have provided.  We look forward to seeing all your amazing projects.

Thanks for dropping by.

Addicted to Stamps - Sketch Challenge #1

Hi Everyone - hope for those in the UK you are making the most of this long awaited summer weather!!!  Well, it's that time of the week for the next challenge over at Addicted to Stamps which is a Sketch challenge.

For my take on the sketch I've made up an A5 base card from black ribbed cardstock and all the mats and layers are on the black and white card.  The main image is from a Creative Expressions stamp set and I've stamped once on the white card and once on patterned paper and then paper pieced the image.  The two smaller images are from Hampton Art called Vintage Ladies and I've used the same method to paper piece them.  I've then used my Fleximarkers to colour the skin etc.  The main image and the mat have been punched using a Martha Stewart punch.  On the centre panel I have die cut the border using my Memory Box Bubble Daisy Border ...... isn't it pretty?  I've added quite a few pearls to finish off the design.

Please pop over to the Addicted to Stamps blog to look at all the inspiration the Design Team have for you.

Thanks for joining me today.

ATS - Addicted to {BLUE} Challenge #1

Hello fellow bloggers it's time for the next challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and this week the theme is Addicted to BLUE.  My card is definitely blue!!!  I've started off by making up a base card of 6"x6" and the stamp set I've used is Stampin Up Bordering on Romance which is such a useful stamp set.  I've gone a bit mad with SU goodies on this card as I've also used the Framelits Labels Collection, Edgelits Adorning Accents and Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Adorning Accents. - inks used are Whisper White and Pacific Point.  I started off using the dotty border stamp in Whisper White and then die cut and embossed the edge of the card.  The flower border was stamped in the same ink.  On matching blue card I've also stamped the main flower stamp in Whisper White.  I've die cut this using the Framelits Labels and matted onto blue mirri and then a piece of white which has been stamped in Pacific Point using the smaller flower elements.  I've used the VersaShadow Technique to make everything "pop".  It's very easy to do - all you need is a VersaMark pen and, using the smaller end, outline your images.  This will stay darker than your base card.  It works well on most dark cards except for black but it's worth experimenting with some cardstock before you start.  I've added some gems and a piece of dotty ribbon from my stash.  Sorry for the reflection on the bottom part of the mirri card - it's almost impossible to photograph without this happening!

Thanks for dropping by - hopefully you will all have a go at this challenge and I look forward to visiting your blogs.

Addicted to Stamps - Bingo Addict Challenge #1

Morning everyone - well we've come to the second weekly card challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  This week's challenge is Bingo Addict and we're asking you to follow the bingo card choosing three elements either diagonally, horizontally or vertically on the bingo card.

For my DT card I have chosen the first line of RIBBON, RED and STAMP.  I've used the new Wild Rose Studio Celebrate in Style stamp set and the matching papers from the Man about Town paper pack.  I've used an 8x8" scalloped card blank.  The red backing card is from my stash and scored diagonally on my new Stampin Up Simply Scored Scoreboard (stroke, stroke!!!  lol) - it really makes life easy, it was always a bit of a hit and miss before trying diagonal scoring but it's easy peasy with this.  I've matted a piece of the Man about town paper with a piece of black card and put it on the base card at an angle.  My fab James Bond lookalike was stamped in DI Black Soot and clear embossed and then cut out with a set of dies that I got at a recent show - there is no makers name but quite a few of these are now popping up in the market.  This was matted onto a piece of red die cut card.  The sentiment is from the same set, die cut using nesties labels 20 and mounted onto a Spellbinders Fancy Tag.  The ribbon is SU pleated that Jenny gave us at our SU Extravaganza last week and I've popped the martini glass with cherries (of course....) onto SU oval and scalloped oval punched card.  I've added some gems to finish off.

Thanks for dropping by - don't forget to pop over to Addicted to Stamps to check out the fab designs that the DT have come up with.

Less is More - Week 72 - Theme

This week Chrissie and Mandi  at Less is More have tasked us with the following challenge:

 Third week of the month and Theme Week
We want to see

Something Shiny

It's been a bit rushed this week as we got our first challenges up and running at Addicted to Stamps so I'm running late for this challenge.  Anyway, hopefully this comes under the less is more ethos.......... I started off by stamping 3 different sized butterflies (from the Wedding Butterfly set by Wild Rose Studio) using Staz-On ink onto Clearly for Art Modeling Film, cutting them out and then heating with a heat gun til soft and you can mold them.  The sentiment, again from Wild Rose Studio, was stamped in Staz-On, punched with the scalloped square Stampin Up punch and then triple glazed with clear embossing powder.  I took a square card blank and added a piece of matching ribbon and used silicone glue to attach my butterflies.  I've popped the sentiment up, added some matching pearls on the top right and a single diamond gem to each of the butterflies.  Apologies for the quality of the photos but this was a bit difficult to capture!

Addicted to Stamps - Monthly Scrapbook page challenge

Welcome to our first ever Scrapbook Challenge. This will be a monthly challenge and we can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. Being that we have kicked off later in the month, this challenge will finish at the end of June so a brand new challenge can be introduced for July.

ADDICTED TO STAMPS SCRAPBOOK CHALLENGE #1

CELEBRATIONS WITH THE ADDITION OF BUNTING.

This is my page - I thought it would be fun to make one celebrating the inauguration of our new challenge blog Addicted to Stamps!  It's been made entirely within CraftArtist (what did I ever do without this brilliant piece of software???) and I trawled the net looking for photos of bunting with British, Australian and Greek flags on - as that's where all the girls from the DT live.

Happy crafting and thanks for joining us.

Really hope you will come over and join us in this monthly challenge.  Looking forward to seeing all your amazing creations.