CAS.ology Week 135 Mini

Ardyth's latest blog post just popped into my inbox and when I saw what the challenge was over at CAS.ology then I wanted to join in!!!

The challenge for this week is:

So, a super quick card from me.   

I printed out this sweet bee image from Colorink, added some Wink of Stella on the flower and eyes and some Glamour Dust on the wings.  I die cut the image using my Lil' Inker stitched square dies.  Then I cut two "happy" sentiments (Tattered Lace) - one in black and the other in a yellowy orange and slightly offset them.  I then embossed a larger stitched die on the base card and popped the image and sentiment in the embossed square.

Why don't you pop on over to the CAS.ology blog to see the fun cards the DT have created.

Thanks for coming by today.

Happy crafting.

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

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

Our Sponsor is:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is my second card:

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

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

Have a great weekend.

Happy crafting.

Christmas Card Club - Challenge # 4

It's time for another challenge over at the Christmas Card Club where a group of lovely ladies set each other challenges every two weeks to make sure we don't have a mad dash to make them in December!!!  If you are interested in joining us email Margaret (link on my right hand bar).  This challenge has been set by Hazel and the challenge is Snowflakes and/or all white.

Couldn't resist using this huge snowflake from Spellbinders which is a cut and fold shapeability. I didn't have any white glitter card so after I'd folded it I sprayed with Stick & Spray and then added Glamour Dust. Not sure you can see that much glitter in the photos.  I used some white linen card for the card base, added the snowflake to a mat on the same white linen card and then popped it up onto the base.  The sentiment is My Sentiments Exactly! Q252-10 and is supposed to be an Innie and Outie but I decided to use both on the front. I heat embossed in silver, shaped them and used Pinflair Glue Gel to add to the card. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to CAS Challenge #30

Happy Saturday everyone.  Today sees our latest challenge at Addicted to CAS and your hostess is the lovely and very talented Shana.  Here is the code word she's chosen:

and our Sponsor for this challenge is:

Deedee will offer 3 digi sets for our winners.

Now I was pondering on this code word..........was it New Year, turning over a New leaf, New goodies?????  When you start thinking you can use this word with so many combinations.  Anyway I've chosen my theme to be for a New baby and here's my card:

 

I've used a 6" square card blank and some pink bazzil cardstock.  Using my Spellbinders Labels 27 I cut the aperture in the centre of the bazzil cardstock.  The image is a digistamp from the lovely Paulette at Create with TLC.  I printed the image four times and then added patterned paper (from my stash) across each image using repositionable tape and put it back through the printer.  I left the first layer in black ink and die cut it using the same Spellbinder die.  I then fussy cut out various elements from the different papers and paper pieced on top of the base image.  I then added this back into the negative shape on the piece of bazzil card and attached at the back.  I then popped it up on some d/s foam pads.  I added some dots of glue around the image and added crystal Glamour Dust.

 

Now I came back to the card after a little while and wondered whether it needed anything else so I just cut out two Simon Says String of Hearts die cuts and placed them at the top of the card.  I'd be really interested to see whether you prefer version one or two.  I still can't decide!!! lol

 

Don't forget to pop over to Addicted to CAS where the Design Team have some amazing  cards for you.

Co-incidentally the theme over at Less is More this week is New Baby so I am entering this card.

Magic Card

Hello everyone.  Well although it's pretty chilly and very breezy we have, at last, got blue skies and sunshine......long may it continue.

We are still slogging on with the new bathroom and ensuite but I managed to get away for a bit of play time. 

I found a brilliant card design by the very talented Marianne Skjelstad and you can find her tutorial here. 


I really thought it was such a pretty design I couldn't wait to have a go and as it's my friend Barbara's birthday soon I made it with her in mind. 

Not sure why it's called a "magic" card but from what I understand Marianne's son was showing her some magic tricks to do with paper folding and this idea came to her.........

I'm not going to list exactly the sizes and method as you can find that in the tutorial but I have used my Martha Stewart edge punch and card/paper from my stash.  The image is a lovely digi stamp called "Noon" by Sara Burrier and has been coloured with Flexmarkers, Glamour Dust added to her wings and then fussy cut and popped up on Pinflair Glue Gel.  The sentiment on the front is from my Heartfelt Creations Heartfelt Expressions stamp set stamped in Sweet Plum Memento ink.  Inside the card the ovals and scalloped ovals have been die cut with Spellbinders Nesties.  The sentiment on the inside of the card is from Elusive Images and the actual greeting was computer generated.  Flowers, pins and pearls from stash and I've added Liquid Pearls to the centre of the flowers on the front of the card.

I was really pleased with the way this card turned out and hope Barbara will like it.

Thanks for dropping by - don't forget to come by tomorrow for our latest challenge over at Addicted to CAS.

Less is More - Week 78 - Sketch

This week's challenge set by those luscious lovelies at Less is More is a sketch challenge:

"Simplicity itself" is how they describe it......... hmmm I wonder!

I have actually come up with two cards for this challenge; the first one is especially for Kate over at Downright Crafty who wanted to see what I was doing with my little stash of Bella Christmas stamps!!!  lol  So the first one is using a Wild Rose Studio stamp called Starry Night.  I've stamped the image in London Fog Memento ink and coloured with Flexmarkers.  I've then added Glamour Dust for that extra bit of sparkle and die cut with a nestie.  The backing paper is from the matching WRS Christmas pack and it's been matted onto a piece of silver mirri where I've scored two lines at the top and the border is a Martha Stewart punch.  The sentiment is from Stampin Up Beautiful Season and I've added some Liquid Pearls.

My second card  was "simplicity itself".......... I've used my pine tree border die from Poppy Stamps on a piece of green Bazzill cardstock.  The backing paper is actually dark purple (although I think it looks black in the photo) and I have put it through my Joy in an embossing folder to get a faux snow effect.  A piece of matching ribbon at the bottom and the border punch is Stampin Up.  Again I've added Liquid Pearly and the sentiment is from "Here Comes Santa" by IndigoBlu.

So, two more Christmas cards to add to my stash!!!  lol

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 76 - One Layer

Hi Gang - well this week sees the challenge over at Less is More:

 Everyone's favourite... the 

One Layer Challenge 

and this week it's really simple

 

Three of anything that is, three colours, three images, three stamps, three words, the number three.... it's up to you, but don't forget the white space, a simple design and just one layer!

 

Okay....... so that seems pretty simple eh?  Well I had several ideas and disliked all of them!!!  Then I came up with this:

 

I've used an A5 blank white card and stamped the outline from my Stampin Up Fast & Fabulous set three times using Versafine Sepia ink.  I then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the second step which was inked up with SU Oh! Orange.  It looked a little unfinished so I added a tiny dragonfly stamp - again 3 times - and added Glamour Dust to their wings and as trails.  The sentiment is SU Wonderful Words.  

So, all finished I took a photograph and connected my camera to the computer and............... nothing - HELP!!!  So I then use my OH's camera and connect to the computer and..... again...... nothing (*******.......*****!!!!!).  Deep breath, then the mouse won't work; so thinking outside the box and panicing at the same time think "right, I'll scan it" - Oh no I won't - computer won't recognise the scanner...... so no photo, no scanned image, no mouse - what do I do - oh yes, shout for the OH!  Anyway with a lot of fiddling, turning off, turning on, taking everything out of the ports etc etc - won't bore you but it took ages ........ and we're now back to normal.  What happened?  Well, we have no idea but I'm typing this very quickly before it happens again..... lol

Thanks for dropping by - I love reading your comments.

ADDICTED TO STAMPS - First Ever Challenge...........

Hello Everyone

Well, how exciting is this?  This is the launch of a new challenge blog Addicted to Stamps and I was absolutely delighted to be asked by Kylie to become a member of the Design Team - check out the other awesome designers she has on the DT!!!

Here is my card for the first challenge which is Making your Mark which means that anything goes as long as markers (Copics, Promarkers etc) are used in the creation..

Close up of Faye's wings

This lovely little girl is Faye with Flower from Wild Rose Studio and she's been coloured using Letraset Flexmarkers and die cut with nesties.  Her wings were covered with Diamond Glaze and then had Glamour Dust sprinkled over.  The sentiment is from my Stampin Up Whimsical Words set.  The flower, leaf and border dies are all Memory Box.  Paper is from my stash. as was the ribbon and pearls.  A touch of Stickles was added to her dress and the flowers on the border.

Please pop over to the blog to see the wonderful inspiration posted by the members of the Design Team.  We really hope you are as excited as we are and look forward to you joining us on this new journey.

We also have a Facebook page so please go over and "like" us......... we will also post challenges and winners on our Facebook page.

Looking forward to seeing all of your wonderful creations.

Happy crafting.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 43 - Die Cuts

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.

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

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.

Bah Humbug - Challenge 34 - Here come the Girls

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.

Monograms

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.

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

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.

Bah Humbug - challenge 22 Surprise Surprise

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.

Less is More - week 16 Butterflies

This week's challenge over at Less is More is butterflies. 

For absolutely ages I have had some 12x12 sheets of acetate in my stash which is printed with different sizes of butterflies.  It is from Christine Adolph and I think it was part of a kit bought from QVC.  Anyway for this card I selected the butterfly I wanted to use and die cut around it using nesties.  I then cut out another butterfly to decoupage.  Around the frame of the nestie I used my Quickie glue pen and Glamour Dust to define the edges.  I also used this on the wings of the top butterfly.  The sentiment is from a Fiskars Butterfly Magic clear stamp set and embossed in purple e/p (although it looks blue in the photo!).  This sentiment was then die cut using Spellbinders fancy tags and attached with ribbon.

This is a close up showing the decoupaged butterfly.


Many thanks for dropping in.

Tissue Box Cover

Hi Folks

Just a quick post today as we're up to our eyes at the moment as we're having a new conservatory built - really glad we've got good weather for the guys!

We've recently redecorated our main guest bedroom and I was having difficulty finding a nice box of tissues to match the colour theme.  Then I saw the technique for this lovely tissue box cover over at Splitcoaststampers which is a wonderful resource for all us crafters.

I cut out all the card to size and prescored it but instead of making up the box at this stage and then adding extra layers, I decided to decorate the whole box and lid.  For this I have used the stamp plate Meadow Breeze from Inkylicious which is a really handy set of stamps.  I used Distress Inks to stamp - Mustard Seed, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint and Old Paper - and then used Mustard Seed and a blending tool to ink and soften all the edges.  Whilst it was still in it's "unmade" state I used a Quickie Glue Pen and Glamour Dust to add a bit of glitz.  For the opening in the lid I used one of the small oval nesties and then created a collar to go over the top using the scalloped oval nestie and a labels die for the inside.  This was put through my die cutting machine in a universal floral embossing folder and I then sponged it with more Mustard Seed Distress Ink before glueing it to the top of the box.

Thanks for dropping by.

Christmas Furry Things

Sorry I haven't been posting much over the last couple of weeks but things have been a little bit hectic......... our friends Bob & Val invited us up to Southwold in Suffolk to spend a few days with them which was brilliant, then we've been busy decorating and installing new furniture in one of our bedrooms and I've also been doing some more glass work (more of which in a couple of days time).

The challenge over at Die Cut Dreams this week is Christmas Furry Things and it's being sponsored by Prairie Fairy Digital Stamps who have some gorgeous images.  I have decided to use their lovely polar bears digital stamp which is so cute.  I printed out the image and used Nesties to mat and layer onto silver mirri.  I started off by using flock powder but it didn't look very "furry" so then went on to use Polar White Flower Soft which was much better.  I then inked the top of the card to simulate a night sky and used Glamour Dust for the snow.  Last week at the craft show in Exeter I bought some Go Kreate dies (XL Frames Frilly #2) which are much larger than the equivalent Nesties.  I used the medium die to cut a 5"x7" card blank which was covered with a sheet of Papermania Contemporary Christmas paper.  A dotty ribbon across the top of the card (tent folded) and a fabric flower were added.  The sentiment is from a free stamp set given away with Creativity magazine and I added a tab of the same ribbon at the side of the card along with some blue gems.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bah Humbug Christmas Scene Challenge

The challenge over at Bah Humbug this week is Christmas Scenes.  For this card I have used the village stamp from Creative Expressions Create-a-scene set.  I stamped onto cream pearlescent card with SU Chocolate Chip ink and then used a water brush to drag in some of the colour.  When it was dry I used a Quickie Glue pen and Glamour Dust to the roofs, trees and bridge etc but I am not sure that this photo shows the glitter up that well.  I die cut some photo corners from a Sizzix die and then matted and layered onto matching co-ordinating cardstock.  For the punched border I used a Martha Stewart snowflake embossing die.  The sentiment is from a Papermania Silent Night set stamped onto the cream pearlescent card and clear embossed and I used my SU oval and scalloped oval punches to matt and layer.

Thanks for looking.

Die Cut Dreams "Santa" Challenge

This week's challenge over at Die Cut Dreams is Santa.  As I had just picked up a Papermania decoupage and pyramage kit (Silent Night) I thought I would make good use of it.

I actually managed to get three cards out of this kit so am entering them all into the challenge as I couldn't decide between them!!  The top one is an easel card and I layered the Santa decoupage on some pearlised card and then added Glamour Dust for some "bling".  I put some ribbon and a bow in the left hand top corner and used a Martha Steward corner punch.  The sentiment is from the kit mounted onto some mirri card as is the "stopper" for the easel card.

The next card was actually included in the kit so I just decoupaged the main image, added Glamour Dust, the greeting and a small bow.

The third card is made up from a square card blank with a strip of holy paper from the Papermania Silent Night pack.  I added a ribbon from my stash down the edge of the paper and then layered up the pyramage on the white card.  The sentiment was included in the kit and then I added some red Stickles as faux gems and to add some dimension to the holly berries.  I had a small piece of the holly paper left over so punched out shapes to make a flower with and added a red brad.

Thanks for looking.

Happy Easter to everyone

Wishing everyone out there in blogland a very happy and chocolatey Easter.

Over at Bah Humbug this week the challenge is embossing and after a little pondering about which type of embossing I could do the following card is what I came up with.

I fished out an old snowflake stencil and placed this onto some black mirri card. I then took some Dreamweaver glossy white embossing paste and spread this over the stencil. After lifting the stencil carefully off the mirri card I sprinkled each snowflake with differend coloured Glamour Dust and left to dry. The main card is an A5 white blank. I ran a piece of gunmetal mirri card through my Big Shot in a Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and then did the same with some black card. These two pieces were joined together. I then took a piece of each of these cards, cut them to size and punched the edges with a Martha Steward border punch. These were joined together and placed down the centre of the card. Each of the snowflakes were cut out using a Stampin Up circle punch and mounted onto gunmetal and black mirri card which had been die cut with a Nellies die. The sentiment is computer generated.


Being as it's Easter I decided to do another card to enter into the challenge and this one is a piece of parchment embossed using an embossing stencil, coloured from behind with gems added onto the tree and down the left hand side. A ribbon and peel off greeting finished off the card.

Thanks for looking.