Surprise...........Happy Birthday Sandie!!!

Hello Everyone

It's my teamie's birthday today and the lovely Nonni from Korttikarkuri and Lynn from The Mango Boys & Me have put on a birthday linky party for Sandie of London Days.

I decided to use this great image from Polkadoodles which is a digi called "To Die For"!  Appropriate eh?

I die cut the base card using my Nesties Grand Labels 1 and the toppers using Decorative Labels 1. The backing paper is First Edition "New Leaf". The digi has been coloured using Flexmarkers. The sentiment is a recent one from Create with TLC and it fits this card (and Sandie!!!) beautifully......hehe.  Flowers and ribbon from stash. Finishing touch was the addition of some Liquid Pearls.

Have a wonderful day Sandie - hope you enjoy the party.  Hugs.

Simon Says - Wednesday Challenge

The challenge over at Simon Says is Wedding/Anniversary and as I've just finished this anniversary card for our friends' 47th wedding anniversary I thought I'd enter.

I've used an Anna-Maria 8x8 card blank and embossed the front with an Embossalicious e/f and then cut a piece of dark gold cardstock slightly smaller than the card front and embossed it with the same e/f.  I cut a frame using nesties and used the "waste" at the back of the frame to stamp my greeting which is from Waltzingmouse Stamps.  I used my lovely Delicata GoldenGlitz ink to stamp.  I used my Tattered Lace Double Delights die to cut two of the shapes out of gold cardstock and attached them to the back of the frame which I had already embossed using Sue Wilson's lattice e/f.  This was then popped up over the sentiment (which I curved on my block to match the space in between the two die cuts).  I added a ribbon and some Liquid Pearls to finish.

Thanks for dropping by.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to CAS - Challenge # 18

Happy Saturday everyone - where does the time go eh?  It's time for a brand new challenge over at Addicted to CAS and your hostess for this challenge is the very talented Shana.  She has chosen the code word:

and our Sponsor for this challenge (who is offering FOUR images of your choice):

 

 

I've used the Delicious Doodles "Snowy Mailbox" image for my card.  I printed it out and coloured using Flexmarkers.  I then added glitter glue for the snow .  I die cut a frame using my nestie rectangle dies and popped it over the image using d/s foam pads.  The sentiment is a clear stamp that I had made.  I'd seen the sentiment somewhere on the net and then played with different fonts til I liked what I saw and got a lovely person in China to make me a couple of cling stamps in different sizes.

 

 

Close up showing glitter

Thanks for dropping by.  Pop on over to the Addicted to CAS blog to see what the DT have come up for you for this challenge.  We're excited to come and visit you to see your creations.

Happy crafting - have a great weekend.

 

 

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.

White Embossing - A Day for Daisies

Just thought I'd make a quick card for the latest challenge over at A Day for Daisies which is:

To play along this week you MUST use an image by A Day For Daisies and 

use an embossed white background!!!

For my card I've used the lovely digital image called "Babies Smile", coloured in Flexmarkers.  My base card has been run through my eBosser with an Embossalicious 8x8" embossing folder.  I then die cut a frame using nesties and ran that through the same folder.  The frame was popped up over the image using 3d foam tape and I've added flowers and leaves from my stash.

Hope you're all having a good weekend - it's still freezing cold down here but no snow yet!  Stay safe and stay warm.

Thanks for popping by.

Less is More Week 111 Theme

It's time for this week's challenge over at Less is More which is a theme - this is what the lovely ladies have said: 

We have a theme for you this week.

Whilst keeping your card Clean and Simple we would like you to

Frame it!

Some part of your design should contain a frame of some description, it could be stamped, drawn,  doodled, die-cut or whatever your imagination dictates.

I've made two cards for the challenge.  For the first one I've used a Sheena Douglass A little Bit Sketchy stamp set called, appropriately enough, Poppy!  I've stamped in Memento and coloured using my Polychromos pencils.  I placed a nestie frame over the image and inked using DI Barn Door.  I then cut a die with the same nestie.  The sentiment, from the same stamp set, was stamped using Barn Door.  Then............I got the dreaded smudge in the right hand bottom corner - not going to tell you what I said but it wasn't nice!  So that's why the gems are there - I wasn't planning to put any on this card but you need to do what you need to do!

My second card was very quick and easy.  I die cut the window using my Cheery Lyn Window A die and added some pretty paper behind.  The sentiment is an old one by Whispers stamped in SU Tempting Turquoise as is the butterfly (SU Papillion Potpourri), which was punched with my SU matching punch.  I then added a little bit of glitter to the butterfly.



Thanks for dropping by.

ATCAS - Challenge #7 - Hosted by Sue

Hello Everyone - welcome to our brand new challenge at Addicted to CAS.  We have been so thoroughly overwhelmed in these past weeks at the amount of entries and the outstanding quality.  You're certainly making it very difficult for us to choose our Top 3 and CAS Perfectionist and the Facebook Showcase entry.  But, we're loving it - so please keep up the brilliant work!

Our new challenge which is hosted by the lovely Sue is:

This week we are so lucky to be sponsored by Andrea over at Annabelle Stamps!! 

Andrea has offered a $10 discount voucher at her store!!

For my DT card I have chosen to use my Stampin Up Feeling Sentimental stamp set and decided on the Penny Farthing stamp and the Celebrate sentiment.  I started off by die cutting a piece of cream card with a nestie.  I left the die in place and used a paper piercer to prick all around the die.  I then inked around with DI Antique Linen.  I stamped the penny farthing using Versafine Sepia and then, without re-inking, stamped the image twice more to give two faded images.  The sentiment was stamped over the images.  The card base is a 5"x7" and has been matted and layered onto bazzill cardstock, two pieces of which have been embossed using a tree bark e/f.  I've added some Bakers' Twine and popped the main image up on foam.

I've also made a second card for this challenge - must be on a roll!!!  lol

For this one I've used a Papermania Chronology embossing folder and inked with Distress Inks.  The hands on the clock also come from the Chronology series.  I've then inked my KaiserCraft Tic Toc stamp, stamped it and matted onto kraft card.  I've then sponged around the edges and added some bakers twine.  I rounded the two opposite corners on all layers.  The first part of the sentiment is computer generated and the second is from SU Feeling Sentimental.  Both were cut out using my SU punch.

Thanks to the heads up from our lovely Marie, there is a challenge over at The Craft-Room which is "Something for a Man" so am entering these cards.  Also, by sheer luck (hehe) the latest challenge over at Less is More is Paper Piecing which fits perfectly with my first card.  Pop on over and see the wonderful inspiration provided by Chrissie & Jen.

Thanks for dropping by.  Please pop on over to the Addicted to CAS blog to have a look at the inspiration the Design Team have come up with for you.  Looking forward to seeing all your wonderful creations.

 

Less is More - Week 106 One Layer

Still raining..........and it's freezing cold to boot!!!!  Best excuse for stopping in crafting that I know!

For those of you who follow and join in with the challenges at Less Is More will know that it's a bitter sweet time for Chrissie in that Mandi has decided to step down from the blog to concentrate on her newly set up business.  The good news is that Jen has agreed to stay on as regular designer.  It would be a disaster if the blog were to close so am sure everyone is as pleased as I am that Jen has agreed to stay on and that the two of them will continue to provide their wonderful inspiration for us all.

The new challenge over at Less is More is:

 It's that certain week once more where our challenge is to make a

 One Layer Card

This time we would like you include some reference to

MUSIC

Some people are still a little confused as to just what is allowed in this category, but if you look at our Guidelines at the top of the page it may clarify things a little for you.

Please don't forget that all important 'White Space' !

Had to have a root through my stamps to see what I had that matched the challenge and came up with a Papermania "Urban" stamp set.  Firstly I used a nestie to emboss a rectangle in my cream card and then stamped the music score using DI Frayed Burlap.  The sentiment is a stamp by Anita's and I blanked off the pen nib at the end of the sentiment.  The little bird is part of the Papermania set and I hand drew the branch to ground him to the music score.

Thanks for dropping by.  Happy crafting.

Less is More Week 103 Theme

Happy Sunday everyone - hope you're all keeping safe and warm.  We've been getting some more snow this morning but it's very light.

Well, I think I'm on a role - perhaps the effect of my new craft room? - and managed to finish my card for the new Less is More challenge which is:

This week we have a theme for you to follow which is

FRIENDS

This could take the form of a friend related sentiment... activities which friends share, images of friends - animal or human or both!

Here is my card:

I took a scalloped cream 6" square card blank and put it through my eBosser with my Lifestyle Whimsy e/f to give it some texture.  I stamped the image (Little Sisters by Rubber Stamp Tapestry) with Rich Cocoa Memento ink onto cream card, tore the edges and inked them.  This was mounted onto a scalloped square nestie.  The sentiment is SU Oval All and I used my SU oval and scalloped oval punches.  The little flower was stamped out again, cut out and popped on top of the oval sentiment with a little pearl made using Liquid Pearls.  The bottom border is my Memory Box Meridian Border die.  I then tied a bow with some cream ribbon...........and "Bob's your uncle"!!!  lol

I had a friend in mind when I made this card so after I took the photos of it I then placed a Liquid Pearl pearl at each intersection of the e/f and, as luck would have it, my Tim Holtz Frosted Film arrived, so I cut a piece the same size as the Little Sisters image and placed on top and burnished (although not sure it shows up in the photo).  It just gives a lovely subtle frosting - and as it comes in a roll of 12" by 6 feet is great value for money as it can be die cut, alcohol inked etc etc.  So here is a photo of the final version although the first card is the one being submitted to the LIM challenge (just in case Chrissie and Jen scroll down this far!!!  lol).  Sorry about slight difference in colour between the two photos but one was taken last night and the other this morning.

 

 Thanks for dropping by.

Christmas projects

Hi Everyone from a very wet and windy Somerset!  Can't win can we?  Never mind, it gives me a good excuse to stay in and carry on with my new workroom.

So a really quick post today to show you a couple of things I've been working on for the Christmas Grotto on Sunday.

The first one is a simple calendar easel card.  These are 4.25" square.  I've added some patterned paper to the front of the top fold card and then die cut a nestie oval on the front of the card.  I then cut a frame using the same oval nestie and the next size scalloped oval die.  This was placed around the aperture and the piece of card left over from the aperture has been glued onto the back panel and then I've stamped the year and punched it out with my SU scalloped oval.  I've then added the calendar and added the concertina piece so it stands up nicely.  I've made box envelopes to go with these.

The next project is a chocolate bar wallets totally inspired by the lovely Pam over at Pamscrafts.  Do pop over and have a look at the tutorial.  The rudolph on the front came from a garland of rudolphs, wire and beads which came from Lidl a couple of weeks ago - for the princely sum of 99p!!!  They are really cute painted wooden pieces and I also got Santas, Christmas trees and snowflakes.  I made a heap of these a couple of weeks ago for the craft fair I did and they flew out - so hopefully the same will happen on Sunday!




Right, that's me signing off for today.  I'll be back tomorrow with the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS.  See you then.


 

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.

Less is More - Week 82 - Colour Brown & Pink

Hi Guys - well this week's challenge over at Less is More is:

Being the first of the month it's colour week and we have chosen two for you....

Brown & Pink

Now, I made this card a couple of days ago and I have taken so many photos of it - tried to fiddle with them - that I am pretty sick of the sight of it.  For some reason, and I don't know whether it is because it's a pearlised card or what, the colours were awful.  Anyway making the best of a really bad job here is my offering!!!

I started off by embossing a nestie on the front of my card and then I stamped the main focal image from Stampin Up Mixed Bunch using Versamark ink.  I've then sponged over with pan pastels in pink.  The edging around the centre is a clear border stamp that I attempted to shape on the acrylic block so I could stamp a half circle at a time.  I've then gone over this with brown pan pastels.  The sentiment is from SU Heard from the Heart and stamped using Versafine Sepia ink.  I've then used Liquid Pearls to add the finishing touch.  Definitely not pleased with the finished result but it's taken me more time to try and photograph it than it did to make (shows eh????) and as I'm in the middle of a melt down because my printer is playing up and I'm in the middle of two commissions...............everything's hunky dory!!!!  lol

Hopefully back with a better example for the next LIM challenge.  Probably won't be back til next week as we have a busy weekend and we're cooking for a mass of people on Sunday - so fingers crossed for the weather.


Happy crafting.

Wedding card

It's our friends Gill and Ian's wedding today and I've just got back from the church - wonderful ceremony.  You may remember I made all their wedding invitations etc a while ago so thought you might like to see the wedding card I made for them;

 The first photograph is of the box and then there is the closed card, the open card, a close up of the individual "pearls" and another of the accordion mechanism that goes into making one of these boxed card.

I had been trying to get Couture Creations "Tied Together" embossing folder for this but no-one has any stocks of it.  Seemingly it was supposed to be a limited edition (?) but there has been such a call for more stock that they are trying to get more made.  In it's place I have used Couture Creations "Wicker Weave" e/f and at each join I have (painstakingly.......)used Liquid Pearls to add a faux pearl - on the card it was all around the outside - and took me ages!!!  lol  Still if a job's worth doing well....... etc.

For the main image I borrowed my friend Anne's stamp "At the Altar" by Stampendous which is lovely.  Stamped and embossed with silver detail e/p and then the detail of the dress was decoupaged to add some interest and some Liquid Pearl used in the bouquet.  Die cut using nesties and mounted on silver mirri card.  The sentiment was printed on my laser printer and put through my foiling machine, die cut and mounted on silver mirri.  Some diamond gems were added.

The main book card was an A4 sheet of pearl card with the spine marked 1cm either side of the centre point (giving a 2cm spine).

For the actual accordion part of the card I measured the height and width of the back half of the outer card and cut two pieces of card the height of the back and two the width of the back and it depends on how high you want your book to be as to the length of card you cut.  When you've decided you score each piece at 2cm measurements to get mountain and valley folds.  When you've got crisp folds then all the edges fit into each other a bit like interlocking fingers.

The fancy edges are a Martha Stewart punch and I've added some silver mirri die cuts to each corner.    Before I put it together I added a piece of acetate for the window. 

The wording that you can see through the window was a lovely wedding verse I found on the internet.  Again I've added some die cuts before adding the actual book mechanism.

Close up of the embossing & Pearls

On the inside of the cover I have embossed and cut a piece of card for a pocket and again put a fancy edge on it.  I've then added a silver embossed and die cut heart.


Right, we're off to the reception.  Thanks for dropping by and hope you all have a great weekend....... at least it's not raining (at the moment!!!).

The mechanism of the accordion folds

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.

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

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.

Birthday card

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 44 - Colour - Green

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.