Relax

Hello been a few days as I have been on night shifts, last night tonight so nearly finished. I have had time to make this card as not slept well today as I have been worrying about my daughter who is having an operation tomorrrow. Sure she will be ok but doesnt stop the worry.

I stamped and coloured this image from Sugar Nellie weeks ago and then couldnt come up with any inspiration for a card! Determined to use it I am now pleased with the result. I used whisper stroke pens.

Using my cuttlebug,I cut the circle frame and some of the flowers using a Lea'bilities die - called "Frame Swirl". I embossed these using various coloured embossing powders. The backing paper is from my stash. The sentiment is a stamp from Stampimg Bella. I inked the edges of the card, paper and stmps with Brilliance inks - sky blue and orchid. To finish I added some rhinestones.
I would like to enter this in the following challenges -
twistedtuesdaychallenges/2tc4-for-funny
disdigidesign/lets-meet-your-animal-friends
creativecraftchallenges2/lets-see-some-animal-antics

Paddington

Might not be posting for a few days as its back to work tonight. Hope you all like paddington - think this stamp is great.

The image is a stamp from Stempels which I coloured using a friends promarkers - Quite pleased with the results as I had used a watercolour card - still making my mind up between copics and promarkers but think I am erring towards copics. I have booked on a class using copics at Grimsby Crafts so hope that will help me decide. I inked the edges with a red ink and mounted it on some blue paper from my stash.

I based the card design on a sketch set by the Friday sketch challenge. The Paddington papers came from an old image of Crafts Beautiful and the sentiment is from Kaban wobblers sentiments. The buttons used are from my button stash.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -
fridaysketchchallenge-15
scrapbook sisters card-challenge-no-81
craftysentiments/for a child
joannasheenchallenge/someone-special

Christmas Baking

Morning - here again with another card.

The main image is a lovely stamp and the sentiment is great for the Christmas season. Unfortunately I have no idea where the stamp is from - sorry. The Christmas pudding stamp is from www.circadesign.co.uk  I water coloured the images using twinkline h2os and added glossy accents to the chefs hat and the top of the Christmas pudding.

The baking paper is from my Christmas stash, however I do know that one of the papers is from Trimcraft - Pepper's Christmas Party. I added some contrasting buttons and a ponsettia. Lastly I tied a bow around a pin bought from www.thehobbyhouse.co.uk
I would like to enter this in the following challenges -

crimbo-crackers/challenge-13-festive-food
christmascardchallenges-week-21
christmasblogchallenge/buttons-and-bows
craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge-69-lots-of-layers
christmascardsallyearround/april-challenge
movingalongwiththetimes/merry-christmas

Xmas Penguin

Hi again. Here is another Christmas card - this blogging is great for motivation and the Christmas card pile is building up xx

This cute penguin image is from a stamp by Gillian Roberts. I coloured him using whisper pens and for his body I used glamour dust. I added clear stickles to the fur on his hat.

I used papers from the Forever Friends retro collection and mounted them on some green card. I added added some small buttons and a sentiment and found some christmas trees in my stash. I tied some gold and green  ribbon in a bow and finished the card off with a giant brad I seem to have had forever and never found a use for. Just goes to show you should never throw anything away!
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -
christmasblogchallenge/buttons-and-bows
totallypapercrafts/all-buttoned-up
ceschallenges/challenge-82-button-it
craftyhazelnutschristmas/challenge-69-lots-of-layers
movingalongwiththetimes/merry-christmas

Christmas Gift Set

Good morning - I have been working on this challenge for a few days now. Thought it would be nice to make something extra as well as a card. The challenge has been set by -http://christmasstampin.blogspot.co.uk/. I have never made a pillow box before, but I had a template from an old cardmaking and papercrafts magazine.
First I chose a 12x12 piece of card from papermania - silk screened. This is a lovely pink christmasy design with a soft sheen.

The stamp I used is from Lili of the Valley - Christmas Dance. I used my Whisper pens and added glitter to give a real Christmasy effect. I cut some flowers using a Tim Holtz die and inked the edges of the card, flowers, and image with a Tim Holtz ink - Worn Lipstick. I added furthe flowers from my stash and a piece of silver tinsel ribbon. I finished the effect with some silver gems. The centre of the large flower is a Hot of the Press extra large brad with a Christmas rub-on added.

Next I made my pillow box out of the same card and inked all the edges. I added more flowers to contrast with the card. I added a tag I made which I inked and stamped with a crafty individuals stamp. I added 2 snow flake buttons and plenty of ribbon from my stash. I am very pleased with this first attempt at a pillow box and will have to keep it safe until Christmas!







Lastly I made a gift tag matching the design to the card and box. I struggled to photograph the threetogether but hope you can see ok.   I would like to enter these in the following challenge -   christmasstampin/challenge-7-special-u                                                                                       

Out Of Africa

Good afternoon, I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday. My husband is outside gardening - trying to beat the rain that's expected. I had been thinking about this card all day yesterday and after discussion with my husband and raiding through my stamps box I came up with this. It was made with the Secret Crafter Saturday challenge in mind - Inspired by a Film Title. The film is "Out of Africa".
The image was stamped using a set of with theKars Storybook stamps. I made a template of the giraffe so a could stamp the rhinoceros making the giraffe look like it is in the foreground. 

I coloured the image using my Whisper Stroke pens and then using a set of Dovecraft bright chalks a tried to make it look like a sunny African day. Finally I stamped the sun using versamark and brought out the colour using the chalks.The sun stamp is one I have had for a while fromVap Scrap.

Looking for backing papers I found the tree and grass papers in my stash. I covered an A5 card with the tree paper and then ripped the grass one and inked the edge with a versamagic chalk ink. I mounted the image on some brown paper from my scraps box. The sentiment was made using word art.

I made these flowers out of tissue paper cut using a Tim Holtz Die - Tattered garland and added various middles - buttons, bees, flowers and pearls. I also found some Paper Mania skeleton leaves which contrasted beautifully with the scene. Finally I used a piece of giraffe ribbon from my stash and a metal bumble bee.

Here is my finished card which i hope you all like.xxxx


I would like to enter it in the following challenges -



the secret crafter saturday challenge-inspired by a film - Out of Africa
crazychallenge/inspired-by-movie
mymumscraftshop/challenge-53-favorite-song-movie
simon says stamp and show-anything-goes

Hiking

After a lovely day craft shopping with my friend Helen I  received a text from her to say she had found the exact challenge for me to use my new stamps - so thanks Helen - http://elliewee.blogspot.co.uk/ - her blog xx
I had bought papermanias nostalgic pastimes stamps as I thought these would come in handy for the dreaded man cards! The challenge link she sent me is on the blog -www.drsdesignsblog.blogspot.co.uk.

First I stamped the man Hiking onto a cream piece of card. I then water coloured the image using Tim Holtz distress inks. I inked the edge of the image with the same Tim Holtz inks. Imounted the image onto a piece of dark brown card from my stash and distressed the edges. Lastly looking through my stamps for inspiration I discovered these wonderfully cute marching ants on a See-D's set of stamps - Cute as a Bug. I just knew they would look great.

Using a cream square card blank I covered it with a piece of paper from Paper Cellar - mens selection. This co-ordinated with my image so well. I added three contrasting ribbons and two inspirationaal quotes. The quote in the top left corner is from a set of stamps - Gourmet rubber stamps -"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page" I raised this on a piece of chipboard that I embossed with a dark brown embossing powder. The second quote is from Whimsy stamps - Treasured moments tickets and says "Inspire beauty in all that surrounds you" I finished the card off with three buttons from my stash and an arrow from Maya Road -Arrows - neutrals.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -
.drsdesignsblog/challenge-21-sports
sweetstampinchallenge/use-more-than-1-ribbon
sparklesforum/challenge-31-men-only
4craftychicks/boys-dig-it
craftyannschallengeblog-62

Reach for the Moon

Good evening, my card today has used a stamp I have had for a while and struggled for inspiration with. I found the backing papers in a local craft shop and knew if I had them then the stamps would get a lease of life!

First I cut a Cheery Lynn Die - Exotic Butterfly - small#2 on my cuttlebug. Next I embossed it using a black embossing powder.
Using a paper from Katysuedesigns - Lunar Landscapes, I stamped my silhouette using using versamark and again embossed it with a black embossing powder. I then triple mounted the image with silver paper and then a black textured card which I cut using a deckle edge blade.

I made a card blank using a deep purple A4 piece of card and attached the mounted image. Down each side I added a strip of silver accent beads. I added my butterfly and a flower to contrast attached with a silver and purple pearl brad. I embossed the sentiment "Reach for the Moon" and curled and raised it using pinflair glue. To finish off I added some purple/black hot rhinestone gems to the butterfly body and the swirls of the backing paper.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -
craftascene - silhouettes-challenge-week-3
craftyourpassion/challenge-106-die-cuts-and-punches
paper-pretties-monday-challenge - dry or wet embossing
wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps challenge-77-anything-goes

Christmas song

Night shifts finished and now back to crafting, can't believe how much I missed it. This blogging sure gets under your skin. Decided to start out with a Christmas card - the idea came from  Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge - "Lets have a sing song"  I had just the stamp for this and so I spent this afternoon in my craft room and this is what I came up with.

This Stamp is from www.circadesign.co.uk . I coloured the image with my whisper stroke pens and then distressed the edges using a brilliance ink - galaxy gold. Next I made a bow using gold and green ribbon from my stash and some bakers twine from We R Memory Keepers.
I then stamped the verse "Away in a Manger" and used an old faithful corner punch for effect. I again used the gold ink around the edges of the verse and added some small pearls to the corners.

 

I covered my card blank with a beautiful paper from Forever Friends  - A Christmas Tale. The stars on it go so well with the image. I backed the image with some gold paper and use two metal gold brads to help fix it. I used some green and red accent beads down the right of the image and added a contrasting flower made using my petal pairs flower punch. The verse was mounted on gold magic fibers - they reminded me of the hay in the manger. I finished the card by adding the green and gold bow and a metal gold star to the top of the stable. I love Christmas cards using traditional colours - reds greens and golds xx.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -
craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge - challenge-68-lets-have-sing-song.
abc christmas challenge/h-for-hardware
christmas card challenges-week-20.
movingalongwiththetimes/merry-christmas-from-mawtt
sparklesforumchristmaschallenge-colour-combo

A Spoon Full of Sugar

Well this will be my last card for a few days as its back for 5 night shifts for me. At least it pays for more craft stash -lol!

I have had this decoupage House of Mouse for a while now and just love the cute mice feeding each other. I cut out the decoupage, curled the edges and layered it up using pinflair glue. I then added some distress stickles - worn lipstick - to the sugar for a realistic effect. I backed the mice on a piece of pink stripped paper from my scraps box.
I used a 19x19cm card blank and chose 3 papers from an old scrapbook magazine - www.thepapertrail.co.uk. These papers complement the colours of the decoupage beautifully. I used a Martha Stewart edge punch down the edge of 1 paper and then distressed the edges using VersaMagic chalk inks - Jumbo Jave, Pink Pertunia and Aloe Vera.

To finish my card I added some lovely pink ribbon and complementary flowers from my stash. I added some foliage to the flowers made from using a punch  - Pine from McGill. I added two fabric brads to the flower centres for extra texture and 2 lovely pins. To finish the card I added a "Birthday Recipe" sentiment, stamped using a Lili of the Valley stamp and another sentiment in the right hand corner - "Sugar and Spice and all things nice"

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -

housemouse-challenge -things-are-so-sweet

ccmonthlychallenge-23four-legged-friends

fabnfunkychallenges-116-on-all-4s

papercraftbliss -thejourney - challenge 7

paperpretties-wednesday-challenge

Flower Sale

Todays card has taken quite a long time but I am very pleased with the overall effect.

I stamped the images using two Molly Bloom stamps - Sun Flower Molly and Flowers For Sale. I coloured them using Whisper Strokes pens and then used my glossy accents to highlight some parts of the designs. I find Molly Bloom stamps give a very clear image.

This is the stage of the card that took the most time. I cut a piece of yellow card 17.4 x17.4cms and then used an EK punch - chinese knot chain to punch the design round the edges. I then punched the design again on 3 different coloured pieces of card to fill in the punched holes. I have tried to show this on this picture with the dark orange petal shapes. I glued this yellow design to a square card blank.

I then backed the centre with a patterned paper from Boho Chic and added the images and a sentiment - "Bringing You Happy Thoughts" I finished the border with more of the punched pieces and added small flower buttons to the centres. To complete the border a added some faux stitching around the edge of the yellow which I hope you can see on the picture below. In each corner I added a button with the middle tied with bakers twine.

The EK punch I have had for over a year and never used so I think all the time and effort was worth it in the end.The finished design is pictured below. I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -                delightfulsketches - delightful-stitches       bunnyzoescrafts/challenge-23-ribbon-or-twine                           craftycreationschallenges       cutecardthursday.challenge-212-spring-flowers       simonsaysstampschallenge-april-showers-bring-spring.            craftuscrazy.challenge-25-happy-mothers-day     robynsfetishchallenge-102-anything-goes

                                  

White Christmas

Decided to make a Christmas card tonight as I have seen a few challenges with Christmas themes. I guess its never to early!

The image is a stamp from Lili of the Valley - Christmas Bird Table. I love how the Teddy is putting stockings out for the birds. I coloured the image with Whisper Stroke pens and distressed the edges of the spellbinders shape with VersaMagic Aspen mist chalk ink. I then added some clear glitter to give the effect of snow and fur.

Using a square card blank I covered it with a piece of paleblue snowflake paper from my stash. I then mounted the image on a darker blue snowflake paper. I punched some snow flakes out of the remaining backing papers, layered them up and glittered them with clear stickles. I added some silver Christmas ribbon. I then stamped "Just dreaming of a white christmas" using a crafty individuals stamp - I distressed the edges and mounted it on foam pads. To finish I added some small white pearls.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -
craftyhazelnutschristmas challenge-67-white-christmas
doyoustackup-67-glitter-bling.

A first

Very excited this morning when a logged in as I had been chosen for the Daily Talent Spot on Joanna Sheens challenge blog!

Thursday, 12 April 2012

Daily talent spot!!!

Hiya everyone,

Todays featured card is this lovely DIY card made by

Susie

from her Susie's Crafts blog

The image is very cute and the papers work really well too.

 

You wouldn't believe how happy I am - Thanks so much xxx

Men at Work

Well heres a man card to show you. Always difficult to do but i've had a go!


I cut the shape using a spellbinders die and then stamped the image - fixafella - a stamp from stampingbella.com. I coloured the image using myWhispers Strokes pens and then I distressed the edges using a Tim Holtz ink - weathered wood.

I then covered my card blank with a piece of coloured core card which I distressed to show the underlying colour. I then used a piece of paper from paper cellar  - mens 6x6 , again distressing the edges. I double mounted the image and distressed with Tim Holtz - weathered wood ink. To finish the card I put contrasting buttons in each corner and added a birthday sentiment.

Thats another day with lots of crafting so quite pleased.
Taking Monty my dog to the grooming parlor tomorrow so will post a pic tomorrow.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -
joannasheenchallenge/its-mans-world.
sirstampalotchallenge -april
scrapbooksisters.card-challenge-79

Happy Frog!

Good morning. After a very busy Easter weekend i'm back to this addictive blogging. Its so nice to make a card and share it with other crafters so hope you like it xx

I stamped this image using a Pepper & Friends wooden stamp - its so cute. I coloured it using pastel shades of my Whisper Strokes pen set. I haven't used these pens for a while now but not posesssing any promarkers I decided to give it a go and i'm pleased with the results. I distresed the edges of shape with VersaMagic chalk ink - pixie dust. The shape itself was cut using a Go Kreate large frame - frilly.

Petal Pairs from Tonic Studios

I bought these two punches from the NEC last November and just love making flowers with them. These were made using cream paper and distressing it using VersaMagic chalk ink - Ocean Depth.



I covered my card blank with a paper from Prettysimple pastel color collection and distressed again using VersaMagic - Aspen Mist. I double mounted the stamped image and raised it up. I added a best wishes sentiment and in the top right i used 3 raindrop brads from my stash to complement the water theme. I added the handmade petal pairs flowers with 2 more from my stash and also some pearl bead ribbon. A pink dragon fly brad was added to the image.

 I hope you enjoy this card and happy crafting.            
 I would like to enter this card in the following challenges :-

partytimetuesdays.63-water.
stampandcreate/april-monthly-challenge-spring.
incywincydesigns.challenge-141-cute-critters
doyoustackup-66-friendly-critters.
craftypurplefrog - challenge-38-lets-get-distressed
littledarlingschallenges-21-pastels.
                                                       

Baby Girl

One final card for today - a baby girl card for my nieces new addition to her family. xxxx

The image is stamped from the Forever Friends New Arrival set. I have water coloured it with Twinkling H2Os which are my favorite way of colouring stamps. I have used various of shades of pink for a real girly feel.

I used backing papers from my stash and added some glittery swirls plus a few girl sentiments and 'its a girl' ribbon. Pink buttons and pink button brads were added to finish the design, with a pink gem on the cradles bow.

Looking forward to hand delivering this card and meeting my new baby great niece xxx

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -
stampin fo rthe weekend challenge-7-ready-teddy
doyoustackup -66-friendly-critters

Time for Ice Cream

Good afternoon all. Had a lovely morning with my gorgeous Godson Oscar  and his friends hunting for Easter eggs. The rain held off which was even better.
I decided it was time for another card and so here goes -

I stamped a House-Mouse desisn on an oval cut with my cuttlebug using an oval spellbinders die. I water coloured this using twinkling H2Os - House-Mouse designs are so adoreable.

I covered my card using paper from my stash and a piece from Boho Chic premium papers - such good qualitiy designs and colours.I made the bunting using using Whimsy Stamps - Celebration Pendants and attached the bunting using Seweasy fancy floss. I added some spotty ribbon and punched and scrunched 4 flowers which I then put a faux green pearl in the centre. To finish it off I added 3 buttons with the seaweasy floss tied in their middles.

I would like to enter this card in -

cardsgalorechallenges

emmascards-crafty-challenge

Gatefold Butterflies and Fairies

HAPPY EASTER -

 I  have today made a gate fold card.I covered the front using a Dovecraft paper from a pack of 6x6 called Fantasy. On this first picture I left the background paper as the main feature adding a flower and some gem accents to the flower middle. I used the Tim Holtz edgeabilities butterfly die and distressed them with a distress ink. I added gems for accents on the butterflies. I attached a fairy doodles sentiment with 2 pastel brads and used my cuttlebug to cut some flowers using a Lea'bilities die which I inked and also used brads to attach the flowers.

The inside of the card I again used the fantasy papers and another birthday verse from fairy doodles, adding a small flower and 2 butterflies punched using my xcut butterfly punch.

 

The finished card I am very pleased with - I did find photographing it quite a challenge!

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges -
justkeeponcreating.challenge 1
papercraft/challenge-91-anything-goes
papertakeweekly - anything-goes
craftingwhenwecan/challenge-15-things-with-wings

Butterfly Suite

My second card today! I stamped the image using a penny black stamp - butterfly suite and water coloured it using my twinkling h2os. I used a piece of velum which I embossed with my cuttlebug and a patterned piece of paper from my stash as background accent papers.. I then added a flower and a sentiment and some pretty pink lace. To finish I added 3 pastel brads to the images corners. Hopefully I will be back with another creation soon xx
I would like to enter this card in -

theartisticstamper april-challenge-ribbons-and-lace.
stampandcreate.april-monthly-challenge-spring

Fairy Wishes

At last here is my first card  which I have made for a friends birthday. I stamped the image using a Wee Stamp from Whimsy Stamps - Silver Fairy. I love their range of stamps and digi images. I used papers from Dovecraft wild blossom and Cherry Cupcake paper stack. The Fairy I have water coloured using twinkling H2Os and I have softened the edges of the papers and images using Tim Holtz distress inks. The butterfly was made on my cuttlebug using a Cherry Lynn die - exotic butterfly. Other embellishments are from my stash. I would like to enter this in the following competition -
crafting when we can - Challenge 15 - Things with wings
 incywincydesigns.challenge-140-easter-and/or-pastel
anythingchallenge challenge-64-anything-goes
simonsays stampschallenge-your-favourite-tool.- cuttlebug

Well good morning. This is my first attempt at blogging. I have been encouraged to start by my good friend Helen - so here i go. i have been crafting for around 5 years now. I enjoy scrapbooking but have recently started to make more cards. I am married to my wonderful husband Mick and it is our silver wedding Anniversary later this year. I have a lovely daughter Kathryn who is currently at university and two dogs - Billy and Monty. 

billy

monty