Monday 30 June 2014

In the Garden

After the last mad few days I have time to sit for a couple of hours before am off on yet another motorway drive later today.
I was doing some 'tidying' (for that read - shuffling bits of paper!) when I found several pieces of card on which I had stamped this birdcage image a long long time ago - (the stamp wasn't mine - I'd borrowed it and inked it to death I think before I gave it back!)

The biggest piece of card had the stamp on it already positioned so presumably I'd started something and didn't finish it....
I coloured the cage on the other images then cut them out.

Stamped a few branches round the edge of the card and then inked with Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass and Spun Sugar DI graduating towards the cage, leaving the area round the bird cage clear.

Inked up another scrap of card, stamped the sentiment then cut out with a nestie label die.

Layered the cut out birdcage using 3d foam pads then used some glossy accents - this gave the cage a lovely glossy hard shell.
Using the same colour promarker, I coloured the flowers and stuck on  the branches randomly, finishing them with a tiny sparkly in the centre.
Finally, I glued on a string of very small silver beads for the hanging 'bit'.

A bit of a 'made in a hurry' card but it looks OK I think.
Challenges -
Crafting at the Weekend - Anything Goes
Creative Corner - Flowers
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Stampin for the weekend - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - Summer
Nat & Amy - Summertime

Thanks for calling in - off for a quick visit round your blogs - if I don't visit you today I have a whole day to myself tomorrow so will definitely be lurking about!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Thursday 26 June 2014

Summer Days


Inspired by the last few days of warm sunshine and blue skies I made this card! (Although today it is grey and threatening rain - as can be evidenced from the picture quality!)
I have had this stamp for a long time and used it little - I don't know why 'cos I think it's a really nice one.... that old I have no idea of the make.
It just conjures up images of when life was so much slower and tranquil - a lady sat on a warm summers day painting a scene - perfect peace.

I stamped the image in Versafine Sepia and clear embossed then coloured it with Distress Inks.
I used a pastel chalk for the sky which is in fact a very pale blue in real life but doesn't show very well here.

The papers were from an old papermania pad I think, and distressed, layered and stitched onto co-ordinating card.
Used the same card for the die cut frame.
A scrap of old lace, some pearls to finish.
Have left the top right corner bank for a sentiment which I will add at a later time and used up the remains of the papers decorating the inside to match.

Challenges -
Fantasy Stampers - Here Comes Summer
Crafty Bloggers - Bingo (Die Cut/Lace/Pearls)
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
Whimsy Insp - Bingo (Summer/Lace/Pearls)
Ruby's Rainbow - Stamping
Inky Impressions - Anything Goes

 Am away tonight as I have a meeting tomorrow so off to chuck a few things into an overnight bag! Thanks for visiting, have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Monday 23 June 2014

Reading lists?

Seems there's a few people having the same problems as me with their reading list and the 'view more' button only showing one blog and not loading others..
 https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/blogger/something-is-broken/TM9QlkTp6zc
Allegedly Google know about it - but HELLLLOOOOOO could they fix it please????
I am beginning to get a little bit irritated.
I can't scroll down the side reading list and individually look at each one.. I look at your blogs when they're updated so I apologise if I miss out visiting you.

Bump the Bear! (and can anyone help?)

What a way to treat a tablecloth!
In a mad hurry but needed a card for a child's birthday so had a bit of a 'lightbulb' moment and remembered this LOTV offering called 'Birthday Bumps.

Although this started off it's life as a pre-coloured image, I added a bit of pastel chalk to the sky (as the white background was really stark) and some watercolour and distress inks on the actual image to darken it a bit.

I kept the layout quite simple and straightforward and used up  a couple of odd pieces of paper that co-ordinated with the check background.
A simple layering job, stamped sentiment, a couple of pearls and some ribbon and job done!

I have been doing my 'domestic goddess' impersonation today - caught up with the washing, ironing, hoovering and general housework so am feeling quite smug....  LOL
Have a free evening so am hoping to be able to do something constructive and a bit more fun than using the duster!!!

HELP? - All the blogs I follow have disappeared from my reading list- only one at a time is showing in the feed - when I click 'view more' nothing happens! Anyone any ideas??

Thanks for calling in - will be round to do my catch up with you all later  IF I CAN FIND YOU ALL - hope the sun is shining wherever you are. x

Challenges -
Gem of a Challenge - For a Child
Opus Gluei - Animals
OSAAT - Anything Goes
Bearly Mine - 1 for the Boys
Whoopsi Daisy - Summer is Here

Wednesday 18 June 2014

Wetlands

I had a bit of an inky day yesterday, stamping some images from sets I have had for a while and not used a lot and this new Wetlands set - which I have craved for a long long time!.
So had a little bit of a spendie, bought some coloured cardstock at the same time and am now surrounded by stamped images and coloured card and Mr Mojo is still AWOL!
I saw a similar card to this (I think on SCS) and thought it would be either a card for someone who likes birds or a good 'man' card even though the shades of the paper are pinky!

The background paper is from the Prima Fairy pad (another old pad hardly used!), distressed the edges, used some Antique Linen DI and then some 'Weathered White' embossing powder, randomly over the paper.
Matted it onto some of the newly purchased cardstock - cheated a bit here cos I just cut a square frame to fit under the patterned paper which left me with a nice big square bit to use on something else - so I cut out a 'frame' using two of my very oldest circle dies and made the tag all from the same piece!
Attaching the sentiment through the frame with string was a CASE'd idea from Pinterest.

The birdies were stamped using memento ink.
The colours used on the background were a mix of Adirondack Sandal and Butterscotch for the 'ground' and the sky was done with Spun Sugar, Milled Lavender and Tattered Rose.

I have kept this card as plain as possible - no fancy pearls/embellies/candy anywhere - I might add a couple of white card candy but then again might not!
Challenges -
Cuttin n Stamping - Birthdays
S.O.S - Oldest punch/die
Love 2 Create - Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts Ink - For Him
Oldie but Goodie - Masculine
Clear It Out - Anything Goes
Crafters Cafe - Distress It

Thanks for looking - have a great day whatever you're doing - I'm off in search of Mr Mojo! x

Monday 16 June 2014

Time well spent?

I cannot believe where the last week has gone - talk about life passing you by.
I blinked yesterday and missed my birthday and I feel completely wiped out today and thankful for a day at home to catch up with things and re-charge a bit, although I am out later this evening.

This is not a new make but thought you may all think I'd left the country if I didn't post something!

So a quick inky make with some silhouette stamps from different companies (one or two of them were magazine freebies) and a few sprinkles of sparkly bits for added interest.

I don't feel particularly creative at the moment as there's so many other things going on but am hoping the feeling is just a passing phase as I am beginning to get annoyed with myself just sitting staring at a ridiculously tidy desk in the craftie space!
Challenges -
Open Minded - Wings
Come and Get It - Fairy fantasy
Dragonfly Dreams - Wings
Crafting Musketeers - Stamped Image
Crafts & Me - Wings
Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes

Have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x

Monday 9 June 2014

Circles

Marie is hosting for us today at Crafty Cardmakers & More, and she has chosen 'Going Round in Circles' as her theme.  
Circular cards or at least one circle (of an obvious size please, buttons DO NOT COUNT) on your project and two fab sponsors again this time in Hobby Art Stamps and Di's Digistamps.
 
Shaped cards are a little out of my comfort zone but I have recently tried to use the Grand Nesties which have been gathering dust in the drawer and make some different shapes.

I used ivory linen textured card as the base and lightly sponged the inside of the nestie with Crushed Olive DI - this colour was the nearest match to the green card which I had laid out ready for the layering.

The papers are from the Botanical pad by Prima and were just saved snippets from a larger project.
Layered them onto the green and stitched together then added some cream vintage lace andstitched it all onto the base card.
Cream seam binding for the bow and glued the lovely rose cameo in the centre before adding the two pearl pins.
The sentiment was stamped using the same DI onto a scrap of the same paper and tucked behind the lace.

Challenges -
Pixies Snippets Playground- week 128 
CTFH - Anything Goes
Crafting when we can - Leftovers 
Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes
Graph'it - Frilly and Fancy 

Thanks for calling in - and hope you'll find time to share your creations with us this challenge! x

Saturday 7 June 2014

Robin's Egg Blue

I spent a quiet time last night just making a few CAS cards with some stamps that had never seen ink - yesterday was Mum's anniversary (4 years - time may REALLY have passed but it doesn't seem like it to me) and after a visit to some friends I went and took some flowers and then once we came back home I just sat and fiddled about with basics - nothing too fussy as I wasn't in the mood.

I bought some SU stamps a little while back and this is from the Morning Meadow set.

The pigment ink I used was a real cheapie (99p I think!) and has the lovely name of 'Robin's Egg Blue'! Bought just 'cos I liked the colour!
Just basic white card and stamped the floral sprays then ran an inked sponge along the edge of the card. In the middle of each of the larger flowers I used some Perfect Pearls.
The flourish, sentiment and larger blossom are also from the same set.
Cut out the blossom and then used Perfect Pearls on the stamens and then glued a larger pearl in the middle.

I intended to make this a One Layer card but ended up with the large flower stuck on with 3d foam pads!

Challenges -
Craft for the Craic - Summery/Flowers
Get Inky - Summer
Stampin with the Dragon - June - CAS
Paper Shelter - Flowers
Kraftyhands - Floral Fancy
Stampin 4 the Weekend - Anything Goes

Weather here today has been horrendous, thunderstorms and really heavy rain - but the sun is now in my eyes through the window! Thanks for calling in, enjoy the rest of your weekend, whatever you're doing. x





Tuesday 3 June 2014

Time for Tea

I go missing for ages then turn up two days running!
Had some 'me' time yesterday - chill out after a very busy couple of weeks - our holiday seems such a long time ago now!
So during my 'me' time I had a bit of a messy play in the craft space (I should have been doing the cleaning but hey - there's only us here! LOL).
A couple of inky things started then set aside, I mooched about in the paper mountain, pulled a few out and made two cards  mainly to satisfy my craving for frippery as I've been doing quite a bit of CAS lately!

The papers I think are from a Papermania pad? Anyway there's a couple more sheets now used up whoever made them!

The second paper layer was stitched onto the background. I added some cotton lace which for some reason reminded me of a tablecloth with it's pointed edge!
The image is of course from LOTV - love her turban (wonder if she's got a few rollers underneath?? LOL)
Machine stitched the main image onto some co-ordinating textured card and raised it up with 3d foam pads onto the paper doily and then fixed to the base card.
Dusty Concord DI used on the sentiment stamp.
Finished it off with some lilac shoestring ribbon which secures a little metal tea bag charm.
Inside co-ordinated to match (to use up ALL the paper!)

Challenges -
Use Your Stuff - Patterned Paper
Suzie Bees' - Layer It Up
My Besties UK - Tea
Path of Positivity - Happiness (is a nice cuppa and cupcake!)
Desert Island Crafters - Itinerary - No Flowers/Use Ribbon/Use Metal
Inky Chicks - Metal Embellie
Paper Nest Dolls - Anything Goes

Off out to the club again now then to another club this evening to support the other half and his band of merry men! Have a great day whatever you're doing and will catch up with you all later - thanks for visiting! x

Monday 2 June 2014

Summer Blossoms - VSC DT

This month at Vintage Stamping Brenda chose the theme of Summer Blossoms.
With a fab prize on offer from our sponsor I hope many of my followers will join us - and remember your make doesn't have to be vintage although you do have to stamp!
(I have scheduled this post so if you pop over to Vintage Stamping and the challenge hasn't yet uploaded please check back later!)

I chose this pretty floral spray from Flonzcraft, stamped it onto kraft cardstock and heat embossed with white ultra fine embossing powder.
I coloured it with Distress Inks in shades of Worn Lipstick and Crushed Olive than added a few sparkly gems.
The sentiment was also stamped and heat embossed

The white line round the edge was done with a gel marker and a white shoestring ribbon popped around the card then it was stuck with 3d pads onto a bright white base card.

I just wanted a CAS look to this card which is for my 'pink stash'  - many people have mentioned how expensive postage costs are for heavily embellished multi layer cards so I am trying to do some with minimum embellies as well as the more frilly and fancy ones!

Other Challenges -
Card & Scrap - CAS
Inkspirational - Bloom
Choc, Coffe and Cards - Embossing
MTTC - No DP
Less Is More - More than 1 Stamp

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x