Basic and Quick!

So today whilst Maureen has been visiting we had a wee dabble in copying an idea from this weeks Craft Stamper mag. The article was called 'Sunset Silhouette' and the cards appealed to me, not only because they were quick to do, but also because they required minimum effort but more importantly they used minimum stash!

Using sticky notes to mask gives clear and crips outlines and this was a first for me. I have never used these for masking before but shall definitely be using them again!

I used Wild Honey, Dried Marigold and Mustard Seed distress inks and an Elusive Images stamp and am very happy with the result. I think I will make a batch of these using different coloured distress ink backgrounds and just stamp on an appropriate sentiment as needed. My card is the one minus the sentiment - Maureen's card was done using the same colours and an Oriental flower stamp I've had for years. In my opinion it makes a perfect Sympathy card as even though the colours are bright I think the overall effect is understated.

So - a succesful afternoon!

Crafty Cardmakers - Clean and Simple

Creative Card Crew - Autumn or Fall

Allsorts - Colours of Autumn

Pollycraft - Autumn Colours

Autumn Leaves

Am a bit like a bus today - don't see one for a while then two come together!Second post for today is a project done for my Flickr group 'Art n Soul'. The challenge for October (unsuprisingly) has a theme of Autumn or Fall. (How original I am when setting these challenges I hear you say!)

The difficulty was that the theme had to be interpreted onto a Beer Mat.

And no this was NOT an excuse to visit the pub - as fortunately (or UNfortunately depending on your point of view)- one of my crafting friends had sent me a stack of beer mats a while back. I shall refrain from naming her as I don't want you to think she spends all her time in licensed premises......

So here's the finished project! I covered the coaster with glossy paper. Then coloured with a combination of Sunset Orange, Caramel, Ginger and Butterscotch Alcohol Inks. I then stamped some leaf images (Elusive Images) randomly onto the background.

I used a wee bit of copper embossing powder round the edges before adding the text. The text I found some time ago whilst blog hopping and it amuses me as I think it's absolutely so true! The large leaf was another Elusive Images stamp done with Stazon onto a Ten Seconds Studio metal sheet then cut out. I embossed it to 'puff' it up a bit and filled the back with Polyfilla to make sure it didn't squash before fixing it to the coaster.

Some leaf shaped buttons and some fibres to finish.

Paperplay Challenges, Creative Inspirations and Theme Thursday all have set challenges of Autumn this week.

I have to confess to being hooked on making these 'Marie' style shoes. This one was made for a blogging friend - she now has received it so it's safe to post it on here!

Papers are by K and Co, the lace, paper flowers, pearly heart button on the tag, ribbon and pearls are all from my stash. I popped a small bundle of ribbon and lace inside the shoe and tied it with an organza bow.

As it's been such a long time since I entered any challenges (at least a week!!LOL) - I'm submitting my shoe into a few challenges that are currently ongoing -
Sisterhood of Crafters - Recipe of ribbon/trim, designer papers and flowers
Fab n Funky Challenges - 'What'eva'!
Bunny Zoes Crafts - Vintage,
Southern Girls Challenge - Anything Goes
Gingersnap Creations Random Redhead Challenge - Go 3D
Anything Goes - Say it with Flowers
Tuesday Taggers - Books - (and mine is 'Marie Antionette -The Journey' by Antonia Fraser (which is a biography which makes you re-think what history says about Marie Antionette)
Dezinaworld - Gold and Lace

Castles in the Sand

I made this card for a challenge then forgot to post it! Fortunately for me some of the other challenges are still going!

The image is another one which I just love by Stampin Up - really wish I could get hold of these whimsical sets at a reasonable price - but the p and p is real extortionate and makes the cost of the stamps ridiculously expensive. Never mind..... at least I got to make some cards with the stamped images I did whilst at the craft meet.

This image of the little boy playing in the sand just evokes so many memories of rare holidays playing on the beach when I was a little girl and my Dad building sandcastles for me and allowing me to 'bury' him in the sand. Armed with my bucket we'd go fishing for crabs and collecting shells - even if the sun refused to come out we'd go onto the beach cos that's what you did when you were on your holidays at the seaside!

I coloured with watercolours and promarkers and since taking the pic I've added a wee bit of sparkle onto the starfish. Papers are by Basic Grey and DCWV and I used a Martha Stewart punch, then added a bit of 'rope' and 3 eyelet 'portholes' to finish the card.

Several challenges -

Cards 4 Men - Long Summer Days

Crafty Emma's Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Corrosive Challenge - One for the Guys

Dutch Dare - Vintage Summer

Charisma Cardz - Inspired by a Song (and mine is Castles in the Sand by The Philosopher Kings - go here to listen!)