May Card Chain Challenge Reveal

My May challenge card went to blogging buddy Carol here in the UK.
Using the colours and the option of a stencil from the technique list I made this!

The stencil was part of an unbranded pack - it's only small so I fiddled about with it re-positioning where I wanted.

I used Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet inks. Having tried lots of different colours I decided the violet was the nearest I had to Blueberry!


I ran a piece of card through a Vine embossing folder and lightly inked before die cutting my butterfly.
I really should have embossed after die cutting I think but the texture is still there even if it's a little flatter than I would have liked.

Using an embossing pen I heat embossed the body and antenna in gold and finished with a gold embossed sentiment.

This month I received the most stunning card from my clever friend Hilary - thank you again! x

There's still time to sign up for this month - pop over to the Card Chain Challenge blog if you fancy joining us!

Emboss It at Try It on Tuesday

This fortnight our challenge at Try it On Tuesday is 'EMBOSS IT'.

I made a background with Cracked Pistachio, Salty Ocean, and Twisted Citron inks.

I stencilled a couple of odd things on the background for some depth then used Salty Ocean to add a couple of random stamps (crackle, script)

I have had this big Indigo butterfly for a while and although it is quite a big stamp I really like it as you don't really need much else on the card front!

Triple white heat embossed then coloured it in using Distress Inks - adding Blueprint Sketch to the colours already used on the background.
The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted.

Other things have got in the way of my blogging recently and I have been unable to visit my blogging friends. I hope to stop by very soon and catch up with you all.

Thanks for looking today - please pay a visit to the Challenge blog and have a peek at what the others on the team have made this time round - and of course as always I hope you can find time to join us!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

CAS Mix Up Mid Month Reminder

 Half way through Hilary's challenge at CAS Mix Up where we have to use Gesso and a Stencil!
Lots of lovely examples over on the challenge blog and also some links to video tutorials to give you some inspiration.

The stencil is from Honey Doo and I used Spun Sugar ink over.
The butterfly was coloured, fussy cut and given a liberal helping of glossy accents so it shines bright.
The sentiment is from SU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly this is our very last challenge at CAS Mix Up, I have loved being on the Design Team with the most talented group of crafters.

Thank you to everyone who has played along over the years, it has been a joy to see all your wonderful creations. x

CAS Mix Up July Challenge

 We have a new challenge today at CAS MIX UP set by Linda. This month is Watercolour month and Linda has set the theme of 'Things with Wings'.

I have been playing about a little with Brushos - I am not confident using them as I am a little too heavy handed and the card usually ends up swimming with blob pools!

But here's my card for our challenge -
Green shades are not colours I use often, maybe I was inspired by all the green in the garden!

Brushos applied first then once the card had dried I stamped the background with some grungy stamps which I have had for ever, then stamped the 2 butterflies direct onto the card for placement.

The 2 butterflies were from different sets - and remember I mentioned about blob pools?

Well my first attempt ended up very blobby and was still blobby when I stamped and fussy cut the butterflies so I smooshed them through the wet bits and then stuck them on top of the stamped ones!

Hope you can join us this month - the rest of the DT have some fabulous makes to inspire you over on the blog!
Watercolour, Wings and keep your make CAS - that's all you need to do and I am looking forward to seeing your creations! x

Big!

 I recently acquired an Indigo Blu big butterfly stamp. Have actually used it - and more than once!

The Brushos were out on the desk top as I have used them for another project which will be shared in a couple of weeks time.
I stamped and heat embossed the butterfly before fussy cutting.

I thought that if I cut off the body (psycho tendencies 😈😈- LOL) on one side this meant that I could use the other side complete with body to make another card.....😊

Once the embossed wing was dry I looked for a suitable matching purple ink shade and simply stamped the whole butterfly onto the card base.
A few Brusho spatters and a die cut sentiment dipped in the wet brusho residue on the craft mat - it made for quite a quick card and one for my own stash box!

Work has continued here outside. We have extended the existing patio (those flags were HEAVY!) and rebuilt the dismantled raised bed in the shadiest part of the garden right outside the kitchen window- it's now filled with lush shade loving plants which cheer me up when I am washing up!

Still a bit to do planting up a new border and the all important water sculpture installation - which are jobs to be tackled over the next few weeks - dear husband is prone to reminding me that
'we're not as young as we used to be so everything takes a bit longer'! (Like I needed to hear that.......😒)
Sharing my bodyless butterfly at
TIOT - Butterfly
Dragonfly Dreams - Butterfly

Thanks for stopping by - hope all is well in your part of blogland! x

Blissful

It's been a week where real life has simply got in the way and when I have had time to myself, I haven't done a lot!

I am in desperate need of sunshine after the weather recently (where is Spring? The end of May is not a time to have to put on your central heating!) and with once again grey skies and damp drizzle outside I decided to make my own.

Lemon brusho background - a nice sunshiney colour!

I used Squeezed Lemonade for the stencilling then did a bit of overstamping in black, Squeezed Lemonade and Fossilised Amber.

Orange brusho used to highlight the butterfly and the sentiment is from an old SU set.
Popped on a couple of lemon enamel dots.

Sharing over at
Cardz4Galz - Wings
TIOT - Feminine
Thanks for looking today - have a great weekend! x

CAS Mix Up May Challenge

It's STENCIL time over at CAS Mix Up and Susan our host has set the challenge of  'Rainbow Ink Blending or Colours'.

We have the lovely Michelle (I Card Everyone) joining us too as our Guest Designer!
 Please remember you have to use a stencil this month and don't forget to keep your design CAS!

A Lavinia 'Pods' stencil was used for my background and I gently brushed Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade and Peacock Feathers through part of it.

The butterfly and flourish stamp is an old grey rubber one and I think it may have been Hero Arts but don't quote me!

UPDATE - Am reliably informed that this stamp is from Chocolate Baroque. (Was called Elusive Images when I bought it!) Available here

Stamped it once direct onto the base and again onto a piece of scrap card and quickly clear embossed, then fussy cut the butterfly and coloured with pencils in the same shades as the background.

The 'Carefree' stamp is another old one, (barely used like so many {sighs}!)
Pop across to the challenge blog and check out the lovely work done by  Michelle and the rest of the Design Team - hope you will share a make with us this month too! x
Sharing over at
Pearly Sparkles - CAS
Stamplorations - Stamps and Wings
A2S+M - Any Occasion

CAS Watercolour

I had several tiny pieces of smooshed card mounting up - they were about to see the inside of the waste bin as really they were too small to be of any real use and I am trying to continue in my  quest to keep the desk tidy 😇😇- but then I remembered I had a small butterfly punch that might fit some of the odd pieces.
 So that was the basis for this card!

The die cut squares were also left over from other things so I am feeling rather pleased with myself that I managed to make this from scraps!

The smaller die cut was already smooshed with Stormy Sky DI and I just added a few spatters in Picked Raspberry.

The chrysalis on the branch is a very old (and small!) clear stamp and I coloured with my watercolour pens and added a teeny bit of sparkle. .

The sentiment is from SU's Butterfly Basics.
I painted the bodies of the tiny butterflies then just layered it all up.

CAS Watercolour's August challenge is Colourful Butterflies.

It's also been a little while since I have managed to go to The Playground, so am sharing my make over there too.

And at TIOT the challenge is - In My Garden there is....... ! 

We have had such a wet few days - sunshine one minute then heavy rain the next. Not what we want during August which is supposed to be our summer!
Thanks for taking the time to look today, wherever you are I hope your weather is better than mine! x

Mid Month - Stamping Sensations August Challenge

Here's my mid month reminder for you for our 'Things with Wings'  challenge at Stamping Sensations.

The butterflies are from an SU stamp set stamped in Versafine Crimson red,  fussy cut and popped on with foam pads for a bit of dimension.

The script stamp and leaf stamp are from my stash and are that old I have no idea what make they are!

If you've not joined us this month there's still plenty of time - the challenge runs until 28th.

And the prize from out great sponsors Rubber Dance is DEFINITELY worth having - Go to the blog to see!  Please read our challenge rules carefully before submitting your entry - we are a STAMPING challenge!
 Also sharing over at -
Alphabet Challenge - K for Kind Thoughts
Cardz 4 Galz -  Wings

Thanks for looking! I'll be back later today with my reminder for CAS Stencil! x

August at Stamping Sensations

Hello Crafty People!

August already! And the Stamping Sensations challenge is ' Things With Wings' - so  a lot of scope there - please remember though you MUST stamp and have the 'thing with wings' as the FOCAL point of your entry.

I had a bit of fun with a few stamps and ink!

Stamped the butterfly first then masked off.

The diamond background stamp is from Kaiserkraft and I just inked it with a few co-ordinating Distress Ink colours and stamped away on the background. Used an old circle stamp from a textured collection and randomly stamped a few circles.

Sentiment came next

Sponged the edge and matted onto green card before popping onto the card base and done!

We have a great prize for you again - our sponsors this month are the fabulous 'Rubber Dance' - pop over to the blog to check it out - and visit my wonderfully talented teamies - they love comments!

Floral

A quick post from me today!
Sharing a card I made recently for a friends Birthday using a NBUS stamp!
Had this PB 'Delicate Florals' set for a while and this is the first time this particular stamp from the set has seen ink!

I stamped and silver embossed then used DI's to colour. (Picked Raspberry, Victorian Velvet, Cracked Pistachio)
Die cut a Butterfly and silver embossed the body before popping it onto a teeny scrap of vellum which I coloured with Cracked Pistachio DI.
Die cut the sentiment and coloured again with Cracked Pistachio before mounting onto the die cut stitched squares.
A few paint splatters to finish.

Sharing over at
PB&More - Spring
PB Saturday Challenge - Fresh Spring Colours
Allsorts - Feminine
CAS on Friday - Butterflies
Alphabet - C for Cas

Thanks for visiting me today. I will come see you all soon as I can! have a great day whatever you're doing. xx

March Mid Month at Stamping Sensations

Our March 'Rainbow' themed challenge is well under way and this is a little reminder that you still have time to enter if you haven't done so, (or even if you have you can have another go!).
Great 'Lucky Dip' prize of  lovely dies and embossing folders up for grabs. (A pic  of our prize can be seen HERE at the bottom of my post)

Check out the Stamping Sensations blog for full details - and PLEASE read our rules before entering!

For my mid month card I opted for a simple CAS design with rainbow colouring.

I used a 'Cherry Blossom' embossing folder for the background.
The Butterfly is from an old set and I stamped it with Versafine ink starting with the centre one then simply masked and stamped again along the panel.

Following the colour spectrum of the rainbow I coloured the butterflies with a host of DI's and then made a few ink spatters.

The sentiment die and the sentiment are both Technique Tuesday.

Am sharing this over at -
Sunday Stamps - Sketch 
Fab N Funky - Butterfly 
Stamps + Fun - Butterfly

Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

May Challenge over at Stamping Sensations

'Close to Nature' is our challenge for you this month at Stamping Sensations.
Our sponsors are Chocolate Baroque and you need to pop over to the challenge blog to have a look at the great prize on offer... and whilst you're there, please check out our rules for entry please - we are a STAMPING challenge!

Some inkiness from me this time round for our 'Nature' theme. And a card made in super quick time as I didn't have a lot of time spare!

This is a technique called Water Reactive Colouring and is a really easy technique of sponging a card front with Distress Oxide inks, heat embossing a design, and then lifting colour using a water brush.

With each pass over the design you lighten the image so that it stands out against the dark background.

I used Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers for this card using a stamp from a set called Hydrangea Tag by our sponsors.
I added a small gold die cut butterfly - cos he was lying on the desk looking lonely!

There are some great examples of this technique in blogland - here, here and here!

There's also lots over at the blog to inspire you - please visit my teamies blogs and tell them what you think of their inspiration - hoping you will join in with us again this month!
Sharing my card with
613 Ave Create - Mainly Blue
Dare2bArtzy- Flowers
PB&More- A/Goes
AAA - Gold/Watercolours/Flowers

Friends

We still have a little snow lying here, but the sun is out and the sky is a clear blue so no doubt it will all be gone by the end of the day even though it is still really cold.

As I was confined to the house because of the snow (!!😀😀) I made quite a few cards.
The sky might be blue but I had a terrible job taking this pic!
The butterfly stamp is an old one. Part of a set with flowers but no idea whose it is. I embossed it in white and then used my DOx Shaded Lilac.
Confess I am really like the oxides... need to get some more!

This is a really simple and quick card - I made another using a different butterfly and another colour.

The sequins are actually an incredible exact match to the lilac in real life although they do have a pinky tinge to them on here. But when all said and done - bling is bling!!

The sentiment is from SU - and I stamped it in Wilted Violet DI. Often when I use DI's to stamp sentiments they don't give a good impression but this time it worked perfectly.

Sharing over at -
CAS on Sunday - Sequins
Allsorts - Bling
TSOT (March Technique)- Embossing
Crafty Catz- A/Goes

Thanks for taking the time to visit - I hope you are all warm and well wherever you are in blogland! x

Close to Nature

Time for another challenge at Stamping Sensations - this month our theme is 'CLOSE TO NATURE' and if you pop over to the challenge blog you will see the fab prize we have on offer and some delights that the DT have produced to inspire you.  
TRUST ME - YOU WILL WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE AT WINNING THE A-MA-ZING PRIZE THIS MONTH!!
Please remember - WE ARE A STAMPING CHALLENGE - AND WE NEED TO SEE STAMPING AS THE FOCAL POINT OF YOUR PROJECT. 

I decided it was time for a change so I have made a large tag this month!
It may end up of the front of a card at some point...

Inkiness all over the place here.... Rusty Hinge, Old Paper, Antique Linen DI applied with duster brushes all over the tag first.

Script stamp from Indigo Blu inked in Vintage Sepia, stamped on an odd piece to remove excess then stamped onto the tag.
'Chicken Wire' stamp applied the same way.

Flower from SU's Butterfly Basics coloured with Peacock Feather DI mixed with a little bit of cosmic shimmer, a dab of orange in the centre, Forest Moss DI for the leaves  and then the sentiment stamped in Versamark Espresso Truffle Ink.
The word 'beautiful' was a stamp waiting to be put away and just laying on the desk - so I used it!!

The butterfly is also from Indigo Blu. Stamped, coloured it with a little  Peacock Feather DI then fussy cut. Popped it up onto the tag with 3D foam for dimension.
Finished it all off with a triple seam binding bow.

Challenges
Go Tag Thursday - Butterflies
Creative Stamper - Springtime
Craft Rocket - No Patterned Paper
Sweet Stampin - No designer paper
PB & More - A/Goes

Hope you will join in with us this month! Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

White Space but not white!

Just lately I have made and posted a card only to find a couple of days later that it would have fitted the challenge theme at Less Is More! And then to compound my frustration I haven't any time (or ideas) to make another one!!
Happened again this week when the challenge posted was 'white space but not white' and my grey tiled effort HERE posted on Thursday would have fitted!
But this week I did found a spare hour to make one to submit

This really IS a CAS card, inspired by Pinterest and made in super quick time. I have already started on a couple more with different coloured bases and may bundle them together for note cards, hence the absence of any sentiment.
The textured coloured cardstock in my stash has been very much neglected in favour of white and cream so this challenge was a good opportunity to dig it out!
I used a flourish embossing folder across the centre of the card to break up the expanse of black.
The little 'tile' was made using odd scraps of white and aqua card.
The white piece was stamped with an Indigo Blu script stamp in Versafine Smokey Gray (stamped onto another scrap piece first to remove some of the ink). I used Versamagic Oasis Green for the butterfly stamp (found amongst a pile of old stuff but just the right size!)
Just layered the stamped bit onto the aqua then onto a scrap of black and mounted with foam pads.
Quick, simple and am happy!
Calling into the Playground with my make and also making a call to Mrs A's Butterfly Challenge.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. x
 

Returned!

Arrived back after a brilliant couple of weeks on the Bowls England President's tour in Cyprus (my turn next year to sort one of these out heaven help me!). 85 people - bowls, drink, food and laughs.. oh and some sun too!

Thought that I had better post something though as it's been ages since my last share. 

This was a commissioned card and was one of several golden wedding cards ordered by the same person for several of her friends who were all celebrating anniversaries in the same year!
Consequently I had to resort to using a layout I have used before and inspired by Debby many moons ago!

The banners were all embossed and die cut from oddments of  cream linen card. The stamp is from the Stempelglede Vintage Garden set and  I like it a lot.
I cut out the butterfly then simply swept it across the ink pad and gold embossed - I didn't want a thick solid effect and I was happy with the way this turned out.

I hand made the rolled roses using a die (think it is a Marianne one but don't quote me!), punched out a couple of leaves and a gold mirri card die cut flourish. I added a pearl and gold wire stem for more blingy and the sentiment is from LOTV.

The pic background has a bit of a bluish tinge to it - should be white so obviously I had the camera on the wrong setting! Card has gone now so can't re-take it!

Using up the snippets means I can pop into the Playground this week - won't be able to hang about long as the washing machine has been on overdrive since we got home and I need to make a start on the dreaded ironing!
I will catch up with you all over the next few days and hope all is OK with you all in blogland!

Challenges -
Allsorts - Wings
Alphabet - B for Butterflies
Jade's Sparkling Butterflies - Use Die Cuts

Spots and Scraps!

Had a bit of a mooch about in the 'box of leftovers' recently and found several pieces of spotty card.

Strangely enough they were all roughly the same size - so I tidied the edges of four pieces and used them as a background.

I used up a pile of white snippets too so am feeling quite smug with myself!

Sorry the pic is not the best - no idea why.

A few odds and ends of ribbon, some pearls and a butterfly punch and these have to rate among the quickest cards on record - (hope they don't look like it!) - all done and dusted in less than half an hour.

Looking at the darker pink one am now not sure if the ribbon might have been better placed straight rather than on an angle... but too late now!

Snippets Playground for me I think - if I can get an internet connection long enough to link it up this week - (am away on tour)!

Thanks for having a look today. Have a great day whatever you're doing.x

Fly

Lots of CAS and case'd cards likely over the next few posts I think!

Have long tried to perfect CAS type cards - mostly because without lots of embellies like flowers and bows they can be posted!  And there's something about minimalist stuff that just at this moment in time appeals to me more than anything else! That's not to say I'll abandon fussy and fancy completely, just that I have a bit of an urge to CASE those clean and simple perfectionists I have long admired. Loll, Birgit, Lisa, Sarah, Hannelie and a host of others too numerous to mention all make CAS look effortless - don't they annoy you?? LOL

Made this card with leftovers of my fave white linen card so shall go across to the Playground to see if they're all behaving themselves in  Miss Di's absence - likely I shall be counting Sarn's grey hairs 'cos I bet there's more than last week......

The wood background stamp is by SU and I used Versafine Smokey Grey ink.
The butterfly MAY have been a freebie - watercoloured and fussy cut after stamping, then lifted with silicone glue to give a bit of dimension.
The sentiment stamp definitely WAS a freebie!
Rounded off the bottom corners and added a few sparklies in different sizes. Job done.

Other Challenges - Sweet Stampin - CAS,  Bunny Zoes - Wings,  OLLCB - CAS, HIMCR- Super Scraps Saturday.

Thanks for looking - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Friday Blues

Weekend almost here and I have spent this week coughing and spluttering and generally feeling sorry for myself!! Trouble with colds is they make you feel so damned MISERABLE!!! But it has made me feel grot and not feeling like doing much - which explains why the wash bag is full and the ironing pile is untouched for a week.... (no change there then really!)

I was lucky to win a challenge recently and spent the voucher on 3 Kaisercraft stamp sets! So of course, even with the cold I had to stamp.
This fountain stamp is called 'The Lake House'. All the papers are from Raspberry Road's 'Country Picnic' set. Stamped the border stamp round the edges then distressed and used Weathered Wood DI.

Coloured it using Promarkers, adding some Perfect Pearls for the flower centres.
The sentiment was from another of the Kaisercraft sets called 'Enchanted Garden'. Distressed the same then stamped the rose border along the background card, just adding a little blue pearl. 

A few more pearls, a bit more distressing and some broderie lace finished it off! Papers also carried on into the inside.

Challenges -

Time Out - Inspired by Words (Flower)
Butterfly Challenge - Stamping/Sapphire
I Love Promarkers - Bingo (Sentiment/Free/lace)
Passion for Promarkers - Papertastic

Have a great weekend everyone. x