Flowers anyone?

Another scheduled post as I am currently in Ireland  with the Men's Senior International Team - last day's play today so am hoping that the trophy is ours by the time you get round to reading this!
Our July challenge at Stamping Sensations is - 'Anything With Flowers', so there's lots of scope for you - but don't forget - we are a STAMPING challenge so stamping has to be the focal point of your project please!
Our sponsor this month is Crafty Individuals.

I had a bit of an inky fest with this card.
I used watercolour paper and Salty Ocean DI. I really like this blue and it was a change for me to use blue and yellow together.
The stamps are all from Stempelglede Vintage Garden Set. I've had them a long time and like them a lot.
The flourishes and main image were stamped in Vintage Sepia.

I double stamped the flowers and fussy cut the two largest flowers, and used Derwent Inktense pencils.
I wasn't as happy as I could have been with my colouring but am so busy travelling and doing my Presidential duties at the moment - so hope it doesn't look too rushed and you can glean a teeny bit of inspiration from it!
I simply finished the panel off by running the DI round the edge and added a organza bow threaded through a pearl buckle.

Please find a couple of spare minutes to pop over to the Stamping Sensations blog and I know my teamies appreciate if you visit them and leave them a quick comment! (Like me too!)
Bit of a quick change for me - flying home tonight then tomorrow I am driving to Buckinghamshire, then on to Bedfordshire at the end of the week. Am hoping to grab some time to come and visit you all.
Have a great week! x

Crossing the Sea

Today sees the start of the new challenge at Stamping Sensations - and for June we have Visible Image as our generous sponsors.
The challenge is to 'Use Your Favourite Stamp'.

How difficult is that???? I have lots of stamps I like and it is impossible to choose a favourite so instead I chose one that I have used a lot as it is I think a great versatile background.

I used it on a lot of ordinary occasion cards - Birthdays, Get Well, Sympathy altering the look by masking and stamping small areas rather than the whole background and adding other stamps. (examples HERE and HERE)

This time I used the entire stamp inked in Certainly Celery.

Not sure why I chose green as the background colour instead of blue considering the 'sea' reference but it looks OK!

The large ship stamp was by Flonzcraft, inked in Smokey Grey and stamped several times to obtain the depth of colour I wanted.

The sentiment stamp is from another set, stamped onto left over card, edges distressed and 'hung' with a bit of string and a brad.
A bit of embellie - a scrap of hessian and a tiny seahorse - couldn't resist!

Hope you can find the time to join in with us this month - am currently away on my travels again but hoping to find a spare hour to visit everyone! x  

One for the Boys - and finally in my own bed!

The summer months have quickly passed and here we are in September already! Time for another challenge at Stamping Sensations and this month the theme is 'One for The Boys'. Our prize is shown at the end of this post!  
PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE A STAMPING CHALLENGE AND HAVE TO SEE STAMPING AS THE FOCAL POINT OF YOUR PROJECT.

For my card this month I opted for a vintage nautical look.
The papers are from a pad called 'Character' and I thought they were perfect for my travel theme.
I used neutral tones throughout layering the DP onto some kraft cardstock before adding it to the base card.
All stamping was done with Vintage Sepia Versamark ink.

I stamped the compass onto a text sheet from the same stack and fussy cut then stuck into the right top corner.

The left over sheet was used to stamp the sentiment and also to create the banner which I ran through my really old crimping machine. A couple of punched holes and some thick twine knotted at the top.

After stamping the image onto the hand made tag I added a little colour to the sea with 'Salty Ocean' DI. Inked the edges with Antique Linen. Same thick twine through the tag top.

Our prize is this selection of goodies  -  

Hope you will join us!

Other Challenges -
Pixies Playground
Gem of a Challenge - Twine
Just Us Girls - Travel

So - those of you who follw me will know I have been AWOL for a ridiculously long time - 32 days to be exact!
Arrived home yesterday from the National Championships - we were really lucky with the weather - just 2 bad days. I collapsed into my own bed last night - LOVED IT!!
Only two more nights home then am off again this time to Elgin in Scotland for the Under 25 Mens Internationals... home next week but will have time whilst here to come and visit you all. Coffee, biscuit and blogland - all a girl could dream of!
Thanks for staying with me - missed you all. x

No ink!

No stamping here as I decided I'd better keep my fingers ink free as I am at another Prize Presentation tomorrow - looks bad doesn't it handing out shiny Silverware and sparkling Crystal with dreadful ink stained fingers!!!

A little bit of recycling done - I love this image which I rescued a couple of years ago from the 'saved pics box'. It started out it's life on a pale blue winter themed card.
It was soft and ethereal.... I hope I've made it bold and 'stand out'!!!!

The background card does actually have sparkly spots on it - (bad light AGAIN so I had to use the flash)- and I layered it onto some red card.
I embossed a frame onto a scrap of card and placed the image on it, before rounding off the top corner and layering onto the same red.

The bling is from my stash and I added even more with the buckle for the ribbon - not satisfied with that I then splattered some glitter glue onto it by flicking a paintbrush!

A few punched snowflakes and a Christmas sentiment (also recycled) finishes it off.
(Definitely not one for the post box - have to be hand delivered!)

Challenges -
Crafting By Designs - Get ready for Christmas
Crafty Gals - Ribbon and a flourish
A Snowflakes promise - Anything Goes
CCAYR - No stamping
Crafting Musketeers - Christmas with a Ribbon
Card and Scrap - Vintage


Thanks for calling in - appreciate you taking the time as always. x

Pretty in Pink

I was really pleased to be asked if I would join the Stamping Sensations Design Team - I stepped down from the DT's I was on last year as I wasn't sure if I could manage to make, post, comment and do all the bowling commitments that come with the Vice President post - anyway - I was asked and I said I would do my best and give it a go.
By making well in advance and being able to schedule my own posts I am hoping that I can contribute fully to the team - so here I am - my first post as a DT member!

The April challenge is 'Pretty in Pink' -the challenge rules are that you can use any products you want as long as the focal point of your project is stamping. Our sponsor this month are PDA - ( they sell quality cardstock, pre scored cards and envelopes, essentials such as Spellbinder dies and embossing folders, Imagination Crafts beautiful Sparkle Medium, and some cute charms and crystals from Hobby House.) And they are offering a WHOPPING £40 voucher to be spent at their store!
I used my favourite linen textured white base card. All the stamps were I think a free set from a couple of years ago.
The dress form was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and I sponged inside the Marianne Die with Spun Sugar DI before cutting.
The spotted back panel was done by masking and then using the same colour DI on a Tim Holtz background stamp before scoring either side of the panel.
The fancy edged banner was stamped onto pink card then fussy cut.
I popped a pearl along each of the 'frilly bits', another on the waist centre of the dress form and a couple along the top of the card.
Other Challenges -
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Polkadoodles - use a Die
Southern Girls - Dies/Punches
Creative Knockouts - Die Cuts
Scrap & Craft - Frame It
MAWTT - Birthstone colour  (June)

Quite a nice day here - hope you are enjoying your weekend whatever you're doing. x

Fly

If you managed to get a look at the eclipse this morning in your part of the world I am envious - we had lots of very thick cloud here so all that happened was it went a little darker!
Quite cool too which is such a contrast to yesterday when I had an hour out minus a jumper and in a 't' shirt!

A man card to share done in super quick time.
Blue cardstock randomly stamped with a really old diamond background stamp inked in Versafine Majestic Blue.
Image is from a 'man' set of Vintage transport by Flonzcraft, same ink and layered onto the offcut of the background card.
The banner is a piece of ribbon -  I wanted to use it as it was the only piece of bright coloured dark blue ribbon that I had in my stash - but it was too thin so I simply stuck some double sided tape down one edge and joined two pieces together to make a wide piece!

Challenges -
Crafty Catz - No Designer paper
Crafting by Design - Masculine
Crafty Creations - Stripes or Chevrons
Cardz 4 Guyz - CAS
Time Out - CAS
Southern Girls - Boys

Thanks for looking today - it's raining here now so a perfect reason to sit in the craftie space and have a little trawl through blogland! xx

Layers of Pink

A vintage frothy pinky creation to share today.
Base is normal white card and the papers are from Raspberry Road all printed onto linen textured card.
I overstamped the background with Tattered Rose DI using a flourish stamp from the Stempelglede Vintage Garden set.

The floral background was overstamped with a large script stamp from Indigo Blu in Versafine Smokey Grey, stamping the first time onto a scrap then stamping again onto the rose paper to give the faded look.
Both distressed, Tattered Rose DI used then stitched.

A piece of hand dyed ribbon across the middle before adding the metal pendant. The centre of the metal pendant is a resin cameo style rose.
I added two scraps of scalloped lace to the card and then placed the main image on top after wrapping a bit of pink trim round.

Maybe it would have been nice to be dressed so elegantly like this lovely lady instead of my usual t shirt and jeans although am not sure I would have liked the undergarments which pinched in your waistline quite so much!
A couple of my normal pearls to finish and the papers continued inside.

Some friends are tying the knot on Saturday - they've been together for a long time but decided to make it legal! (Very)small wedding, them, us and their grown up children - that's it! Looking forward to enjoying a pre wedding dinner party on Friday night at an upmarket (and very posh!)  hotel), an overnight stop then an early morning ceremony before they fly off to exotic climes for a long honeymoon.... if I can sneak into their cases I will!!!
The lovely pic of the roses is the Inspiration Photo from the Shabby Tea Room challenge this week

Other Challenges -
Crafting Musketeers- Ribbon/Pearls
Inky Impressions - Special Lady
In the Pink - Special Lady
Digi Galore - All About Her


Some friends are tying the knot on Saturday - they've been together for a long time but decided to make it legal!
(Very)small wedding, them, us and their grown up children - that's it!
Looking forward to enjoying a pre wedding dinner party on Friday night at an upmarket (and very posh!)  hotel, an overnight stop then an early morning ceremony before they fly off to exotic climes for a long honeymoon.... if I can sneak into their cases I will!!!
Have a great weekend whatever you're doing. x

Sea

I have made very little this week - and what I have made has been pants! Have finally given in and made an appointment to see the doc tomorrow - am hoping that there is a quick remedy as I've had these cramps/pains and  been feeling completely wiped out like this since last Friday.
Consequently I haven't felt much like doing anything except feel sorry for myself! I know I'm poorly - I got new stamps and didn't even open the packet they came in for 2 days - OH was seriously worried.....LOL
Scanned through my drafts folder to share something and thought it was a little while since I posted a 'man' card so here's one!
I used coloured SU cardstock as my base (but can't remember what colour it is) and teamed it with some red. The striped paper is from K and Co and is part of a very large box which is that old it's as vintage as the image from a vintage male themed stamp set by Flonzcraft - stamped with Versamark 'Espresso' onto a scrap piece from another mat stack. Two small eyelets added before matting and a few corners punched out from the red scraps.

The little calendar pieces also from the 'scraps' box, simply torn up and shoved in

Used some red/white Bakers Twine, added the Anchor charm and stamped sentiment and finished off with 2 larger eyelets.


Challenges -
Ruby's Rainbow - Masculine Birthday
Crafty Gals - For a Boy/Man
Crafty Sentiments - For a Man
Cardz 4 Guyz - Anything Goes
Stampavie & More - Water

I am also dropping into the Snippets Playground for about 2 minutes - not well enough to be making snowmen or having snowball fights -  although the view outside is making me want to go sledging.....
this was taken yesterday - and it hasn't changed much today apart from the sky which is a bit clearer. Will try and stop by your blogs later. Have a great day whatever you're doing. x  

Penny Farthing - Vintage Stamping DT Post

Just another 3 days to go before I am unleashed back in the craft room! Actually it's likely to be at least 4 as I have a mound of paperwork to do for forthcoming AGM's and other meetings but still am sure I'll squeeze in a little bit of inky stuff!

-
got a stamp set of vintage transport images from Flonzcraft, all which are great for male themed cards - airplanes, trains, balloons, ships and the like. I had a bit of an inking session with all the stamps using different ink colours and then just made them up into cards, using up scraps of card on the way so am also calling in at the Snippets Playground this week too.

 And this time our challenge over at Vintage Stamping is a colour choice - you can use one or ALL of the following colours! Green, Orange, Black, Purple, Red - which of course 'scream' Halloween but I don't do Halloween so my offering is - as with most of my 'Cards for Men' - a CAS one. (Yes I know ANOTHER CAS and a basic card but it  pads out the numbers in the box which really are very low at the mo!  )

Having stamped the image in Forest Green Stazon,  I cut it out with a circle die then layered it onto another circle cut from dark green cardstock.
I embossed a piece of white card (the folder I think is from the Oriental Cuttlebug set) then layered it over the same green.
Cut out two banner shapes from oddments of paper and finished off with a scrap of green grossgrain ribbon and a button!

Challenges -
Addicted to Stamps - White plus one
STAMPlorations - Stamp and Embossing
C.R.A.F.T. - Embossing
Crafty Ribbons - Buttons and Ribbon
Crafting when we can - No Designer paper

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Ribbons, Lace and Pearls

Jackie is hosting our challenge today at Crafty Cardmakers and her theme is 'Ribbons/Lace and Pearls', so she would like to see ribbons or lace, {or both} AND pearls on your creations.

For my DT card I made this -

Ribbons, pearls and lace HAS to be vintage and shabby as far as I'm concerened! 

It gave me an opportunity to dig out this much neglected stamp which is I think perfect for a vintage look.

Stamped it straight onto coloured cardstock, and coloured the roses slightly with Distress Inks. Added some pearls for the buttons (very fiddly - took me ages!!) and tied a tiny shoestring bow in the same colour as the backing card.

Ripped and distressed the edges.

The other papers are oddments from various pads - spotty one first, (Prima Botanicals) then overlaid with some very broad cream lace. Next layer paper is from 5th Avenue pad (a scrap I had left), and two pre cut pieces from a Paris themed paper pack from Craftwork (I think!).

All stitched then overlaid with another piece of lace before adding the stampoed image.

The large lace 'rose' is a recycled piece from a very very old sweater  and I stuck a white pearl in the centre.

Two more pearls added and the inside decorated to match.

Please pop over and join us this time round - 2 great sponsors - Woodware and Di's Digistamps- are offering prizes this time round! 

Other Challenges -
We Do Doobadoo - Feminine
Suzy Bees - Anything Goes
A Vintage Journey - With a Flourish
Choc, coffe and Cards - Vintage
Delicious Doodles - Fancy & Frilly
Charisma - Lace & Pearls 
ALBC - Distress It 
Joan's Touch - Vintage/Distress/Layers

Thanks for visiting - have a great day whatever you're doing! x

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

Ribbons and Bows - Vintage Stamping DT

This month over at Vintage Stamping our challenge is 'Ribbons and Bows'.

We would love for you to join us and you may make anything you like as long as there is some form of stamping on your project! 

I am continuing in my quest to use up paper pads so once again I steeled myself and used one of my all time faves - Ella Blue.

The stamp is from our sponsor - I used Versamark Sepia and clear embossed. Coloured it with Promarkers then (carefully!) cut round it. I added three really tiny pearls to the lady's neckline - how fiddly was that!!

The bow is made from two different types of ribbon - a brown organza type and a lovely chocolatey 'silky crush' piece.
Popped in a couple of pearl pins.

Made some paper rolled roses, stamped a sentiment and then decorated the inside to match.

Hope you can create something to share with us this month - we love visiting!
Challenges -
Craft Room Challenge - Roses and Romance
Penny Black & More - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - Shabby Chic
Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
Ribbon Girls - Flowers
Dream Valley - Anything Goes
Fantasy Stampers - Distress it 

The Greatest Game Ever Played

We have a lovely day here so it's off out for me in a little while - as the rain is set to supposedly set to return tomorrow!
Am carrying on making the odd 'man' card and here's another for my 'show and tell' today.

Amongst my collection of images was this one of the vintage golfer - when you look at how he is dressed , shirt, tie and jacket, it makes you wonder how he could hit a golf ball!

I printed the image out on linen embossed card then distressed running 'Tea Dye' round the edge. Then matted it onto a dark brown card.

The papers were from my stash and although I think I've been using them up the piles are not getting any smaller - I think the Paper Fairy is coming in and secretly adding to them....

The plaited twine I have had for absolute years (and I MEAN years) - wrapped it round the matted card and stuck it on the top with a button 'golf ball' .
The crossed golf clubs are from the same button set.

Finished with a stamped sentiment (a freebie from a magazine) which I just tucked underneath the golf ball.
Inside decorated to match.

Challenges -
Penny's Paper Crafty - Masculine
Paper Shelter - Masculine
House that Stamps Built  -Repeat Impressions DCC423 ~ For the Guys.
Divas by Design - Movie (The Greatest Game Ever Played - which is about the 1913 US Open)
Seemacrafts - Vintage
Crafting Cafe - One for the Boys
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for taking the time to come and see me - I'll be back later to catch up with you all - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Tag

Having a rummage about in the lace baskets I found lots of odd bits which I haven't been able to bear to throw away - (I was obviously a squirrel in a former life) - I dragged out a few scraps and left them out on the desk  as I have had this idea rattling round in my head and wanted it all to 'come together' before I made a mess of making something -
- and the reason why I didn't want to spoil anything is the centrepiece - it was made by the lovely Caz and it came with fab candy stash which I was fortunate enough to win!

Originally I didn't want to use either of the two gorgeous hand made brooches from the candy pile - they're just too beautiful but it seemed a shame not to - at least this way the tag can sit out on display in my craft room and be seen!
So thank you Caz - and I hope I've done your creation justice!

I inked the tag with Old paper, Vintage Photo and Worn Lipstick DI, then randomly stamped some script over it. (Can't see this very well on the pic but trust me it's there!)

I covered the whole of the tag then with some old lace which had a fancy edge and stitched it, then just added more and more odd scraps, stitching them all as I went along.

The brooch was then pinned to the centre and I cut out a vintage pic and popped it into a metal frame, covered it with Glossy Accents and stitched to the base of the tag.

The 'believe' was another scrap found in the lace basket and I raised it up slightly by arching it before stitching the ends. Used some seam binding ribbon and more odd lace looped through the top.

Am putting this into Pixies Snippets Playground this week to earn some brownie points for using up odds and ends!

Thanks for taking the time to call in today - have a great day whatever you're doing.x

Other Challenges -
Creative Moments - Girly
Clear it Out - Anything Goes with Stitching
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
All Crafts - Anything But a Card
Glitter n Sparkle - Pearls and Lace
Crafts 4 Eternity - Anything But a Card
Crafty Hands - Shabby Chic
Fairies Challenge - Vintage
Pile It On - Feminine

Undies!

Sunny weather has departed over the last few days and it's been quite cool after being able to wander about without a coat last week!
Had a bit of a colouring session last night and made this card up. (Light here not very good today - very grey!)

The image is called 'Vintage Slip' by ADFD and I think it's so pretty.
I coloured it with DI and Promarkers then stitched it onto a scalloped blue frame.

The background paper is once again from my stash, matted and stitched onto blue background.
I used some Coredinations for the embossing and again stitched onto blue.

The hand dyed ribbon was from my stash and I added a couple of cherry blossom flowers - am still deciding whether or not to take off the leaves (which I coloured with Shabby Shutter DI) and change for another colour as I think they look too yellow.

I printed out a TLC sentiment, altered the font colour and after framing it stuck on a small silver bird charm.
Inside decorated to match.

Challenges -
ABC - H for Hair
Bearly Mine - For the Girls
Nat & Amy - Flowers
Gem of a Challenge - Female
MTTC - Charming
Suzie Bee's - Emboss It
ADFD - Anything Goes
Creative Corner - A Little Birdie
Hope everyone's enjoying their weekend and as always if you've left a comment or taken a look at my blog I appreciate it! x

Renaissance

I have been able to have a bit of a play for an hour or so over the weekend.
Felt a lot better then yesterday back to sneezing and spluttering - am getting on my own nerves never mind anyone else's! I appear to be unable to shake off this 'whatever it is' that has now been with me for almost 2 weeks.
Consequently I am unsure about this make. Whether that's down to my fuzzy brain or it really is just a naff effort I don't know!

I used some old papers from my stash (which may have been from a HOTP pad?), distressed the edges then matted and layered onto Kraft then black card.
The main stamp is one of the very first I ever bought when I started my 'mixed media' journey (!) as at the time I was hooked on all things medieval and historic.
I found it (along with 3 others!) all dusty and unloved - so inked it up and stamped it onto dark cream card, clear embossed and then matted and layered it. Resisted using any colour on the image at all although maybe I should have coloured her dress?
Stamped the large script onto a scrap piece of kraft paper and just randomly ripped the edges.
The pen and ink bottle also stamped onto scrap pieces of kraft and mounted using 3d pads. (more old stamps!)
Finished it off with some die cut corners and a sanded 'hinge' secured with brads.
Challenges -
Make My Monday - A non cute grown up card
MIM - Anything Goes
Dream Valley - Vintage
Fashionable Stamping - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Ladies Day
Card Making Mama's - Stack it Up
Daring Cardmakers - Old but not Forgotten (my stamps!)

Thanks for taking the time to have a look and if you've left a comment I really appreciate it.
As I'm confined to the house in an attempt to get rid of this bug I will be trawling round blogland all day! Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Bicycle

Had a productive day yesterday - intended to go out for a long walk but the weather defeated me - put coat on -hail, sleet, rain took coat off. Then a patch of blue sky - put coat on only for the rain to start again. Took coat off and gave up 'cos whilst the rain doesn't really bother me the path round the beautiful reservoir near where we live gets really muddy so went into the craft room instead!

Found these papers and thought they would make a good 'man' card!
They're what my Mum would have described as 'sludgy green' with shades of brown - no idea who's they were although think the script background was from a Papermania pack called Regency?
The other piece was a 12 x 12 scrapbooking sheet which happily for me had varying merging designs and shades with quite a large shaded area with nothing on it at all - perfect for stamping the image onto!

The Penny Farthing man is an old stamp which was from a set of Edwardian Gentlemen and I used Adirondack Espresso ink.
I sponged the edges of all the paper pieces with Brushed Corduroy DI and matted them onto dark brown card.
Added the sentiment and finished it off with a dark brown button and some string.
Quite an uncluttered design but enough I think for a man!

Challenges -
MAWTT - Birthday Boys
Digi Sketch - 1 for the Men
OLLCB - Man card
Creative Inspirations - Stamping
Allsorts - Vintage
Totally Papercrafts - 1 for the Boys
Gem of a Challenge - 1 for the Boys
Enjoy your day whatever you have planned! x

Waves

Man card!
Made my mind up to do some cards suitable for men and this is the first. I am going to use this stamp agin so you'll probably be fed up with it in a week or so! Having done a couple of CAS cards I didn't really wnat to do another just yet - sometimes I find it good to be messy and fussy - the only trouble is you can't be too fussy with 'man cards' can you - cos the recipient thinks you're barmy if you adorn it with flowers and ribbons... nuff said.
So I made messy instead.

Completely unhappy with this pic which has given it an 'orange' tint hasn't it when IRL it definitely is reds and browns! Light here has disappeared dramatically in the last twenty minutes!
AND I CONFESS......... instead of using papers from my stash I printed out these instead - LOL!! So much for using up the paper mountain in the boxes... I have promised myself I WILL use up some from the boxes on the next one!

For a change I used Kraft card as the base for this one.
Layered, distressed and stitched all the papers and then scrunched up some card and smoothed it out before stamping the ship and sentiment. The ship stamp is from an Artemio set, the sentiment is from a set called Nautical Collage and the little compass is from I don't know where!
All stamped with Vintage Sepia.
The Distress Ink used throughout is Tea Dye.

I found a red brad in my stash so used that to secure the large banner and the map tag is a free digital download from a blog called 'Call Me Victorian' which has to be one of the best free vintage download sites around!
An old bit of string wrapped round the banner and knotted finished it all off.

Challenges -
Paper Crafting Journey - Vintage/Distressed/Shabby
Fab n Funky - Words
Always Something Creative - Stitching
Art Impressions - Trips Ahoy
Craft Room - Water based
Crafty Hands - Put a Tag on it
Daring Cardmakers - Stripes
Fussy and Fancy - Vintage
Totally Papercrafts - One for the Boys

I hope you're all having a good day and wish you a fab weekend! x

Black & White - Crafty Cardmakers DT

Been a few changes over at Crafty Cardmakers and More for 2014 - a new title, new teams and different types of challenges as we're also adding some Mixed Media themes! 

For our team's first challenge of 2014 Kim has chosen the theme 'BLACK & WHITE' - no other colours except flesh colours for people.

This colour combo just makes me think of silent movies!
So a movie inspired card is my DT offering for Kim's challenge and I combined digi stamps with a 'real' one to achieve the effect that I wanted!

The papers are old stuff from my stash so I have no idea who's they are.
The image is an old stamp which I have had for years and rarely used. (It was in the 'shall I get rid of ?' drawer!)

Stamped onto bright white card and matted onto black before mounting it onto the base. I popped a teeny bit of red ink onto her lips and I hope I will be forgiven- well you can't have a movie star without cherry lips can you?????

The film reel and clapper board were free digi stamps some time back. Raised these also with 3d foam pads and some film strip acetate stuck behind (have no more of this left so that's the end of my movie career....!!)

The stars and sentiment were all PC printed and I finished it off with some black sequins, a black organza bow and some white pearls.

The inside is decorated with the same papers and another star.

I am quite disappointed with the quality of this pic as the colour isn't as sharp as it should be - think I should have asked Santa for a new camera?
 I hope you can come and join us this month - our sponsors are Woodware and Di's Digi Stamps.

 Other Challenges -
Sentimental Sundays - More than 3 layers
Hobbycutz - Lots of Layers
OSAAT - Use a digi
Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody- Anything Goes
Digi Galore - Monochrome
Craft Your Passion - Face the Music (Movie Star by Harpo - really showing my age now!!)
My Sheri Crafts - Use a Digi
Fussy and Fancy - Monochromatic

Thanks for taking the time to look at today's creation - have a wonderful day whatever you're doing! x

Vintage Sepia

Continuing with my 'use up that paper or chuck it' theme, I sat yesterday and fiddled with a few things. I have though come to accept that I am NEVER going to get to the bottom of these paper mounds as quite frankly, I will soon become bored!
But I have definitely promised not to buy any more and this is something I WILL keep to.
(Besides - there are so many lovely digi papers now and instead of buying packs where you only use half (or even less) at least with digis you can just print what you want! LOL)  

Whilst ferreting about I found an absolutely ANCIENT half used paper pack by Basic Grey and a slightly less ancient  and less used pack by Joy Crafts - the sepia vintagey colours appealed so here is the card -
Dusted off the sewing machine too!

Edges distressed with the wheely tool, then Tea Dye distress ink and stitched.
The main image and the script stamped with Vintage Sepia ink, cut out with nesties and the main image then sponged with Tea Dye and Antique Linen.

Attached the image using a mother of pearl button, folding down the top corner.
Sentiment tag also got the same treatement with the ink!

The ribbon is hand dyed and I found a coppery coloured heart in the stash box .   
All the vintage lace used is from my stash, the bottom corner 'fan shape' was from a crochet doily and I just cut it into quarters!
Papers all carried through to the inside.

Challenges -
Stamping Sensations - Ribbon/Buttons/Bows
CFTH - Pearls or Buttons
Artistic Inspirations - A.Goes/Feminine
Country View Crafts - Monochromatic
Creative Moments - Ribbons/Pearls
Divas by Design - Use Ribbons
Simon Says Stamp (Monday) - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoes' - Stitching
Fab n Funky- 1image, 2 Buttons, 3 papers

So that's me for today - have a great day whatever you're doing! x