Paper Piecing - Crafty CardMakers DT

Today it's my turn to set  the Crafty Cardmakers challenge - and a challenge it was - well for me anyway!
I (having a moment of sheer lunacy!) picked 'Paper Piecing'.................. no idea why....... seemed like a good idea at the time.......... but I am soooooo NOT good at it!

And as one of the sponsors for this challenge is the very talented Krista, I wanted to use one of her lovely digis (which you can all go see here) - and I hope I have done it justice!

Here is 'Christmas Nutcracker' - suitably pieced with very apt papers entitled 'Merry Christmas' by Raspberry Road.

I pieced the dress, shoes and her hair ribbons - quite tricky- and probably could have been neater - but overall not too bad!

Applied some Stickles to the neck of the dress and the stripes on her socks and even popped a wee bit of gold blingy on the little soldier (well it IS for Christmas after all!).

The green ruffle ribbon was from my stash and I added a few red pearls.

The bauble sentiment is a chipboard piece bought a long long time ago and the red and green beads were rescued from one of last years Christmas cards!

Hope you can have a go at my very own challenge this fortnight - would love to see your creations - even if like me you think you're not very good at it!! (Which I am sure you are 'cos we're all too critical of our own work!!!!!)

Other Challenges -
2 Sisters - Christmas Sparkle
Kraftyhands - Trad Christmas Colours
Crafty Calendar - All things Christmas
Doodle Pantry - Any Digi Goes 
RRR - Christmas with Ribbon

Have a very happy day! x

Poppies - Just Because

The weather today here has been absolute PANTS! And because it's been wet the light has been even PANTSER! (Is that a word???)
Anyway you know what I mean - so consequently I had about 10 zillion attempts to take a photo of this card which looked anything like the actual thing - grey, full of shadows, horrible flower colours... even messing abpout with photo editing didn't make much difference - then just before I went out a patch of blue sky appeared through the roof window and I managed to get a couple of pics before the hailstones came again!

As Remembrance Day is almost upon us here in the UK it seemed fitting to make a card with Poppies.

I wanted something reasonably CaS but didn't want to make what you might call a 'typical remembrance card' with 'Sympathy' or a 'thinking of you' type sentiment, but wanted one that could be used to commemorate the fact that we are here when others are not.

The sentiment I stamped onto this small tag reminds me that I have a lot to be thankful for and happy about - even when I am feeling  the same as the weather - Pants!

Just basic linen card and a die cut from a scrap of card - die coloured with Distress Inks and mounted with 3d pads.
A few tiny sparkly gems and some shoestring ribbon - job done !

And a card which I hope can be sent 'Just Because' you feel like it!

Challenges -
Daring Card Makers - Other Occasions
Twist of Faith - Remembrance
Totally Gorjuss - Remember
Delicious Doodles - Remembrance
My Time to Craft - One layer or less
Pixies Playground - Snippets

Hope the weather isn't pants where you are! Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment - I appreciate it. x

Christmas Window

Quite a cold day here today -think Winter is on it's way! It must be cold 'cos Dear Husband has turned up the heating!!!
I think I lulled myself into a false sense of security recently as I have actually liked my finished creations - all that is apart from this one.........

Have no idea what it is about it but it just doesn't sit right! 

There were a couple of challenges about to CASE other cards and that is what I tried to do with this one - everyone else's are 100% better than this one!

I CASED this card and designer
 http://kittiekraft.typepad.com/kittiekraft/2013/10/poinsettia-christmas-window.html
but tried to put my own twist on it rather than just do a straight copy.
(Mainly because I don't have either the same window or poinsettia dies! LOL)
Not sure if it's worked really - perhaps the  embossed brick background with the  raised bricks is too fussy?

All done on white linen card.
The window die I cut out twice for some depth and added a bit of lace behind it - (next time I likely will cut out an aperture from the base card I think)

Bit of printed Christmas ribbon and some punched leaves added. The flowers from my stash were a dirty cream shade (LOL) so coloured them with red distress ink before they got the stickles treatment!

Challenges -
Twisted Tuesday - Free for All
As You Like It - CASE a designer
C.R.A.F.T - Christmas
Paper Craftin Journey - CASE a Card
Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - White on White
Crafty Bloggers - Christmas

Thanks for having a look today - comments appreciated - would love to know what you think! Have a great day. x

Man card!

Am still toiling away with Christmas Cards! It is so unusual for me to be organised I am beginning to get a bit worried!!
Today's share was made with a man in mind, inspired by something I saw last year on Pinterest
and uses a stamp I won in a challenge.

Blue base card layered with white linen textured card which had been given the treatment with a snowflake embossing folder!
Blue snowy patterned  paper at the bottom and a strip of punched snowflakes over the join.

The 'Old Truck' stamp comes with flowers and grass so this posed a bit of a problem - not a lot of floral greenery here in the Winter!
I used some tinselly twinkly white embossing powder  - and held my breath as I wasn't sure it would cover all the floral fancy round the base and in the back.... but it did!
Then put some more onto the body of the truck in an attempt to make it look like it had been snowed in for some time - was quite pleased with the result.

Added some glossy accents on the windscreen and headlamps which doesn't show up very well inj the pic.
Cut it out with a nestie and popped it onto a blue scalloped nestie oval. Finished off with my fave snowflake die and some blingy gems.

Challenges -
Nat and Amy's - For the Boys
2 Sisters - Christmas (no red or Green)
Crafting Cafe - Winter Blues
WOW - Christmas
Tok Bobok - Christmas
Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's #149 - Christmas
CRAFT - One for the Boys
Christmas @Sweet Stamping - Card for a Male

Thanks for taking the time to call in today - and if you've been able to leave me a comment I really appreciate it. Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

A Traditional Christmas - Vintage Stamping DT

November is here and Christmas will soon be upon us!
So, to spur you into making sure you have all your Christmas cards made this month's challenge at Vintage Stamping is 'A Traditional Christmas'.
Remember - even though we have the word vintage in our title your project doesn't have to be! It DOES though, have to have some actual stamping on it...
So here's my DT card for this month -

I used black cardstock.
The mesh stuff I found in a drawer - I remember buying it and thinking it would make snow background and then used a teeny piece of it about 2 years ago! So am using it all up this year - or at least am going to try to!

The stamped image is from our wonderful sponsor Flonzcraft - and what can be more traditional than decorating a Christmas Tree?
After stamping, I painted the sky with Distress Inks in shades of blue and purple.

A liberal helping of Diamond Stickles applied to the floor and a wee bit dabbed onto the rooftop.
I glued tiny red gems onto the body of the tree and a green one on top. There was a 'garland' on the stamp so I stuck on some red metallic thread.. really fiddly and doubtful if I would attempt again!!!
Mounted it onto black card then layered it onto the card base.

The snowflake flourish is being well used this year! Popped on a couple of sparklies and some thin organza grey ribbon before adding the sentiment which I think is from Raspberry Road.

Challenges -
Crazy 4 Challenges - Not all Black & White
Sunday Sketch & Stamp no 181


Thanks for stopping in today and hope my little card has inspired you to join us this callenge - we'd love to see you!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Most Popular?

A quick share today before I go out and get wet!

Another Christmas card too - and likely a stamp that the world and his wife have been using since it was released - I bought it a while back and spent yesterday stamping it in different colours to make into cards - only wish I could have got my hands on the Train postcard one at the same time too - but it's as elusive as Santa's reindeer at the mo!! On order and promised so I will just have to be patient.... NOT one of my best traits!

Opted for an aqua blue theme on this one - in a fit of madness about 5 years ago (!!!) I bought a pad of ridiculously expensive 12"x12" K and Co Winter Wonderland papers - as with so many papers they were strokable and viewable but too nice to be usable.......LOL
Last Christmas I made a start into cutting into them and have continued this year...'cos if I don't I'll be selling them as antiques!
Distressed the "vintage" papers, matted onto aqua blue card then layered onto the white base card.
Snowy Postcard stamped with Smokey Grey Versafine ink, edges distressed and coloured the sky with Tumbled Glass DI. Matted onto the same aqua blue.
Script embossing folder used onto Coredinations and sanded and placed behind the stamped image. A stamped word, some glittered die cut snowflakes and a scrap of white organza ribbon.
Once made up I decided to colour the holly leaves and berries in the corner of the stamp which I had originally left - oh and of course HAD to add lots of glittery stuff for snow!

Challenges -
Allsorts - Christmas
Gem of a Challenge - Christmas
C2CU - Vintage Christmas with a mono twist
Crafty Hands - Anything Goes
Scrapping 4 Fun - Christmas/Holiday
Winter Wonderland - Blue/White (and am hoping that my little touch of green for the holly leaves is ok!)
ALBC - Sparkle & Shine
2 Sisters - Christmas - no red or green

Thanks for visiting today - am away out for the afternoon but will be visiting everyone later.  Enjoy your day whatever you're doing.x  

More purple

Just spent a couple of hours using up odds and ends - made a couple of cards and thought I'd share this one with you -

Embossed the edges of a standard white square card with a border folder.
Layered a left over piece of  embossed card onto a lilac base and then cut out two triangles from the lilac piece.
Both of these triangles went through the 'crimping' machine and stuck different sizes of pearls on one and wrapped some braid round the other.
Punched out a star and put a pearl in the middle and finished it off with a white bow.

Quick, easy and used up some leftovers instead of either hoarding them or chucking them in the bin!  So this will go into the Playground this week as a snippets make!

Challenges -
Christmas Card Challenges - Bows
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Hobbycutz - Bingo (Pearls/Free/Ribbon)
MAWTT - No papers
Beccy's Place - Holiday Cards

Am now nicely settled in the craftie space with the cup of coffee and am about to come calling! Thanks for visiting! x

The Colour Purple - Crafty Cardmakers DT

The last two weeks have flown by and it's time again for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.
Hosted by Fiona, who  decided to tax my brain cells and choose the theme of Purple!
So cards/projects that are all or mostly purple please - hair/skin colours are allowed.

This is not a colour that I use a lot - not because I don't like it but because I struggle to make anything with it  that I actually like when it's done!

However, I am actually quite pleased with this effort for a change!

I used basic purple coredinations cardstock for the background.
Stamped it with a lovely floral branch stamp from Flonzcraft and then white embossed.
I used Dusty Concord DI and lightly coloured some of the flower petals.

The flowers were done using an old set of stamps so have no idea who made them!
I punched out the butterfly and gave it a little blingy.
Finished with some antique style lace and shoestring ribbon.
No sentiment ....yet.... but maybe it doesn't need one?

Other Challenges -
My Time to Craft - Butterflies
Flutterby Wednesday - No Orange or Black
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Craftin Boutique - Anything Goes

Hope everyone is safe, warm and dry! Thanks for finding the time to come see me today. x

White stash!

Finally found some 'ME' time yesterday and then sadly discovered the mojo had gone walkabout!

With creative ideas sadly lacking I thought I'd best stick to CAS cards as simple layouts were all that my brain cells would manage.

And it also gave me a chance to use up some of the smaller pieces of pearl card laying about - cuttlebug to the rescue, some dies and embossing folders and a bit of glitter and so began a Christmas card making session.

Two cards to share - one tent card, one square, same basic design just using different die cut trees and sentiments.

The punched out glittery snowflake was not intended originally -  but there was a dirty mark on the embossed piece which I didn't notice until I stuck the other bits on - happily the little glittery flake covered up my smudgy sins!

The sentiments were stamped using Stone Gray Stazon - I treated myself to a little PB stamp set this week and these were included in the set. 

Challenges -
Charisma - WOW
Aud Sentiments - Christmas Sentiment
Allsorts - Treemendous
Craftin Boutique - Anything Goes
Nutcrafters - Lots of Layers
Crafting Musketeers - Christmas
Pixie's Playground - Snippets

These are the first of quite a few done yesterday so am feeling rather smug as for once I am getting myself organised! Whether it will last or not is a different matter!!
Thanks for calling in today - hope you're all having a great weekend. x

UPDATE - 
Everyone asking me about the die for the larger top card - it's a Memory Box one called - would you believe - 'Twiggy Tree'!! LOL

'Belleek

This week has seen friends visiting (days out and lunches!), two other lunches (and travelling to Cumbria and Yorkshire) in the form of Northern Counties Presentations, my own Club presentation night (some polishing of silver and washing of crystal) and today is the Club AGM (lots of minute taking and typing later!) - so before I collapse in a heap I thought it about time that I at least posted SOMETHING!!!

I made this card after being inspired by the hugely talented Sylvia-Anne.
Her CAS cards are so beautiful and I tried this simple method with a Christmas card which I have already shared and thought it would be perfect for a quickie Sympathy card - I don't like making them but it's something we all need....

I used Versamagic 'Pixie Dust' Chalk Ink on the embossing folder.
The card used in the embossing folder was some high quality  bright white stamping card which has a subtle sheen.

Believe me I held my breath as I ran it through!
First attempt and it turned out just fine!

The ink is lighter in places (altho the pic isn't the best) and it gives a fab subtle effect which is just perfect for a 'soft and gentle' card.

I stamped the sentiment in grey ink and cut out with a nestie tag. Raised the middle slightly and popped on a couple of pearls before layering the finished piece onto linen card.
This is the first of several 'Belleek Style' cards  now in my stash -Thank you Sylvia!

Challenges -
Keep It Simple - Be Inspired
CAS(e) -  Challenge 50 (Sketch)
Paper Shelter - 2 Colours
Craft Your Passion - Add some Embossing 

Off to get all the paperwork ready - hopefully the meeting won't take long, then I can come back and catch up with everything that's gone on this week whilst I have been AWOL!!
Have a great day. x

A Visit to Grandma's House - Shabby Chic - Crafty Cardmakers DT

It's time for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and this one is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVES!! So I hope you will find time to join us this fortnight - prizes up for grabs!!
A big thank you to fellow Teamie BettyC who set this challenge - SHABBY CHIC. Love it!
 I have had soooo much fun creating this project and I used up lots of little bitty things - fiddly, time consuming, messy desk and sticky fingers - just what us crafters love!

 Be warned now before you go any further this is a VERY picture heavy post - I have put 'close up' views at the bottom - please enlarge if you want a better look!

I bought this house shaped box some time ago and had already painted and distressed it but when we moved house it got packed away and I finally got round to making it up.
It gave me a chance to just - well have a 'play'!

My gran was an accomplished dressmaker. She made everyone's wedding dresses, bridesmaids outfits, winter coats etc and all my summer dresses. I was the proud owner of a beautiful red velvet dress with a white crochet collar one Christmas when I was about 8 followed by a luscious brown corduroy coat with a leather collar for my birthday.

So this project is in it's own way a tribute to her amazing needle skills - and of course her prowess with a Singer sewing machine!

Quick run down through the 'storeys' -
Attic - small cardboard box liberally stamped, a little Paris Passport rescued from another project, a hat, parasol, old clock and old sign, a bit of lace thrown in!

First floor - Paris backed Perfume Advert, small parcel of fabric, vintage lace and a teeny pink thimble, some 'rolls' of fabric (done by using cocktail sticks and scraps!), a couple of tiny buttons, sewing machine (stamped on metal) and a 'remember' sticker. Dressmakers dummy covered in paper and some floaty fabric, a mirror made by using modelling paste, acrylic paints and metallic rubs for the frame with the insert from a piece of tin foil, a reel of vintage ribbon secured with a sparkly pin and a small cotton reel.

Ground floor -from the left -  image printed onto fabric (reminded me of the way my hair was done in 'ringlets' when I was small!) edged with vintage lace, a fabric rose and a pearl earring,
Centre - a sewing 'basket' containing some vintage style pins, a safety pin, tape measure and scissors, a button and specs and a candelabra to see by!  

Right - a ladies vintage boot, more buttons and a tiny hanger with a feather bit all sat on some vintage lace.

Challenges -
Natalie & Amy - Shabby Chic
Altered Eclectics - Alter Something
Dream Valley - Buttons
The Crafting Cafe - Anything Goes
All Crafts Challenge - Anything but a Card
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Created with Love - Sewing
ALBC - A little bit Shabby

I hope you have enjoyed my little trip down memory lane - the box is now sat on my work room wall where it evokes memories of my childhood!
Thanks for visiting today - have a great time whatever you're doing. x

Halloween Dance

I am not a Halloween person! Nor am I inclined to read or watch anything remotely spooky.... (apart from Casper that is!) but once in a while seeing all the masks, capes, spidery things I am tempted to produce something non cute that could be (loosely) interpreted as suitably scary.

Perhaps the image is not your normal kind of anniversary/wedding card subject but the sentiment seemed to fit with it so a wedding/anniversary/engagement card it is....... for someone who likes all things Twilight Zone!

Basic white card covered in some black paper then a piece of purple crackle style paper.
After distressing the edges, some Pumice Stone DI applied and some faux stitching in black along the edge.

Image matted and distressed in the same way, coloured with a mix of promarkers and Distress Inks.
Black lace, black pearls and flourishes and two die cut gothic style corners.

The freebie sentiment printed onto the purple paper. The two 'bats' are tiny cut outs from the corner dies - they didn't start off life as bats - I just used a pair of scissors and trimmed the off cuts a bit!!

The metal heart charm is a dull dark grey colour - the shine comes from the flash on the camera - I had a devil of a job taking this pic (perhaps not a good choice of descriptive person for Halloween??? LOL) - its very grey and damp here today and the dark colours didn't make for good photo taking!

So there it is - my Halloween offering for 2013!

Challenges -
Creative Insp - Happy Haunting
MAWTT - Spooktastic
CRAFT- Halloween
Crafty Catz - Halloween
LOC - Halloween
Card Crafters Circle - 3 embellishments
Country View Crafts - Something Spooky
Emergency Crafters - Halloween

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

A little bit shabby...

have been working on a couple of projects (not cards) but got withdrawal symptoms... so  with lots of bit and pieces left on the desk I made this....

Not a stamp in sight - just paper, lace and various bits and bobs.

Whilst the sewing machine was uncovered I put it to good use - the backing paper is from First Edition and I stitched onto cream card after suitably distressing the edges and running round them with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

The large width lace is from my stash - it's stretchy so was a bit awkward when stitching!

Covered the dress form with paper from the Papermania 'Bookprint' stack which I bought last year and have never used one single sheet to my shame.... and then added some black lace threaded through a pearl heart buckle.

All the other lace, ribbon, ric rac braid were odd bits left over.

The 'C'est Magnifique' sentiment I found in an envelope - obviously rescued from something else at sometime or other so stitched round it and stuck it on with foam pads adding a lace flower with a cameo button middle on the bottom.
Three tiny black pearls in a corner, some pins stuck into the silky crush ribbon bow et volia` - French Shabby Chic!! (I hope!)...

Challenges -
Delightful Challenges - Distress
Crafting by Design - A.Goes with Ribbon/Lace
Crafting 4 all seasons - Pins and Lace
Timeless Tuesday - Pearls and lace
Whimsy Insp - Shabby Chic/Vintage
Oldie but Goodie - Lace/Stitching/Ribbon from the Bingo board
Cute Card Thursday - Neutral Zone
PNDC - #14 Vintage
Unstampabelles - Stitching
My Craft Creations - A/Goes

I appreciate you taking the time to look and thanks for leaving comments!
Hope you're all having some craft time wherever you are in the world time zone.xx 

White on White

I hate White on White! Or at least trying to take a decent pic of WOW cards!!

The cards made with it I usually love - I think the stark simplicity of them is stunning - and there's lots of beauties on display this week over at Less Is More - and their WOW CAS challenge also has the theme of Christmas - so another card for the Christmas box - and you'll just have to believe me when I tell you that this is actually quite a nice card in real life!

I so so so struggled to get a decent pic - my pathetic photography skills, coupled with the lack of decent light (very grey day here today) and of course my ridiculous notion of using the dreaded pearl Centura card as the focal point all combined to make one naff picture! But you'll get the general idea....

Simply made with dies layered onto each other and finished with a sparklie in the centre.
Layered onto a linen textured card that has a lovely sheen. 
The sentiment was stamped in silver ink and clear embossed.

A quick card but another one towards the Christmas stack!
Other Challenges -
KIS - White
Paper Creator - Dies
Inky Chicks - 2 different die cuts

That's it from me - time for bed I think! x

A new DT post!

Some news to share with you all - I have been asked to be a Design Team member for 'Vintage Stamping'! 
The challenge is monthly and although it says 'vintage' in the title the things you make don't have to be vintage themed - you can enter any sort of project as long as you follow the theme for that particular challenge and you have to STAMP!!

This month's new theme starts today and it's 'Female Beauty' - I've done a bit of a tongue in cheek effort using one of our sponsors retro themed stamps - and I hope now that they're not regretting asking me to join the team!
I confess that this WAS made in a bit of a hurry too.... hope it doesn't look like it!

The papers are from Summer Driggs - the pack is all in shades of lemon, grey and black.

I lightly coloured the stamp with  promarkers and made a scrunchy flower from the same papers.

The sentiment is PC generated, ribbon, pearls and the little black flower embellie from my stash.

Challenges -
Craftitude - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Stampin with the Dragon - Yellow
Totally Papercrafts - Humour
MAWTT - Anything Goes

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

Back to the Washing....

My kitchen floor looks like a jumble sale sorting room. Little piles of different coloured things have sprung up like tiny mountains and are patiently waiting to be drowned in water and soapy suds - there are two things I dislike about holidays - packing/unpacking(that counts as one thing cos it relates to suitcases LOL) and all the washing you have to do when you come home!!!!!!
So with one pile done, second pile in I decided to do something quick to ease me back in slowly to the craftie space.
Complete with my suntan (which even if I do say so myself is spectacular...) I opted to make - - - a Christmas Card!

Done quite simply by rubbing some very old Pearlescent Ice Blue pigment ink across the reverse of a snowflakes embossing folder and running through the Cuttlebug. (I was surprised that there was still some ink left in this pad - it's YEARS old!)

Sadly the pic is not the best owing to the fact that it is very gloomy here on the moors today but at least you get an idea.

I used some paper that had a light sheen to it so where the ink is patchy in places it has allowed a lovely iridescent sheen to show through and the snowflakes look shimmering.

The vellum was a scrap found in a drawer, torn into strips. I stamped the sentiment then heat embossed with silver powder.
Finished with a snowflake charm.

Made a few of these in a silly hope that I may not be rushing about last minute as normal....... am not holding my breath though.

Challenges -
Holly Jolly - No patterned paper 
Just Insp- Metal Embellie
Xmas Cards All Year - Getting Ready
Christmas Card Challenge #44 - Anything Goes
Use your Stuff - Heat Guns
Glitter and Sparkle - Add Some Metal

Am now settled down for the rest of the day to have a good old trawl round blogland and catch up and also to do some serious crafting - haven't got anywhere else left in the house to put any more washed stuff to dry - (good excuse....)

Cutie

Quick post from me to share a commissioned New Baby card.
And also to apologise if I don't get round to visiting you over the next 2 weeks - cos today is the day we leave this wet and windy weather and fly off to HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!
Will try and pop in from time to time, as am sure I'll be wanting a little bit of shade at some time in between the drinks with umbrellas in and sleeping on the hammock!!

This image just makes me smile every time I see it - I am in NO way maternal but there's something about the 'folds' in baby's skins isn't there - squidgy hands and feet!!

Coloured with promarkers and cut out with the Radiant Rectangles dies, layered onto blue cardstock before assembling onto spotty and striped background papers.

All the dies were cut from pearl white card and as usual cut some corners with what has to be my most used die set!
Lace and ribbon rose trim from my stash.

The sentiment was computer generated and I added a few pearls (as always!!) and followed the theme into the inside, using the same papers.

Challenges -
ABC - V for Very Cute

Clear it Out - Boys/Dies
Just Inspirational - Die Cuts
Oldie but a Goodie - Dies
Cutie Pie - Cute for Boys

Well that's me done - some posts for my DT scheduled whilst I'm away so fingers crossed Mr Blogger behaves and loads them for me!
See you in a couple of weeks! xx

Winged Things - Crafty Cardmakers DT

It's our 100th Birthday over at Crafty Cardmakers and our chosen theme this week is  'Winged Things'
Our sponsors this time are CRAFTS AND ME  and WOODWARE.

For my card I used the gorgeous Celtic Angel stamp which is available here.
I am getting better at one layer cards, although they still make me nervous as I normally end up making a mistake at the very end of the project and the little creation ends up in the bin! 

Thankfully I managed this without any mishaps although I held my breath a little when I stamped the sentiment! 

I used bright white card, printed out the angel and coloured her with promarkers. Liberal helpings of glamour dust applied to her wings and then just stamped the sentiment using Versafine ink.

I dusted round the edge of the card very lightly with Wild Honey distress ink.

The little orange heart shaped gem was found hiding in my stash!

Hope you like her and hope she's inspired you to come across and join us this week and please just check out the rules before adding your creation!

Challenges -
Digitally Sweet - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - Make Your Mark
Come & Get It - Focal Image on side
That Craft Place - Things with Wings
LOC - No Designer paper
TPE - Digi Image

Thanks for visiting and if you've left a comment I appreciate you taking the time!

Have a lovely day whatever you're doing - Me? I'm off to pack the suitcase! Just two more sleeps before the holiday!

Autumn

Autumn has arrived here today! We have some light rain, very windy and much much cooler... so today's share is fitting I think!

I still have my CAS head on!

It's EONS since I managed to take part in the challenges at 'Less Is More' but I finally found some inspiration in the little grey cells to produce something that combines with their colour theme for this week of Dark Green and Rust.

I have been practicing using an acrylic block inked and spritzed with water - am still not very proficient but this piece used as the background was one that didn't end up in the bin! I either manage to press too hard, put too much water on or generally just make a splodgy mess! This effort I think is 'passable'! The ink is Shabby Shutters.

The Chloe stem die from Memory Box I have had for some time and this is the only second time I've used it... I inked some card with Rusty Hinge and then cut out two flower heads.
The tops of the heads I painted on some Dark Bronze Mica powder mixed with modelling paste. I do not use the mica powders enough - they very rarely get an outing as I hate using them up!
Randomly placed some bronze pearls on some of the tops and left the others - which are quite shiny IRL and the little bit of texture gives a some depth.
 Just layered it onto some textured card and stamped on the sentiment.

Challenges -
Clear it Out - Thanks (and am using my powders reluctantly!)
Cuttlebug Mania - Back to Nature
PNDC - CAS
PB& More -    Autumn Colours

Thanks for taking the time to look - am off now to finish a commissioned new baby card - but will have coffee and a trawl through blogland first! x

The Blues?

Played about a bit with some offcuts, a few pieces of linen textured card and some dies.
Result was a batch of CAS cards which always go down well as ' buy and keep them 'cos you'll never know when I'll need one'!
Sharing on this post two cards very similar and some inky fingers.... actually I managed to keep myself very clean for a change as normally once the inks are out I have a mad desire to go all grungy and start slapping paint and ink on canvas but the mojo wouldn't switch on to anything fussy and fancy for some unknown reason - perhaps it's pre holiday blues!!


 I like this blossom die a lot and have used it on several cards. This is the first time though that I tried shading properly with Distress Inks.
I used Chipped Sapphire, Broken China and Tumbled Glass and sponged across a piece of  textured card.

Cut out the die twice and cut out some small squares.

Overlapped all the squares, and then put the dies on sticking them at the bottom only so they kind of 'waft about'!

Added a teeny piece of hand dyed ragged seam binding tied into a knot and 3 pearls on the bottom square and then layered it all up onto the card with 3d foam pads.
I left it sentiment free - might add one but can't make my mind up!

Second card was made using up the left over bits from the first!

Just cut out the die blossom from a piece of white card and then layered it onto the inked up left over before mounting it onto a white card .

Simple sentiment inked in Chipped Sapphire and a couple more blue pearls!

Challenges -
Pixie's Playground - Snippets
Sweet Stamping - Got the Blues
Bloggers - To Die For
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoes - Something Blue
Crazy 4 Challenges - Flowers & Pearls

Will see if these get taken - quite enjoyed doing them so if they get re-housed by one of my ladies then I know that I can use all my bits up!

Quite a nice day here so far - much cooler but dry and there's even some blue sky in between the large white clouds!
Have a great day whatever you're doing and thanks for sticking with me to the bottom of this rambling post!! x

Mermaid Secrets

Spent yesterday holed up in the craftie space - the rain was lashing against the windows!
So quite fitting that I made something on a watery theme..... LOL

This image is a simply gorgeous offering from A Day For Daisies - and the best thing about it was that it was a freebie!

I coloured her with a mix of pastel chalks and promarkers in varying shades of aqua, adding a wee bit of sparkly stuff randomly round the 'sea' and of course on the wee fishes!
I used three different papers from the Raspberry Road 'Seaside Chic' collection, distressed them all and then inked the edges with distress ink before layering up.

Added some lace and some slubby fabric suitably ripped before placing the image inside a frame die cut from the same papers.
The corner on the top right was a piece of the off cut from the frame and I just liked it!
A few shells, also blinged and some mosaic sparkly bits also used to give a 'reflective' effect.

The sentiment is also from the same paper collection and I love it.
I put some rope and fibres behind and a seahorse button before placing on the card.
Inside as usual done in the same papers to carry on the theme.

Challenges -
Country View Crafts - Layers
Card Crafters Circle - Portrait of a Woman
Sweet Pea - Fantasy
A&TEF - Magical Creatures
Southern Girls - Make Believe
Digitally Sweet - Anything Goes
4Krafty Girlz - Anything Goes
C2CU - Texture and Your Style (Am not sure I have a particular style as I feel equally happy with both CAS and fussy!)

Its quite a cool day and I haven't made my mind up what I'm going to do! Might pop out but then again might not! have a lovely day whatever you're doing and thanks for stopping by. x

Snow and Ice - CCM DT.

Weeks are going by and before we know it Christmas will be here!! I though am still sorting out my holiday clothes - not many sleeps left really - only a couple of weeks and I shall be lazing about in the sunshine again!

Before then though Josephine set us a wintry challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers of 'Christmas Snow and Ice'.
Am grateful really as this is the first Christmas Card of 2013..... whether it galvanizes me into making more instead of leaving it till last minute as usual remains to be seen!  
We are sponsored by DI'S DIGISTAMPS with a $10 GIFT VOUCHER this time.

I opted for a CAS design and got out my Snowflake dies and 'Diamond' Stickles.

The card is made with the same White Centura Pearl that I used on the wedding card and this was the left over! Matted onto a silver holographic card before being layered onto white base.

I used trusty swiss dots embossing folder for the top and a snowflake border folder for the bottom, covering the join with some shoestring white ribbon.

All the snowflakes have been cut from two different types of snowflake dies, layered and liberal helpings of stickles applied and each has a tiny sparkly in the centre.

The sentiment was a freebie and I printed it out onto vellum. I may add a few teeny sparklies to the sentiment at a later time!

Hope you can pop along and join us for our wintry challenge - please go to the blog and check out the rules and of course - all the fab projects done by the rest of the DT!

Challenges -
Pixies Snippets Playground
Christmas Card Challenges - Something New (ANOTHER snowflake Die! LOL)
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes
Red Carpet Studio - Anything Goes
Fashionista - Christmas
Creative Creations -Early Christmas
Lothian Crafts - A/Goes with Dies
ALBC - CAS
Created with Love - Snowflakes

Have a great day! x

That corner flourish....... and a CAS card

Lots of questions asking me who made the die in the wedding card below... it's a Cheery Lynn, 'Romantic Victorian Flourish' - hope this helps and am sorry it's taken me a couple of days to get back to you all.....x
Quickie share for today - had a busy day yesterday playing all day and have today extended a lot of nervous energy watching my beloved Liverpool FC play the Manchester 'enemy'!!LOL

Used a few of my larger scraps for this  - hence the different size instead of my usual square card!

The embossed panels are layered onto pale green  and the gap in the middle was covered with a piece of pale green polka dot paper!

The stamp is by Papermania - I coloured it with Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint distress inks, and a teeny spot or two of Spun Sugar then used Glossy Accents on the leaves.

The small green leaf was from a flower stamp set and cut out from another scrap of the backing card.

The stripey ribbon was just enough (and I mean JUST!!) to wrap round and tie a little knot.
Sentiment is fast becoming one of my favourites as I think it can be used for all kinds of things and just finished it all off with a few pale green pearls.

Challenges -
Happy Campers - Use a Stamp
4 Crafty Chicks - Squares (My stamp)
Little Red Wagon - Polka Dots
Sweet Stampin' - Spots and Stripes
A Creative Romance - CAS
HIMCR - Freestyle


Thanks for visiting - am away to have a trawl round blogland! x

Can't believe that my last post was Sunday! I've had a busy week - doing paperwork - and not the crafting kind of paperwork either more's the pity!
But I received a request for a wedding card so set to yesterday to rustle one up -
I don't know the intended recipients but hope that they (and the person who ordered it) like it!

 The whole card is made using Centura Pearl White.
I embossed the background using 'Budding Vine' embossing folder (which is one of my favourites), then layered it onto silver mirri card. I confess to not liking mirri card very much but think that for weddings and other glitzy occasions if you don't use too much it's fine as it gives a bit of shine to your projects......
I printed out the sentiment, then cut with the oval from the Radiant Rectangles nestie set and again matted it onto the silver.
I popped on a tiny rhinestone to make the 'diamond ring'!

The large corner die cuts I simply love and they always seem to be perfect for wedding creations.

The flowers were made using nestie blossom dies and once assembled I brushed on a wee bit of Stickles Diamond to give them some sparkle. The white leaves were done with an embossing punch and the silver ones are another punch which was one of the very first I ever bought.

The two tiny silver goblets are secured with a ribbon which is being 'carried' by the butterfly!
I have continued the theme on the inside.

Challenges -
Lexis - Sparkle and Shine
OLLCB - Inspired by a Song - ('I Do' by Westlife)
Crafters Cafe - Embossing
CRAFT- Congratulations
Delightful Challenges - Make the Cut
Cuttlebug Mania - Die Cuts
Delicious Doodles -  Anything Floral
Natalie & Amy - Embossing

Thanks for taking the time to look at my share for today - have a great weekend! x

Scraps for a Special Friend!

I used to hoard scraps of card - then I started to throw them away as the hoarded scraps threatened to overtake storage space! Occasionally though, I DO use them up and this is one made of 'left overs'.

Bright white linen cardstock used as a base.
The flower border is a punch and I glued on some pale blue pearls.
The centre panel is a scrap of K and Co paper which has been lying about for about a year I scooped it up when we moved house and lo and behold it found it's way back onto the desk here - after I'd cut off all the dog eared bits it was literally just enough to put across the centre!
I edged it with some blue shoestring ribbon.
I quite enjoy making these flowers by using nestie dies and again this one was made just using up scraps of white card. To achieve the blue colour I dabbed on some 'Sea Breeze' Versamagic Chalk Ink.
The flourish got the same inky treatment as did the tag. The 'Special Friend' stamp was a freebie.

Challenges -
LOC - Girly
Gem of a Challenge - Letter 'B' (Blue)
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
2 Sisters - Square cards
CAS on Sunday - Floral Fantasy
Addicted to Stamps - CAS
Whimsy Stamps - CAS

Am also going to call in at Pixie's Crafty Snippets Playground with my scrap card - the weather is just lovely and I am wanting a go on the swings!!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Moment

Hello to my new followers - it's lovely to see you here!
We are off for a bit of retail therapy today - the boring kind like new crockery - not the crafty kind!!
A card to share before we go -

I really have to say a HUGE thank you to Tammy from A Day for Daisies - I didn't buy this image first time I saw it - went to purchase it ('cos I finally remembered) and searched their site for ages - lots of lovely digis, (quite a few that are now on my 'HAVE TO HAVE' list), but no sign of this one apart from in a clear set.

I had almost given up hope but decided to mail them to ask if it had been discontinued and lo and behold I got a reply with the digi attached and an apology saying their site was being re-vamped and some of the stamps had gone AWOL! How kind was that - offered to pay for it but the offer was refused - what a great company.

'Braid in my Hair' coloured with promarkers, background sponged with Tumbled Glass DI, cut with nestie, distressed and layered onto scalloped nestie.
Backing paper is from Raspberry Road, distressed and edged with Evergreen Bough DI.
The lace, flowers and pearls are all from my stash and the sentiment is from TLC.
Inside co-ordinated to match.

Challenges -
Card Crafters Circle - Winged Things
Creative Creations - Bingo (Flowers/Image/Distressing)
Stamping Sensations - Winged things/Vintage
Come and Get It - Things with Wings
Card Mania - Fave Embellishment - (has to be pearls cos I use them on everything!)
Crafty Bloggers - Favourite things - (Pearls - and I like lace/flowers too!!)
Digi Makeover - Vintage
Live & Love Crafts - Cool Colours

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

Fun in the Sun - Crafty CardMakers DT

Our latest challenge at Crafty CardMakers is being hosted by Lin, who has chosen the theme 'Fun in The Sun' - think she's testing her memory!!

We have as always two great sponsors - Saturated Canary and Sir Stampalot - so to be in with a chance of grabbing one of their fab prizes come and join us - (just make sure you follow the challenge rules as shown on the blog!)

I used this yummy image from Krista called 'Toes in the Sand' - isn't she just gorgeous - and obviously all that surfing has contributed to her amazing WAISTLINE!!!

The backing paper is from Raspberry Road and I distressed and inked the edge with Antique Linen DI. 

Image was coloured with promarkers, cut out and mounted onto 3d foam pads for a bit of dimension.

The 'Beach Rules' sign is also from Raspberry Road and it seemed to fit perfectly! I used some old twine and a few brads to secure.

The hessian was torn from pieces in my stash, the shells have been collected from various holidays (see- I do sometimes do more than just laze about in the sun!! LOL) and the beautiful green sea glass was a present from a fellow crafter.

A little peek at the inside - 
same papers and other elements used and added a tiny silver sea horse to the bottom of the frame which has been left blank to write on.

Other Challenges -
ALBC - Summer Sun 
I Love Promarkers - Summertime
The Crafters Cafe - At the Beach
C2CU - Summer Days/Beach Colours
Anything Goes - By the Sea 
Crafts For Eternity - Summer Sun


Hope you can share your fun and sun projects with us this challenge!
Have a great day! x

Quickie CAS

Hello to my new followers!
Thanks for visiting and clicking on the "follow me" button - I love visitors!

I have been doing some DT cards the last few days but in between I made a couple of CAS ones for my stash -

This one had to be the quickest ever - but I quite like it!

I had a small scrap of embossed linen card left over from another quickie make, so used it up as a base.

The butterfly stamp MAY have been a freebie with a mag but am not sure...  randomly stamped 3 times using using Dew Drop Brilliance Rocket Red, Versafine Majestic Blue and Versamagic Aloe Vera.

Popped a little sparkly in the centre of each body .
The sentiment was definitely a freebie last year sometime!

I wrapped round the shoestring ribbon primarily to cover the join (!!) and then just tied a small bow. Used foam pads to mount onto a base card.

Challenges -
Inky Impressions - Wings
Lady Annes Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Nutcrafters - Butterflies and Bows
Get Inky - Ribbons
Fashionable stamping - CAS


I am waiting for some dining chairs to be delivered today so am confined to base! - a perfect day for finishing off two commissioned cards (which I probably should have done before making the quickie ones really!!!)
But before that I will be having a coffee and a trawl through blogland to see you all!
Have a great day! x

Born to be Wild?

My man stash is seriously low!!!!!!
And the cards stash is as well........ LOL

Made this earlier in the week and it kind of just evolved with lots of bits which needed to be used up as they were getting moved about and no doubt would have ended up dog eared and tattered and then in the bin!

The stamp is one which I bought some time ago as I thought it would be useful for man cards - it's never seen ink until now!
I stamped it onto some dark yellow coredinations cardstock and matted it onto black.
The whole card is made on black cardstock - the hounds tooth backing paper is from an old paper stack which has long lost the front so have no idea who made it - wish I did 'cos the more I look at it, the more I like it... and perhaps may have bought another pad the same!
The cogs and wheels were all cut from black card.
The embossed piece was a scrap left over from another project and found it's way onto here for no other reason other than it looked a bit like a tyre tread??
(Well I thought it did anyway!)
I put two square black metal brads in the top corner.
The 'Route 66' sign was a download, topped off with glossy accents and I finished it with a metal spanner charm which has been in my stash since the year dot!
Now all I need is someone who likes bikes to send it to........

Challenges -
Delightful Challenges - Make it Pop (Lots of Layers)
Paper Playtime - Lots of Yellow
Cards for Men - Heavy Metal
Top Tip Tuesday - Dry Embossing
The Male Room - Anything Goes
Penny's paper Crafty - Dry Embossing
Oldie but Goodie - Boy/Male
LOC -  Use something Metal and/or LOC

Hello to my latest followers - thank you for following me!
Am off for a trawl through blogland now - and wish you all a great weekend whatever you're doing! x

Summer

Despite it seeming over the last couple of days that our summer is over I am still hopeful for sunny days to return soon!
In the meantime this weather does not make me feel guilty about grabbing some crafting time in between carrying out my responsibilities for both Club and County and traveling up and down the M6 to the National Championships.

Was home for the weekend and went with OH whilst he played yesterday but before I set off again tomorrow I sat my bottom firmly in the craft space and made this!
The stamp comes from one of my favourite sets - Stempelglede Vintage Garden.
I coloured the image with distress markers (need more practice), then sponged around it with the aptly named 'Tattered Rose' DI!
I used lots of layers - the back layer is plain very pale pink card. Over it is a delicately patterned piece which I stamped with flourishes and white embossed - both these distressed and stitched.
The torn strip on the left is a darker shade again stamped and embossed and the piece on the right was a scrap of linen texctured card which I ran through the 'crimper', applied liberal does of white embossing powder too before assembling it all together.
I found a scrap of flimsy fabric which I popped behind the image and then stitched the whole lot together.
The script pieces were scraps torn from the wrapping of the ribbon which were obviously stamped - and I love the script - so if anyone can tell me what stamp it is.....!
The silver rose heart button was from my stash and I just stuck a couple of small pale pink pearls in the top left corner.

Challenges -

Pan Pastel - Floral/Flowers
Penny Black& More - In the Garden
TokBobok - Vintage
Ladybug Crafts - Floral
2 Sisters - Anything Goes
ABC - S for Stitching
ALBC - Summery Creations
Crafty Catz - Pastel Colours
Emma's Cards - Floral

Hello to my new followers - thanks for choosing me! Hope everyone is having a good day and thanks for visiting me today! x