CAS - Crafty Cardmakers DT

Am hosting another challenge this month at Crafty Cardmakers and for my second theme I have chosen Clean and Simple.
It's not that long ago when I dreaded doing these but now find them very 'soothing' to make - there's something about clean lines and no fussy stuff which makes a nice change when you just want to 'make' a quick card!

I chose as usual to make a card with linen textured cardstock.

I used a duster brush and inked a small piece of scrap card with Wild Honey Distress Ink first.

I then stamped flower heads and foliage in Memento 'Rich Cocoa' ink direct onto the base card, then stamped again once onto a white left over piece of the cardstock and once again onto the already inked piece.

With two circle nesties I cut out the tops of the stamped images and ran round the edge of the inked one with a sponge dipped in watered down 'Tea Dye' Distress ink to give a more definite edge, then 3d mounted both circles together lining up the design.

Aligned onto the card base and stuck with some 3d dots to raise it slightly.

The sentiment was also stamped in the Memento ink. I have long been an admirer of this blog and credit the owner with the inspiration for this card - well worth a visit - she makes some awesome cards.
Two great sponsors as always - hope you will join me again for the challenge this week - clean and simple, minimal embellishments, lots of white space - what can be easier???

Challenges -
Dream Valley - CAS
Stampin with the Dragon - Autumn Colours
Ladybug Crafts - Autumn Colours
Aud Sentiments - Any sentiment
Delicious Doodles - No Designer Paper

First today!

This is the first of a couple of posts today - my DT card for Crafty Cardmakers will be along in a little while!
Have had a mad few days since the middle of last week - meetings to attend, minutes to type and in between a really nice night at the Annual National Presentation Dinner in the Midlands -  (And yes for the second time in succession I wore a DRESS!! - Not the same one as last year either!!! No Pics to share though!). Also plucked up the courage to go and have my hair cut!

In between all this madness I found time to make a few cards yesterday which was the first day I have really had where I haven't had to be busy (should have been doing housework... hey ho..)

I also haven't had the time to enter any LIM challenges for a while so set to and rustled this up in double quick time -
 Don't you love these little birdies!
The ear muffs crack me up!
The stamp was a freebie I managed to snag from From The Heart Stamps a while back.

I printed direct to the linen card and then used lots of my Distress Inks to bring the feathered ones to life - the blue background was not DI but watercolour pastel.
Added some stickles to the hat and glossy accents to the two stars and there you are - another Christmas card done!

Challenges -
LIM - Birds
That Craft Place - Stars
One stitch at a Time - Bingo (Blue/Stickles/CAS)
CAS on Sunday - Winter Theme
Addicted to CAS - Pet (hope my birds qualify!)
So am off to take some more pics of yesterdays makes whilst the light is good here... thanks for visiting -will catch up with you all today and hope you will come back again later to see my DT card! x

Winter

Enjoyed waking up to a real wintry morning here - the amazing view we have was covered in thick white frost this morning - so snuggled back under the duvet and watched the sheep who were blending in nicely with the white covered fields!
So my share with you is of a wintry vista too..... this is a CASE'd card which I saw last year over a the wonderfully talented Heather's blog - and once I saw it I had to run out and buy the stamp IMMEDIATELY! But by then Christmas was over and it lay in the drawer - until last week!

Now I can't stop stamping with it... have made a large batch of cards which has swelled my stock pile considerably!

Stamped the image direct onto the card and clear embossed.

Scored two lines down the left side and stamped the greeting in Stormy Sky DI.

Masked off the left side and using torn post it notes to create 'banks' sponged Tumbled Glass DI along the edges.

Stole a coin from dear husband to make the moon mask and then sponged the sky with mix of Stormy Sky/Faded Jeans/Dusty Concord.

Left for a little while to dry then used some glitter dust on the snow banks and Cranberry Stickles on the winter berries.

I just LOVE this stamp! 
And it was great getting inky for a change - although my technique is not brilliant, I am happy with the way these all turned out!

Lots of Winter Challenges -

C is for Challenge - Winter is Coming
Creative Creations - Sparkle &Shine
Paper Playtime - Sparkle
Sparkle n Sprinkle - Glitter/Embossing Powder
PB Saturday Challenge - Sparklers
Creatalicious - Christmas
Freshly Brewed  - Christmas
One Crazy Stamper - Christmas

I am away to make a coffee so I can trawl through blogland! Thanks for any comments you leave - it means a lot. x

Getting on....

Lack of blogging posts this week as general life got in the way - when I've had some spare time I have been making just not been able to take pics as when the sun has been out or the light has been bright enough, I have been out!
I tried to take some pics this morning - light not brilliant but better than it's been - so this may not be the only post today!

Done quite a few Christmas cards now - (still not enough I don't think) - I really need to use some of the Christmas themed stash that I have bought over the years and used rarely.

This also used up some scraps of white Centura pearl card laying about on the desk.

The snowflake embossing folder I bought last year and sadly it has not seen a lot of service! 

The snowflake was done using nestie dies, layered up with a sparkly in the centre and some stickles for good measure.
The greeting embossed in silver and tucked underneath and the sparkle ribbon is from my stash (something else which is years old! LOL)

 Challenges -
4 Crafty Chicks - Snowflakes
Sisterhood of Crafters - Embossing
Creative Moments - CAS/Anything Goes
Christmas@Sweet Stamping - White on White
Oldie but Goodie - CAS Christmas
SOS - Something on your desk
Crafting by Design - Anything Christmas Goes
Divas by Design - Snow

Patch of blue sky appearing as I type so maybe it's time to get on the scarf and gloves and have a short walk whilst I have the chance - as always I really appreciate you leaving me any comments and I hope you're having a great day. x

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....)