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

Almost at the end.........

............ of Fifth Avenue! Not the one in Manhattan NYC but the one here in my craft room!
It's been a long way, a little pad carefully hoarded but the time has come........ one of my Resolutions was to use up this paper mountain which lives amongst my 'stash'. In fact it has taken over my stash (and the room/drawers/cupboards) and I seriously need to make an effort to
1. Stop buying Paper and
 2. Use up what I already have
(anyone got a secret elixir to make me live till I'm about 200??? 'Cos that's how long it'll take me to get through this lot!)

So today I am looking at an old paper pad which now has just five sheets left which are in usuable condition and size.. ok I know I haven't actually USED IT ALL but I've made a start!

A card made entirely with Melissa Frances 5th Avenue papers - even the focal point. 
Grand scalloped nestie for the base card then another circle made with the 'music' sheet from the pad.
Layered with a smaller scalloped circle from one of the blue papers, then a fancy die cut from one of the pink ones.

Sandwiched in between and left to overhang the edges is some pink leaf shaped lace which was cut off a fancy sweater about five years ago!

Two circles cut from a piece of scrap card and mounted to form a frame and the 'ballerinas' from the bottom of another sheet of the paper  stuck inside then layered onto the card.

A hand made paper 'rose', two fabric flowers from my stash and a piece of hand dyed silk ribbon tucked behind.

The sentiment is computer generated and I thought it fitted well!
 I don't often make 'shaped cards' so am reasonably happy with this one - and have determined to use up at least 3 of the remaining 5 sheets on the box.
Challenges -
Allsorts - Use Ribbon (no bows)
Musically Challenged - Any Song (Tiny Dancer-Elton John from the film 'Almost Famous')
Ruby's Rainbow - Song (Tiny Dancer - Elton John)
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge - January
Live & Love Crafts - Perfume (5th Avenue by Elizabeth Arden)
RRR - Pink and Ribbon
Stamping Boutique - 3 papers
TLC's Linky Party - Show it off Sunday


An amazingly bright sunny and cold winters day here - beautiful! Have a good day whatever you're doing. x

Another Desk Tidy!

Just mooched about this morning - done some housework and some washing and have listened to the {very} heavy showers!
Came into the craft room armed with the hoover as there's bits of paper all over the floor... got in here and promptly just sat down at the desk abondoning the cleaner in the doorway!
Whilst making the card here last week, I abandoned a piece that I had started work on as the trellis edge had 'buckled' a bit in the middle.

This morning I 'rescued' this piece and set to using up the leftovers from the sheet of textured card and making use of the trellis edge, which I have decided isn't REALLY that bad.

When using up odd bits of card I always opt to use this honeyblossom die! Don't know why, - it's not that I don't have others!!

Embossed the background and after securing the oval frame onto another small piece of card lightly sponged some Spun Sugar DI. Cut out both frame and an aperture, stuck the oval centre flat onto the embossed background and then raised the frame on 3d foam pads.
Tucked in the flower die after sponging with the same ink, die cut a butterfly and added a few tiny pink gems.

No sentiment as yet as I am intending to use this card for myself rather than put in the 'Pink' box so  sentiment will be added when I use it - think though that it will be useful for a few things, Get Well, Birthday, Sympathy so a useful addition to my own card stash!
Challenges -
Little Red Wagon - All Purpose
Paper Nest Dolls - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Fancy Borders/Edges
Feeling Crafty - Butterflies
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Nutcrafters - Anything Goes
A Creative Need - Die Cuts
Pixies Playground - Snippets Week 106
ATCAS - Dies

Suppose I'd better retrieve the cleaner and sort out this floor - which is now covered with even more paper bits!!! Have a great day whatever you're doing! x 

New Arrival!

I was asked to make a couple of cards for a new baby - one though was with a twist.... instead of the card being for the parents/grandparents it was for the new arrival's older sister. I thought this was a lovely idea!
The little girl could then also feel that she was well and truly included in the excitement of the happy addition to her little family and also could show off her own card along with those received by her Mum and Dad.
Having done the 'fussy and fancy' OTT bit with the parents card, I opted for something a little bit simpler  - (and much quicker!)

Using a white scalloped edged card, I tried to continue the scallop theme with the addition of the punched border at the top, layering it onto pink and then tying some of my new pink and white Baker's Twine around.
The greeting was computer generated printed directly to card.

The digi image I bought in one of those 'that'll do for a rush job' moments last year and was printed out a few times, decoupaged and I added a tiny bit of glamour dust to the stars. 

Annabelle's new sister has now arrived safe and sound I am told - and more to the point Annabelle was more excited about showing off her 'very own' card instead of the family's new baby!
Challenges
A Gem of a Challenge - Something New
Crafty Sentiments - New
Oldie but Goodie - New Beginnings
Digi Makeover - Something New
Use your Stuff - New Beginnings
Come & Get It - Something New

Weather here has been too bad for me to take any photos of other completed projects so am hoping that the clouds disappear for a little while tomorrow! Thanks for your visit - appreciate it. x

Lavender and Lace

My design team card this month for 'Vintage Stamping'  is based on our theme of 'Lavender and Lace'.
I hope you will come and join us this month - use up some of your Christmas Goodies and  you might get some more in the form of a prize!!

I really like this stamp (from our sponsor)  and it was lovely to work with.

After stamping, I paper pieced her pinafore with some polka dot paper. The sky and ground were coloured with  distress inks and I coloured the rest of the stamp with promarkers.
I distressed the edges of the image and stitched it onto purple shade cardstock.
I used the same cardstock and polka dot paper for the background of the card.
The vintage lace was a present from a crafting buddy  and I used a paper lilac roses and some pearls.
A doily and a couple more paper flowers and some pearls, and finally I used an old pre-printed jigsaw piece that was part of a very large box (all different colours and sentiments) that I have had for a very long time and rarely used.
The theme was continued through to the inside.

Hope you like it enough to give our challenge a go this month - and my other teamies have also done some lovely projects to inspire you! Remember we may have the word 'vintage' in the title but your project doesn't have to be - as long as you have some stamping on it then your entry is fine!

Challenges -  

Crafting When We Can - Outside
Fairies Challenge - Flowers and Lace
Pile It On - Just Because
Incy Wincy - 3 Fave embellies (Lace, pearls and flowers)4
Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes
Lexi's- Anything Goes

Thanks for the visit - hope you're all warm and dry wherever you are. x

Dreaming of Spring...

Happy New Year!
31st December would have been Mum's birthday, so now she is no longer with us we always now just spend it quietly although the weather was  cold, it was dry enough for us to go outside for a birds eye view of all the amazing fireworks down the valley at midnight - glass in hand of course!

Dry weather has not lasted now though - it is cold, wet and very windy here today so I am sharing a card I have made using ANOTHER new birdcage die which I treated myself to a couple of months ago but have only just used. This takes my total birdcages to 5!

Hope it reminds us all that however bad the weather is at the mo there WILL be better weather in the coming months -(at least I hope so - but I do STILL want some snow before then!!LOL)
Consequently grey skies meant pic was difficult to take.

I used bright white texture linen card and a trellis punch for the edges.
All the dies were cut from the rest of the sheet of card.

I sponged the Memory Box birdcage with Tumbled Glass DI.
I also cut a couple more of the flower branches attached to the top of the cage from the leftovers.
The little birdie is from another die set and I just gave him a colour wash with Squeezed Lemonade and Wild Honey.

The flowers and stems were also coloured with DI's - (Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar  and Shabby Shutters) - I think the leafy flourish is a Marianne die?.

The roses were made using a Spellbinders Blossom die and this is one of my fave ways to make flowers. They were also coloured with Spun Sugar before cutting out and gluing together.

The sentiment was stamped in Shabby Shutters DI and simply cut out with a small oval nestie, layered onto a scalloped edge one and tucked in between the flower petals.
Challenges -
Papertake Weekly - Pick of 2013 (July -Dies/Punches)
Our Creative Corner - Shopping Sin (Birdcage Die)
Nat & Amy's - Girly
1 Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes
Live & Love Crafts - Perfume (Sin Garden by Vivienne Westwood - lovely smell- awful name!)
Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
Heck of a Challenge - New
Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes

Thanks for taking the time to look in  - you are appreciated more than you know! x

Age is just a Number!

I hope everyone enjoyed the recent festive days and thanks to everyone who sent me messages, cards and prezzies!!!
We had a lovely quiet couple of days in our first Christmas in our new house and am keeping my fingers crossed that the current hailstorm will turn to snow 'cos I can't wait to see the hills and valley at the back all white!! (Yes I am definitely crazy wishing to be snowed in I know!)

My share for today is a commissioned card for a 70th Birthday.

The recipient is someone who can only be described as 'a party gal' and I was asked to reflect that in the card. The lady in question certainly knows how to have a good time and is the life and soul of any celebration and I hope I have captured her personality as asked.

I opted to use a centre step scalloped edge card as a bit of a change from my recent squares and rectangles.
The background is embossed although it doesn't show up very well (light here is not good - aforesaid hailstorm!!), and I matted it onto some red card.
The image is of course from Mo Manning and called 'Veronica' - she makes me smile! I coloured her with a mix of promarkers  and distress inks and decoupaged her onto a fancy oval frame.
I added a few tiny sparklies for a bit of bling and some spotty ribbon and a pearl buckle.
The 'pink martini' was a download, coloured then some stickles added for bubbly bits, and the numbers were also a download.
I finished with a few punched out stars and a sentiment from TLC which I cut out with a fancy tag die and I think is absolutely PERFECT to describe the 'party gal'!!!!!
Mo's DP2 has a challenge called 'Your favourite Mo card of 2013' - I have made many this year and can't choose really - so have opted to link the latest one!
 Challenges -
Digitally Sweet - Anything Goes
Delicious Doodles - Let's Party
Digistamps 4 Joy- Anything Goes
I Love Promarkers - More than 1 fold
Whimsy - Party Time
Digi Galore - Anything Goes
Pile It On - P is for - (Party, Pearl, Polka Dot ribbon)

Have a great day. x

Favourite Five

Debby is once again playing host to Favourite Five Christmas Cards of 2013.
I have had quite a CAS Christmas this year mainly due to the ridiculous postage that the highway robbers otherwise known as Royal Mail impose!
Played with less embellies than usual and definitely not a lot of flowery bits!
So without further ado here's my fave 5 of this years christmas makes and the reasons why I chose them!

First up is my use of the oldest card pack known to man! Picked these 'cos they have been lying about in a drawer for EVER and it just shows that if you keep something long enough you can make use of it!

 

Next is my 'man' card! Love this old truck and this was definitely one of my faves this year

 

Third one  has to be the 'most used by everyone Christmas Stamp of the Year' but I just love it!

Next is one of my White on White makes (which I made a lot of this year)   and    last but by no means least is a masking and stamping technique which I have been practising - and another make that once I did one ended up doing a batch!  Choosing five was soo difficult - there are some I wanted to use but my list would have ended up as being 'Favourite Fifty' I think!

 Thanks to Debby for again inviting us to link up and to all of you

here is one that was originally in my top five but 

-have saved her to say thank you to all my wonderful followers for finding time to visit with me this year, I wish you a Beautiful Christmas and may 2014 bring you all everything that you wish for.  

Viv. x x

 

Less than perfect pearls.......

Yesterday finally got round to putting up the Christmas Tree... that WAS a bit of a performance as we had given a lot of decorations etc to the charity shop when we moved and half way through the' adorning the branches' task I decided that we didn't have enough baubles.......... so off out we went to a nearby garden centre and luckily for me they were taking down their spectacular displays and all the baubles they had used were going dirt cheap!!
Those who know me well realise that I normally put up the tree at the last possible minute so 6 days before is VERY early for me but it looks nice (even if I do say so myself! LOL) and am quite looking forward to the first Christmas in the new house (am even praying for snow!!!!).

This share was (I thought) a bit of a disaster but the other half said there was nothing wrong with it and the person who received it thought it was lovely! So am showing it to you all in all it's messy glory.....- please feel free to make any comment you wish!!! LOL

• I had this bright idea of inking inside a nestie - this turned out reasonably well

• I had this bright idea of stamping tiny snowflakes inside the shape - this turned out fine

• I had this bright idea of stamping 3 trees in a darker shade of Distress Ink - all good so far

• I had this bright idea of using some scrummy coloured organza ribbon - looked nice

• I had this really really bright idea of using 'Pearl Maker' on the biggest tree's branches - AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. STUPID IDEA.

Talk about DUMBO. The WHITE Pearl Maker stuff absorbed the distress ink and it turned out this sludgy goldy/yellowy colour.
But I finished it anyway on the instructions of dear husband who told me I was being daft and there was 'nowt wrong with it'.
Am entering this into the following challenges and hoping that they agree with the husband! LOL

Stampin 4 the Weekend - Anything Goes
Craftitude - Anything Goes 
Charisma - Anything Goes
Crafts for Eternity - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Feeling Crafty - Christmas
Dream Valley - Christmas

We are being battered with high winds and heavy rain at the mo - and it's set to last for a couple of days - which means I am now going to lock myself in the crafty studio (any excuse!).
Have a great weekend. x

A Lazy Day

It has been a manic few days - but we have today been as lazy as lazy can be as neither of us have been able to summon any energy to do much at all!
We did a barbeque (yes I kid you not, a BARBIE) for over 40 yesterday at the Club instead of the usual sit down Christmas Dinner....... it was some feat for my other half who did the kebab/burger/pork steak cooking outside on what is definitely nothing other than a home size grill! Thankfully it stayed reasonably dry and only rained towards the end of the cooking.
But combined with putting up the Christmas decorations earlier in the week, a few days shopping for the food and then doing all the things that you have to do to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves yesterday, being on my feet all day saw me off!

So did a bit of present wrapping and made a couple of very similar last minute cards.

I simply used up some odd bits laying about on the desk (was supposed to be tidying so this was my 'tidying up'!)

Basic red and off white hammered textured card, some organza ribbon, some dies (poinsettia, flourish and a fancy frame).

Christmas greetings stamps inked with 'Really Raspberry' pigment ink and clear embossed.
Centre of flowers dusted with some Stickles - (gold on one and silver on the other)  and done!
Pics are a wee bit iffy but you get the general idea....

Challenges -
Stampin 4 the Weekend - Use some Red
Cut it Up - Christmas
52 CCT - Red/white (from May)
HIMCR - Use your Scraps
Pixie's Playground - Snippets
Sweet Stampin'- Last Minute Christmas
CAS 271 - Sketch (modified a bit but followed the basic guide)

Thanks for finding the time to visit. Coffee now here so will be calling in to see what you've all been up to! x

Guest Designer!

I was over the moon to be asked to take a GD spot over at Crafting By Designs. Their challenge this week is White on White.

My card is a variation on ones I have done previously (inspired by the creativity over on Pinterest)  and is made entirely from linen textured small pieces of left over white card. So it's going to give me access to the playground this week too!
On all edges and to highlight some of the embossed areas I used the very delicately coloured Versacolour ink in Narcissus. This is a lovely pale lemony colour which I think is subtle enough to highlight without taking away from the white on white effect.
 
The largest piece of card I used at the top - I embossed both edges with a flourish folder and embossed the middle with a nestie frame.
On top of this piece I glued a length of thin paper with a scallop edge which was the off cut left over from punched out piece of paper and added some white shoestring ribbon to tidy up the edge.
The layers at the bottom were also done with a punch then glued to the base card and the larger embossed piece - again some shoestring ribbon to hide the join.
A fancy oval label cut with a nestie and secured with 3d foam pads.
The rose was also made using nesties.
The flourishes are a Marianne die (I think!) and the leaves are an embossed punch.
Finished it all off with two punched butterflies and some pearls.  

Challenges -
Crafty Catz - Use 2 or more dies
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Anything But Christmas
Red Carpet Studio - Ribbon/Lace (and I interpreted the lace part as the frilly lacy punch used)
My Craft Creations -Anything Goes
Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoes - Wings 
Crafty Bloggers - Girly

Thanks to the wonderful team at CBD for asking me to do this guest spot and hope you will all create something and join in their challenge!  Thanks for visiting today. x

Winter Fun

The latest challenge at Crafty Cardmakers is 'Winter Fun'.
 Marie wants any creation that shows having fun in winter but it must not be Christmas or New Year related! So no Christmas/New Year cards but something that you have fun with during the winter like skiing or sledging.
Our sponsor are THE PAPER SHELTER  and SIR STAMPALOT

After much deliberation - (I was considering a mug of hot choccie with lots of marshmallows - that is DEFINTELY my idea of fun when it's cold..... )I chose to make a card which shows a skating snowman!

I have had this image for a long long time and he seemed so 'right' somehow for this theme!

This was a quickie card make but hope he's inspired you to come and join us this challenge.
The background was the usual 'swiss dots' embossing folder on textured linen card and matted onto dark green.
For an extra bit of highlight I covered Frosty here with Glossy Accents - he's all shiny  in real life!

The snowflake flourishes die from Memory Box have seen a lot of use this year! I applied liberal helpings of Stickles to the dies and it's quite a sparkly effect  but doesn't show it well in this photo - added 3 small sparklies on the top of the card.
The sentiment is a freebie from TLC - and perfect I think!!

Challenges -
Word Play Saturday - Snowman
Sweet Pea Stampers - It's cold outside
PCJ - Christmas
Sentimental Sundays - Snowman
Craft Your Passion - Let It Snow
Lexi's - Snow
Paper Playtime - Winter Fun


Please pop over and visit my teamies and thanks for stopping by today. x

Second visit!

Don't say you weren't warned that I'd be back!
Second offering from me today - and my quota reached over at Pixies Playground for the last 2 weeks.. so am expecting at least a free go on the swings if not a Gold Star!!

I have coveted this poinsettia die for a long time and finally bought it a couple of weeks ago... I have used it to make LOTS of CAS cards like this with different colours so it was well worth the pennies!

White hammered cardstock used throughout.

Stamped the greeting with Stone Grey ink, cut into a tag shape, punched a hole in the top and threaded through some shoestring ribbon and tied into a bow.
A few sparklies dotted round at random.

Used liberal helpings of sparkly stuff (!) on the embossed parts of the flower, then stuck a bigger gem in the middle.

The flourishes are another well used Marianne die which I have had for ages.

LIM - Sparkle
ABC Christmas - No Squares
Christmas @ Sweet Stamping - White on White
Addicted to stamps - CAS
ABC -  A for Almost Christmas
Craft All Day - Winter
RRR - Bingo (White/Text/Glitter & Ribbon)

Have a great weekend everybody - and I thank you all for taking the time to visit and leave comments - I appreciate every single one. x

Last minute!

Quick post as I only realised this morning that I hadn't posted my Less is More card for this week - and after being Showcased' last week with my winter birdies card too! (It's here if you haven't seen it!)
I treated myself and went for a lovely massage this morning - hot stones and aromatherapy - just wonderfully relaxing - but am now so laid back can't get going to do anything LOL!
So here is this weeks card for the challenge which is 'Sparkle' -

 Black pearlised card for the background, matted onto silver pearl card.

The off cut from the silver pearl card just used to punch out lots of  leaves and stuck in a circle.(and as all the pressure made my hand sore my idea of making a batch was quickly laid to rest!!!).

A scrap of silver edged black ribbon in a tiny bow and a few very small (and very fiddly to glue!) gems finished the wreath.

Sentiment stamped and embossed in Silver EP.

I have another card to finish today so I can also get my entries into Pixies Playground - otherwise the Head Girl will send me to the naughty step!!! So this is the first of my 'snippets make' - and I need to get my skates on to get the other one done!

Other Challenges -
CRAFT - Christmas
Creative Knockouts - Christmas Splendour
Delightful Challenges - Add gems
Paper Crafting Journey - Christmastime

Thanks for looking - will be round to you all later to see what you've been creating. x

Penguins

Am almost done as far as my Christmas Cards are concerned - all made and inserts fixed - just need to write the envelopes - which is NOT my favourite job at all!
These little singing penguins are part of the large 'kids' order which thankfully I have now finished - "not too fancy but want something a little different from what you get in the shops" was the remit.
So photos taken (none of which are brilliant as the light here has been pretty poor over the last few days), and will share them all with you over the next couple of weeks.

I DID follow a sketch for this - trouble is can't remember which challenge blog the sketch was from!! Challenge has probably long since finished anyway....

Just used up some bright Christmas papers and a snowflake embossed leftover piece, all matted onto dark green card.
The sentiment was stamped using Pine Needles distress marker and no Christmas card would be complete without the statutory helping of sparkly Stickles would it???

Challenges -
Crafting by Designs - Penguins
Cutie Pie - Cute Scenes
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties - Christmas
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes 

It's certainly been wild here today up on the moor top! The wind seems to have dropped a little but not much - wherever you are I hope you are safe and warm and as ever I appreciate you calling in to see me. x

Cold and Frosty Colours - Vintage Stampin DT

So December is here! And to go with wintry weather the challenge this time over at Vintage Stamping is COLD & FROSTY COLOURS.
I have scheduled this post so fingers crossed it publishes OK!! 
If the main challenge post isn't  showing yet please check back later and link up your creation.
Not a lot of rules  really = we are definitely a stamping challenge and we do need the main focal point of your project to be stamped and although we have vintage in  the title of the blog your creation doesn't have to be vintage!

A bit of a diversion from the CAS cards I've made recently and one with lace, ribbon, crystals etc!
I used a lovely oval stamp from our sponsor and after stamping,  I clear embossed, then painted with Distress inks and dusted on some glitter for the 'snow'.
Isn't the birdie on the tree cute?!

The papers - a digi freebie from Astrid - in shades of blue, gray and white stitched onto some darker blue co ordinating cardstock.
Same used  for the frame of the image and the corner die cut.

Vintage icy blue lace and some hand dyed seam binding tied into a bow with a sparkly in the centre of the bow.
A teeny off cut of the ribbon twisted and secured again with another sparkly on the top of the frame and to finish off a stem of crystal leaves. 

Challenges - 
Opus Gluei - Brrrring it on
Crafting When We Can - Winter
IDIC - Christmas
Stamping Sensations - Free & Easy
Addicted 2 Stamps - Embossing
Charisma - Christmas

Have a great day! x

Sufficient Sparkle!

I have been getting on with the commissioned cards - only a couple left to do then I can concentrate on getting back to my own Christmas ones as well as my DT's!
This is part of the order - no instructions other than a 'girly' card!
I bought this image from Mo's last year and this is the first time I have coloured her.
I am so pleased with the final result of this - although as ever the light here isn't very good so hope you can imagine what it's like IRL!

Bright white linen textured card ran through the 'Swiss Dots' folder, then a circular aperture cut out.

I coloured the image with Distress Inks, then got out all the sparkly stuff!!!
And before you ask, yes I DO have some left! But she seemed to be crying out to be 'sparkled' to within an inch of her life.................so I put it EVERYWHERE - on the background of the image, on her socks, hat, frill of her dress, wings, snowballs - oh and for good measure used some liquid pearls on her skirt. LOL

All the snowflakes were cut from white glitter paper and this really doesn't show up in the pic - but you get the idea!
Finished with a couple of sparkly gems.

Challenges -
Glitter n Sparkle - Add Glitter n Sparkle
Totally Gorjuss - Snows the way to go
Crafty Hands - Sparkle and Bling
Simply Create Too - Snow
Wags n Whiskers - Things with Wings
Happy Campers - Glitter It
OSAAT - Use a Digi
Gem of a Challenge - Winter Wonderland

Hope you've all had a great weekend! x

Soothing Scene?

I received an order yesterday for a lot of Christmas cards - and all for ages of teenagers to babies... I am now in Christmas overload and at risk of becoming even more 'bah humbug' than I usually am - so I took a break from the cutey, organza ribbon, red/green/gold/silver/pink/lilac/blue snowmen/teddies/Santa cards and went for something which (I hope) is 'gloomy and soulful!!!! LOL
 A fellow blogger posted something similar to this some time back and said that they had used Distress Inks on watercolour paper  - it was one of those things that I put in my mind marked 'to try'!

After a couple of less than successful (downright awful, if I'm truthful!) attempts where my blending left a lot to be desired, I finally managed to produce something which didn't look like something had splodged all over the place.

I think the 'hill' could have done with being a more grey or brown shade but decided to use the inked piece anyway to make into a sympathy/get well/thinking of you card.
Stamped the bullrushes using Versafine ink.
Matted onto black card and then layered onto some textured linen lemon card - one piece of which I ran through the 'diamonds' embossing folder.
Not too bad! I enjoyed the technique and no doubt will practice some more - (once I have done the Christmas stuff!!!!)

Challenges -
Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
Lady Annes Last Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Created with Love - Sympathy

Almost forgot - a big thank you for everyone who commented on my recent makes - and of course those of you who were inspired by my DT cards to enter the challenges!
Off to see what you've been up to now as dear husband has just arrived with a cup of coffee for me! xx

Triangles and Tribulations

I was delighted to see some new followers to my blog - a big hello to  Doris, Sarah, Dawn and Marjon! And thanks for clicking the button to follow me!
Have you ever bought something and then years later think 'Do NOT know AT ALL why I got these - have never used them and am not sure that I ever will'????
Go on - own up!!
Sorting out my new craft space after we moved I found three packs (yes THREE packs) of triangular shaped cards - white, green and silver.
It seemed a good idea to buy them at the time - LOL- it was when I first started card making - around 2003!!!
Almost felt sorry for the unloved dusty packs so early resolution - to use up at least one of the packs.

After staring at this odd shape  (well odd for me anyway) for about 2 days and discarding any silly ideas -  I opted for quick and basic!! (Doing a lot of that lately!!)

Here is the result -
Embossing folders, Snowflake and Christmas Tree dies, snippets of pastel glitter paper, a scrap of mirri card, a couple of stamps, some gems and the tiniest piece of ribbon which would you believe had stuck itself to the bottom of an acrylic block!

Used up the whole pack of white cards - made 2 of each design  - fear the green and silver ones may remain in the drawer for another 10 years!

Challenges -
Paper Players - Shaped Cards
TSG - Card Sets
Pixies Crafty Playground - Snippets
Clear It Out - Add a Snowflake
SOS - Winter
Songbird - Die Another Day
Paper Minutes - CAS Christmas
Crafting By Designs - Winter/Christmas

Thanks for looking (if you click on the pic you'll get a better view) and thanks too for leaving any comments - I appreciate every single one. x