Bling Baubles

Here we are at the start of another week, and another week closer to Christmas! Where is the time going??

Today's card is for the Less is More Challenge where the subject is

This is my card

First I inked up the flourish with Versamark and then I masked off the edges to make a round shape, before stamping onto a white card.

I  then heat embossed the shape with gold powder ( sorry but my photo is not the best to show the gold), and repeated the process twice more ( placing the stamp by using the Stamp-a-ma-jig ). The sentiment was stamped in red across the top, and gold wiggly lines drawn to hang the baubles, and the finishing touches were the "bling gems".

I was pleased with my efforts until I drew the lines to hang the baubles, and then I realised that the right hand one is a little too close to the top one, but I couldn't do anything to disguise it, so just went with it.

Recipe: Card = from my stash

Stamps = Bliss and Dovecraft

Inks = Versamark and Real Red

Tools = Heat Gun and Stamp-a-ma-jig

Extras = Gold embossing powder, Gold Pilot marker, and gems

Thanks for dropping by, and please call again if you can.

Fresh Cut Thank You

I just love Sundays when there is a Grand Prix on the TV, as my family know that I love them so much they always try to leave me alone, so it means that I can craft while sat on the sofa!!

Yesterday I went with my family to see the 3D film "Arthur Christmas" at the cinema, and as my sister paid for me, I've made her a Thank You card.

I will also be entering it into 2 challenges;

The sketch is from the Clean and Simple Challenge ,

and the colour palette is from the Color Throwdown Challenge







This is my card



I stamped the flower and text stamp on white card in brown ink, cut it into a circle and sponged the edges.The flowers were then coloured with SU Write markers and placed on a brown scallop circle made with the BS. I then drew around a plate for the dome shape on some blue card and randomly stamped the flower in red and blue on it, and the leaf sprig in brown. I stamped the sentiment frame and text in brown on white card before matting it onto brown card. This frame and the floral disc were placed on 3D pads on a square white card that had had the blue card stuck at the bottom. The finishing touch was the red ribbon.

Recipe: 

Card = Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, and white card from my stash

Stamps = Fresh Cuts and Just Believe

Inks = Island Indigo, Real Red, and Chocolate Chip

Tools = Big Shot and Nestabilities
Extras = Ribbon and 3D pads


At the cinema we had to wear the sexy specs that make 3D what it is, absolutely brilliant! , but I dont think they'll make it onto the catwalks of London or Milan anytime soon!!.We were all amazed that Nathan and Sophie sat through the whole film without a peep, in fact Sophie went to sleep!!, but if you have kids I can highly recommend this film, there are even the odd one liners for the adults!

Anyway, thanks for dropping by and I hope to be back soon.

Baroque Noel

This afternoon I've been to Jacqueline's to get some crafting done, ignoring all the chores I should be doing!, but my excuse is that with lack of sleep through pain, I'm too tired to do anything ( except craft that is!!)

The card I've made is for the Simply Stampin Challenge where they have this sketch


and the colours are from the ColourQ challenge

This is the card, and although these colours are not associated with Christmas I was happy with the outcome. What do you think?

I turned the sketch on its side and stamped the swirl onto some white card, and then layered it on some brown card. I then cut 2 strips of cherry card in different thicknesses and laid them horizontally on a white card. I inked up just the NOEL sentiment on the SU roller and stamped it onto one end of a white card strip ( using the Stamp-a-ma-jig ) that was then matted onto brown card and positioned between the cherry strips. The swirl panel was then stuck vertically across the strips. I then stamped the gingerbread men, candy canes, and baubles onto white cards and cut them out. The baubles were placed on 3D pads and placed as if hanging from the swirls, and the gingerbread men in opposing corners of the card. The one cane was added to cover an ink mark, and the other to even out the picture.

Recipe : Card = Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, and white card stock from my stash

Inks = Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler, and Daffodil Delight

Stamps = Baroque Motifs, Jolly Jingles, and Hung Up on the Holidays ( borrowed from Jacqueline)

Extras = Stamp-a-ma-jig, and 3D pads

Thanks for looking at my blog today, and I hope you liked what you saw.

I hope you all have a good weekend, and I'll be back soon.



Holly and the Ivy

What a busy week I've had so far, and sadly with no time for crafting.

This card I started on Tuesday, and have only just managed to put it together tonight. My RA has flared up and the pain is keeping me awake, so to try to take my mind off it I've tried to do something useful.

It is for the Make My Monday challenge where the theme is Christmas with Flowers, Foliage, or snowflakes, and I'll also be entering it to the Pals Paper Arts challenge #121 who are looking for Elements of Style - Pearls.


For MMM, I chose the Flowers and Foliage option, as you can see its "The Holly and the Ivy" wreath with Poinsettias studded with pearls.

I stamped numerous holly sprigs onto green card and cut them out ( which took hours!! ) and stuck them down in a circle on a square white card. Years ago from Readicuts, I bought some printed flowers sheets that came with a set of matching punches, and I've used the Ivy punch and leaves for this project, touched with some Twinkles.



I then coloured some paper flowers with a red Pro marker and layered 2 together before adding them to the wreath on 3D pads. The finishing touches were the stamped sentiment, red bow, and white pearls in the flower centers.

Recipe : Card = Garden Green and white card stock from my stash

Stamps = Docrafts and Dovecrafts

Inks = Always Artichoke and Real Red

Tools = Ivy leaf punch

Extras = Red Ribbon, Pearls, and Cosmic Twinkles

I wish all my US readers a "Happy Thanksgiving", and my UK readers a "Happy weekend!"

Any minute now I will be turned into a pumpkin so I'd better get this post done PDQ!

On Saturday I'm off to see the 3D Arthur Christmas film at the cinema with my family........Nathan says I have to sit next to him incase I'm scared!! Bless Him. I'll let you know how I get on!

Thanks for dropping by, and hope you'll stop by again soon

A Christmas Hoot!

Yaaaayy!! I've come Top 3 at the  Simply Stampin Challenge again. I'm so pleased and must say a big "Thank You" to the DT for choosing me.

The card I've made today is for the Clean and Simple challenge #167 where they have this sketch.

I thought for a change I'd put my stamps aside and use the cute owl I made with Jacqueline's punch a while ago.


Here he is in his Santa suit, isn't he cute?

The card started with some green card that was embossed in the BS and placed on a white card. I then sponged a blue sky over a snowy hill scene on a white textured card circle, which was then matted onto a red circle. I then stamped some holly sprigs numerous times on some dark green card and cut them out to sit along the bottom of the scene. I then stamped the greeting on some white card and placed a tree shaped brad at each end. This was then raised on 3D pads for dimension and also somewhere for the owl to perch.

Recipe : Card = Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Lavender Lace, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, and white card stock from my stash

Stamps = Dovecrafts and Docraft

Inks = Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke, Real Red, Basic Black, and White Gel pen

Tools = Big Shot, Swirl embossing folder, Owl Punch

Extras = Tree Brads

Thanks for dropping by today, and as tomorrow is my Super Hero day with Nathan,  I'll be back in a few days time.

Butterfly Birthday Wishes

Today I have made a card that I will be entering into two challenges.

The first is the Mojo Monday #215
where they have this sketch

and the second is Color Throw down #168
where we have this 4 colour palette

Here is my card

First I put some red card through the BS to emboss flowers on it, and then mounted it on a cream card. I  then embossed some grey, yellow, and off white cards in different folders, sponged their edges and matted strips on the right hand side of the card .

Here's a closer veiw of the different embossing textures, although it's not very clear on the red card ( I forgot to use the tan matt!!)

My BS was working hard for this card as it then cut 3 multi layered yellow flowers and a large off white butterfly. If only the BS could do all these things without me having to crank the handle !!!

  

The flower parts were layered up, the large stuck flat, and the 2 smaller ones with 3D pads for dimension, and then arranged at the ends of the strips with some grey leaves cut with the 2 step Bird punch. The butterfly's wings were sponged with yellow and red inks and stuck between the flowers by its grey sponged body to leave the wings dimensional. To finish the sentiment was stamped in red on the off white card, 3 red gems added to the flower centers, and 3 yellow gems added in the bottom corner.

Recipe : Card = Real Red ( I don't have Red Riding Hood), So Saffron, Basic Grey, Very Vanilla, and a cream card from my stash

Inks = Real Red, So Saffron, and Sahara Sand ( I don't have grey ink)

Stamps = Verve

Tools = Big Shot, CREA lies Flower Die, Marianne Butterfly die, Sizzix Texture flower plate, Swirl, Budding Vine and Butterfly Kisses embossing folders, and 2 Step Bird Punch

Extras = Red and yellow gems

Well this took quite a while to piece together, what do you think? I hope you like it

For some strange reason Blogger wont allow me to post my Labels list, so when it's behaving again I'll add my lists

That's me for today, and I've got some busy days ahead, but I'll be back as soon as I can.

Thanks for dropping by

Santa is coming!

Today's project is for three challenges.

The first is using the colours from the
ColourQ challenge #111

and the second is the sketch from the
CAS-ual Fridays challenge CFC #29

and third, I will also be sending it to the St Luke's Charity challenge where the theme is Christmas


This is my card

I started by stamping Santa's sleigh and filled it with the presents on some white card, masked it with a Post It note and stamped the fir tree behind it. The presents were coloured with write markers, and the edges of the card sponged before layering it onto the maroon card.

The sentiment and snowflakes were then carefully inked with a Versamark pen and stamped below it ( positioned with the Stamp-a-ma-jig ) and heat embossed with white powder. It all was then placed on a white card.

Recipe :  Card = Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, and white card stock from my stash

Stamps = Lovely as a Tree, Loads of Love Accessories, Jolly Jingles Roller, and Clarity

Inks = Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Brown Pro marker ( I dont have Crumb Cake but this was the nearest I have ), and Versamark

Tools = Heat gun and Stamp-a-ma-jig

Extras = White embossing powder

I hope you're all having a good weekend, and thanks for dropping by.

Joyful Robin

After a couple of busy days, I've finished a card that I started on Tuesday for the Make My Monday challenge . Their theme is to Make a CAS Christmas Card with emphasis on the Sentiment.

Here it is

The text and jumping reindeer were Versamark stamped and gold powder heat embossed. In the center of the 'O' I sponged a blue sky over a snowy hill with holly trees in the foreground, and sat on the rim of the letter is a robin ( mounted on 3D pads ) who is looking through the hole.

 Here is a closer view of him

Recipe : Card = White card from my stash

Stamps = Clarity and Papermania

Inks = Versamark, SU Pool Party, Poppy Parade, and Green and Brown Pro markers

Tools = Heat gun

Extras = 3D pads

I must say a big "Thank You" to my lovely sister Cassy, who bought the reindeer stamp for me, together with a Santa Sleigh that I promise I'll use soon.

I hope she likes what I've made?

I must confess to Jacqueline that this is my second attempt at the card ( I started the first at her house on Tuesday! ) as I wasn't happy with the first scene, and, I dropped the holly stamp which landed in the wrong place to turn it into a "Happy accident". This card I'm much happier with.

Thanks for dropping by today, and I'd love to know what you think if you have time to leave a comment?



OLC Leafy Thank You

This afternoon I had my RA treatment injection, so now I am resting on the sofa with a throbbing leg!!

Of course I couldn't sit doing nothing, so I've made 2 cards for the Less is More challenge where they want a OLC with Leaves as the theme, and the Simply Stampin challenge where they want something Leafy.

This is the first

I masked a strip off with tape and randomly stamped some leaves with Versamark and heat embossed them with clear powder. I then sponged and stamped over them with green inks and drew a wavy line across the top and bottom of the border. I stamped the sentiment, and then heat embossed a Versamarked stamped Fern leaf that lay over the coloured area. 

and this is the second

I drew the wavy border again but this time incorporated the sentiment in the bottom line. Between these I stamped 4 suede leaves that had gold embossed highlights, and 1 brown leaf with no added extras.

Recipe :  Card = square white cards from my stash

Stamps = French Foliage, Organic Grace, and Just Believe

Inks = Certainly Celery, Pear Pizzazz, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede, Adirondack Rust, and Versamark

Tools = Heat gun

Extras = Gold and clear embossing powders

After making these I realise that I dont feel too good so may have to have a lie down. Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow, so I'll say TTFN

Christmas is coming!!

While watching my guilty pleasure ( the Grand Prix) this afternoon I have been able to do some crafting. Yaaaaay!!

And as I promised there is no sign of my Baroque Motifs on my card today!!



I have made it for the Clean and Simple challenge where they have this sketch,

and I'll also be entering it in the CAS-ual Fridays challenge  where they want a tag or something with a tag on it.

In case you haven't noticed yet, Christmas is coming fast and so that was my inspiration for my card.

This is it

I first stamped the Christmas sentiments in red across the bottom of a white card, and put some more white card through the BS on a dotty daisy texture plate (looks like snowflakes ) and sponged the edges in red. This was placed on 3D pads to add dimension. A red and White tag were then cut in the BS and the white matted on top. On this I stamped the pick up with its load of presents and tree (using the Stamp-a-ma-jig) which were coloured with SU Write markers and Pro markers. The finishing touch was the ribbon bow to attach the tag.

I've just seen the cola advert ( the famous one in the red cans) on TV which definitely means that the " holidays are coming!!", so very soon the decorations will need bringing down from the loft and the house being transformed into Santa's grotto.

I've had a terrible morning sitting in a cold Kwik Fit garage..........I drove to my mum's yesterday and noticed that one of my front tyres pressure was very low, and when I came to drive home, it was completely flat (only at the bottom though!!??). There was no way anything could be done till today, so I was up early waiting for the RAC to come and do a temporary repair so I could drive to Worcester ( 15 miles away) for a new tyre. Thanks to all the car thieves these days, Vauxhall cars no longer have spare wheels under the car, or in the boot ( means more space for cargo, apparently?) so it left me high and dry. Thank goodness I was at mum's.

Anyway, it's all sorted now, just no more off road rallying for me!!.

Hopefully, I can do some crafting this week, so please call back again if you can.

Thanks to everyone who leaves me comments, I love to read each one to see what you think.

Baroque Tag

Today I've made a card for the ColourQ #110 challenge where they have these new colours as inspiration.

I'll also be entering it to the CAS-ual Fridays challenge where they want a tag or a card with a tag on it.





This is my card

I started by randomly stamping a white card with the flourish in brown, and then wrapping the ribbons around the top. 2 blue and 2 brown labels were then cut in the BS and layered on top to create one large and one small tag, that then had the brown flourish stamped on them.The small tag was raised with 3D pads and also had the stamped sentiment added. Some small flowers and butterflies were punched and stuck on with 3D pads to give some dimension, and the finishing touches were the sequins for the flower centers and double ribbon bow to attach the small tag.

Recipe: Card = Soft Suede, Pool Party, Dusty Durango, Peach Parfait, and white card from my stash

Stamps = Baroque Motifs and Verve

Inks = Soft Suede

Tools = Big Shot, Labels nestabilities, 2 Flower punches and a butterfly punch ( I've had these for years from Readicut but I dont know the manufacturer )

Extras = Flower sequins and ribbons

I hope you like the card, and I promise to put the Baroque Motifs stamps aside for a while and use something different. Please come back soon and see if I can !! 



Vintage Christmas

Yesterday I started another card for the Make My Monday challenge as I wasn't that happy with my first entry. This time I've tried the vintage style ( way out of my comfort zone, but the more you do I suppose the better you feel about it?)

I'll also be sending it to St Lukes charity where their theme this month is Christmas.

I've used 3 papers that I'd downloaded years ago from I cant remember where.......a holly print, Hark the Herald Angels music sheet, and vintage christmas angels ( I hope they forgive me for cutting their wings off?! ) .The holly was placed on a cream card base and the edges sponged. A square was torn from the music sheet and red sponged on the edges, and then some fluffy threads were wrapped around it before it was layered on the holly. The 2 children were cut out and stuck down and then the whole thing was sponged with a distress ink. The sentiment banner was added on 3D pads with a bow of the threads dangeling behind it with jingle bells on the ends.

Recipe: Card = from my stash

Inks =  Real Red, Certainly Celery, and Tim Holtz Tea Dye

Stamps = Dovecraft

Extras = Fluffy threads and jingle bells

It's a Grand Prix weekend so I hope I'll get some crafting done.

Thanks for dropping by, and I'd love it if you could call again if you have time.

Orange trees

Today I've rushed around like the squirrels burying their nuts for winter!!

I did manage to squeeze in a few hours at Jacqueline's, and at the last minute before I left, decided to enter the colour challenge at  Simply Stampin where they have these yummy  new colours.

The only SU stamps I had with me was my trusty Lovely as a Tree, so out they came. I've then had to finish it off at mum's friends house ( while they gossiped ) as I was running out of time to enter, so fingers crossed I've made the deadline.

Here's my card using one of my favorite techniques of "sponging". 

On some Very Vanilla card I've sponged the yellowy sky over a Post It sun and a torn scrap paper hill, and then stamped the trees in the snowy foreground. I used the edges of the branches to make hedges along the crests of the hills, and the large pine tree to make a fir tree frame around the card edge. I finished by sponging the foreground to make small hillocks ( sorry they're hard to see in the photo), and drew 3 birds with a write marker.

Recipe: Card = Very Vanilla and square cream card from my stash

Inks = Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, and Soft Suede

Stamps = Lovely as a Tree

Extras = Post It

Hope you like it. Tomorrow I'll show you what I did make at Jacqueline's.

Have a good weekend.