I'm back!

Sorry I have been missing for such a long time, but now I am back and getting into card making again.
A friend is turning 65 in a few weeks time, so I have made this card for her. I have used a template from  Cardmaking Paradise (link is on my sidebar) and cut it out with my Cameo.
I used a Penny Black background stamp all over the front, using Mermaid Lagoon DI. I also sponged the edges with the same ink. I added some flowers and a corner flourish cut from snippets for decoration.
Challenges - Sweet Stampin - how old?
                     Less is More - coloured background
                     Pixie's crafty workshop - snippets
                     Southern Girls - anything goes

age is just a number!!

I was inspired by the fabulous card by Cornelia. It is my dil's birthday today, so I made this card for her. I used a 6x6 black card base, and because I didn't have suitable number stamps, I used some silver stickers to create the falling numbers. I handcut the arrows from a scrap of shiny red card, and the bigger numbers, which were originally a sickly green were heat embossed with red ep. The strip down the side is some tape, which I thought finished off the card quite nicely.
I would like to enter this at the Stamplorations Spotlight Project
and also at Pixie's Crafty Workshop, as I used the wee snippets of red

Have a great week and thanks for visiting

Best wishes

Today's card features a beautiful Art Deco image that I have recycled from another card. I have layered it on a red mat, and then a Kraft one. I also coloured the peel-off to match. I would like to enter this into the Stamplorations February challenge.

Other challenges - Simon Says Stamp - recucle-reuse
                               Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets

New Baby

I had to make a baby card, and found inspiration while doing some internet searching. Sorry I did not take note of the web address for the Sillhouette file, I will add it to this post if I can find it again. I cut out the elephant from a scrap of spotty paper, printed the message on the computer, cut it out and layered it on a piece of silver corrugated card. A very simple card, but I am pleased with the result.

Challenges - Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets
Crafting by design - anything goes
Crafting from the heart - anything goes
Inspiration Destination - anything goes

flowers!

Today's card features a stamp that I have had a number of years, and I go back to it every so often. I stamped and embossed with detail black EP, and also stamped again on a snippet of pretty blue card. I fussy cut it and raised it with mounting tape over one of the images. I also added black 'enamel effects' in the centre.

Challenges -
Anma Creations - flowers
Stamplorations - CAS
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Pixies Crafty Workshop - using snippets
Thanks for visiting, and have a great week

Bits and Bobs!

Today's card features this lovely poppy stamp from Crafty Individuals. I chose to only colour the flower, as I wanted it to really stand out. I used a white ink pad and a Paper Artsy stamp to make the background splatters, and added a piece of ribbon, a piece of lace and some red bling.
Challenges -
Crafty Individuals - lace, buttons, bits & bobs
Paperbabe #25 - sketch
Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets


Have a great week, and thanks for visiting

Masculine

I found the background piece in my experiments box, but can't remember exactly how I made it!
The stamps are by Tim Holtz, including my new 'bird crazy' set and I used bleach to take the colour away from this very studious bird.
Challenges
Addicted to stamps - masculine
Southern Girls - anything goes
Vintage Stamping - anything goes

And Di has encouraged me to enter in this weeks challenge at Pixies Crafty Workshop

butterflies

Today's card features my Leafy Vines stamp from Hero Arts, embossed with detail white EP on black card, and layered onto an orange card base. I have also stamped onto a snippet of orange, 2 butterflies from Kaisercraft, and added Wink of Stella to their wings. I used flower stamens for the feelers, and coloured them with copics to match.

Challenges
Rubberdance - Black and white + one other colour
Paperbabe - anything goes
Pixies Playground - snippets

Je t'aime

I totally cased the example from the back of the stamp package for this card, but reversing the card colour, and the first layer. The stamp is by Penny Black and I coloured it with my copics. The red layer is a new (to me) embossing folder that I thought went with the French theme.
I used up a few snippets from my large boxful for the stamped image and the white layers.
Challenges -
Cuttlebug Mania - use something new
Southern Girls - one for the girls
Paperbabe - anything goes
Penny Black and More - one for the girls
The Artistic Stamper - anything goes
Pixies Crafty Playground - snippets

Thanks for visiting and have a great week

Couture Creations

Check this out!

http://couturecreationsaus.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/ulitmate-crafts-background-2-cha-sneak.html

Elfie!

I made three of these elf pocket cards for my grandsons Christmas money to hang on their tree.
The 'collar' lifts up to see where the money is hiding. I used snippets from my scrap box for the belt, check trim, and the collar.

Challenges
Pixies Crafty Workshop (2) - snippets
Deep Ocean Challenge - anything goes
Through the craftroom door - anything goes

It's not Christmas

I had a few bits and pieces lying on my desk, so used them up with this card. The green stripe is a piece of bazil card, pink spot is a dp, small butterflies are from a Kaiser pad, and the bottom piece of green is punched.
I cut the butterfly in 2 layers, the top one is a scrap of velum, and ran them both through my cuttlebug with the swiss dots folder. I sponged most of the edges in green and added a bakers string tie, and wee diamantes to the butterfly.

Challenges -   Pixies Crafty Workshop - use snippets
                        Allsorts 342/343 - Anything but Christmas
                          Crafty Friends - Anything goes

nbus!

Today's card uses a piece from my blue masterboard. I have trimmed it to fit a white card, just leaving a litle margin. Istamped the 2 IndigoBlu images with Brilliance graphite black and embossed with clear EP. I stamped the butterfly again on a scrap of acetate and layered it over the original. The white accents are from my Sharpie pen.
Challenges
Paper Artsy - masterboards
IndigoBlu - Winter blue
Pixies Playground - snippets

Masterboard #2

This piece is actually darker IRL but doesn't show in the scan, I think because it is a shiny surface. I started with 2 colours of Brusho's, and after spraying,then pressed onto it with cling film. After it was dry I stamped the circles(CTMH) text (Stampers Anonymous) leaves (Dylusions) I also used a white Sharpie to accentuate some of the circles.
This is my second attempt after being inspired by all the examples on the Paper Artsy blog.
Challenge - Paper Artsy

Masterboards #1

I have been reading with interest the subject of masterboards on the paper artsy blog, and I am not sure who inspires me the most. I think I have taken something from everyones examples, with the exception of using a brayer.
I painted with a lovely orange paint (no label) and then sprayed with some gold glimmer mist to give it a pretty sheen The blobs of red and gold were spread out using a comb. I used some watered down black for the swipey bits in the middle, stamped the text with black soot di and used a white sharpie for the cross hatches. I am looking forward to making some cards with this.
This is my entry for the challenge at Paper Artsy
and also Love to Create

Christmas is coming

Christmas is getting close so it is time to enter some Christmas challenges.

The background was created by smooching some distress ink on my craft mat and spritzing with water, then swiping the card through it. I also added some stamped circles and stars. Unfortunately the sparkle doesn't show up on the stars. I stamped the bird on the card and also on another snippet, so that I could layer him. He is coloured with copics and promarkers

Penny Black and more - anything Christmas (stamped)
Rubberdance - Tis the Season
Artful Crafts - Christmas
Graph-it Markers - Christmas sparkle                        
Paperbabe - anything goes
                                 
Love to Create - anything goes
                                   
Pixies Playground - snippets

Thanks for visiting

Thanks

I sprayed a piece of card with dylusions and then embossed with the swiss dots folder in my cuttlebug. I added the diecut 'thanks' and some punched flowers and butterflies. The daisy is made on a daisy wheel with raffia. challenges -
Cuttlebug mania - thank you
Pixies Playground - I used snippets
Mixed Media - texture

Birthday

This weeks card uses a few snippets from my scrap box, some stitching, a button, and a stamp by Hero Arts.

Challenges -
Pixies Playground - using snippets
Sweet Stamps - anything goes


Thanks for visiting

Vintage!

Today's card has a vintage feel to it. I have used 2 pieces of a DP for the background, and made a tag piece by stamping French Script on an angle, on a snippet from my scrap box, then adding a vintage photo, some scraps of lace and a layered flower

Challenges -
Southern Girls - stripes
Noor Designs - anything goes
Almost forgot to join the girls in Pixie's Playground, because I used snippets from my scrap box!

Bold and Beautiful

This is one of a series of notepads I have been making.
I have layered the top with a square of cream card from my snippet box, which I embossed in my cuttlebug. The edges are sponged with DI.
I stamped the image 3 times, and cut out the flower head and the centre separately
I have used a mixture of copics and promarkers to colour, and have layered the flower to give dimension
Challenges
Mod Squad - bold and beautiful
Di's Crafty Workshop - use snippets
Fashionable Stampers - changing seasons

I'm back!!

I can't believe it is almost 2 months since I have posted on my blog.
We have been away on a fantastic cruise, which went through the Panama Canal. It was so interesting.
But, now it is back home to reality!!

The background of my card was done with Colour Burst - yellow ochre, on a pearl finish card. I then embossed it with a dragonfly folder through my Cuttlebug, and lightly sponged the edges. I stamped the flower in black Memento on a snippet of white card, and coloured it with copics and promarkers, using Autumn tones. I finished off with a scrap of organza ribbon, and tied the bow with some bakers twine.
Challenges -
Graphit Markers - Autumn colours
Scrap-craft Inspiration - Autumn colours
Cuttlebug Mania - black and orange
Rubberdance - Autumn
Craft Dream - Autumn
Fantastic Tuesdays - Autumn
Pixies Playground - use snippets

Thanks for looking, and have a great weekend

Lace!

I have used a piece of Kaisercraft dp for the backing of this card and sponged the edges with a green ink. I have used a scrap of crochet lace to accent the word Papillon, and then added a vellum butterfly which I diecut from a scrap of vellum, ran it through my 'bug with a texture folder and added some liquid pearls for the body.
Challenges
Modsquad - lavender or lace
Creative Crew - lace
Tuesday throwdown - texture
Pixies playground - snippets

Ellie the elephant

I printed a gorgeous doodle pattern from the web, sorry I have lost the designer's name to give credit to.
I have coloured in with a mixture of copics, promarkers, sakura glaze pens, and added a few highlights with a wink of stella pen.
The card design is one from the Cardmaking Paradise site (link is on my sidebar) and I cut it out with my cameo. The ear is raised a little with a faom square.
Challenges - We love to Create - a/g
                      Paperbabe - a/g
                      Sweet stamps - a/g
                      Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - a/g

Summer Colours

I had some spare time this morning, so made this card which qualifies for several challenges.
The background is randomly stamped with assorted circle stamps from Stampin Up. I used DI in scattered straw, spun sugar, and evergreen bough. The main image is an old Stampendous one which I stamped onto a snippet from my scrap box, coloured with Sakura Jellyroll glaze pens, and then trimmed it a bit smaller using a scalloped rectangle die. I edged it with a black sharpie, and also lightly coloured the card background with pink chalk.

Challenges -
Paperbabe Inspiration - (inspired by the circles)
Rubberdance - pink, yellow and green
Stamping Sensations - use a stamp and die
Artistic Stamper - a/g with a stamp
Southern Girls - a/g
Pixies Crafty Workshop- snippets

Red, White and Blue

The challenge for Memory Box this month is 'use red, white, and blue'

I layered a piece of textured blue card onto my white card base, first placing a red spotty ribbon around it. I then attached the bow.

I cut the die (Flutter Vine) twice on a white snippet from my scrap box and glued them together, so that they really stand out against the blue.

I would also like to enter this at
Pixies Crafty Workshop

Face Value!

This month's challenge for Crafty Individuals is 'Face Value'
I have stamped the image on to a separate card, and coloured lightly with Promarkers
The background was stamped with Distress Ink, and some vintage lace added. The border was made using just a piece of another stamp, I also added the little message and the bee.
I can also send this one over to Pixies Playground, as I raided my snippets box to stamp the image and the message on

I hope you like it

Time

I was so inspired by Keren Baker's post on the Paper Artsy blog, that I dug into my stamps and found this one by The NZ Stamp Art Co, of a lovely pocket watch. I stamped with versamark, and then rubbed over with my chalk pastels. I used to love this technique, thanks so much for reminding me of it. I finished off with a couple of word stamps.
For the challenge at
Paper Artsy

Tweet Tweet!

I was very taken with a post by Becky Fleck on Scrapbook and Cards Today, so this is my attempt following her instructions.
2 pieces of DP for the background with a piece of braid covering the join.
4 scraps from my snippet box trimmed to size and foam mounted.
1 plain circle and 1 scalloped circle layered.
1 pink button.
Sharpie pen to draw the beak, feet and tail.
another scrap to cut the wing from which I coloured pink and then covered in pink 'Kindyglitz"
I am sending this one over to
Pixie's Crafty Playground

and another ....

Another very CAS card that I will be sending to a friend who recently lost her Mother.
I coloured the background with a mixture of DI's, Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold, and Mustard Seed, I then sprayed with Dylusions through two different stencils in opposite corners. The simple dandelions were stamped in Memento black, as was the sentiment.

Challenge:-
Paper Artsy - stencils
Happy Little Stampers - CAS

CAS

This is the third Sympathy card I have had to make in the last few weeks.
The bird is from a stampin up set, while the words are from a clear set by Hero Arts which I won some time ago.
I have added a little colour to the bamboo and bird with my Promarkers.
Challenges -
Passion for Promarkers - CAS
Happy Little Stampers - CAS

Happy July 4 to my American followers - have a great celebration

wildflowers

Today's card features a beautiful stamp from Crafty Individuals. I stamped and embossed with white detail ep. I first tried colouring the background with distress ink, but it looked a little pale, so I then sprayed the image with 2 shades of Dylusions, and I am much happier with the result. I layered onto black and then onto a white square card. I used some scraps of a dictionary page and sprayed with Dylusions too. I then die cut Memory Box 'flutter vine' which I cut up to add to the bottom left to resemble some of the wildflowers. I punched 2 butterflies for the top right corner.

Challenges - Memory Box Challenge #1 - butterflies
Addicted to Stamps - photo inspiration (turquoise colour and flowers)
Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets
Butterfly challenge - f for flowers

Gilding

This was not the easiest card to get a good picture of. Photographing did not turn out well so I scanned it instead. It really does not show the beautiful shimmer of the gilding flakes.
The stamp is 'leafy vines' from Hero Arts stamped onto black card, which I edged in silver pen. The wee butterfly is from a pack of broken jewellery, which I added some colour to with a copic marker. I think gilding flakes could be my latest favourite product (for this week anyway)

Challenges

The Craft Barn - butterflies (2nd entry)

Noor Designs - here comes summer

Simon Says Stamp - favourite product

Pretty Flowers

This was an experiment using a few different things. I used a stencil and distress ink to colour the background, and die cut the leafy flourish in green. For the flowers, I used some scraps of blue shaded DP and stamped my Elizabeth Bennet stamp several times using different shades of Brilliance ink. I cut out the flowers and one butterfly, shaped the a little and glued them to the flourish. I finished off the centres with a Wink of Stella in a yellow colour.

Challenges entered

Indigo Blu - a pocketful of posies
Craft Barn - butterflies
Stamping Sensations - dies/punches
Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets

Bottles and Paint

I have been following with interest the Paper Artsy blog, the present theme is bottles. I decided to follow Anneke De Clerks inspiration, and this is the result.
I used a mix of nougat and space cadet to paint my bottle and gave it 2 coats. I then stamped my flowers onto a piece of vellum with Brilliance pearlescent sky blue. The letters are rub-ons, and I used a piece of yellow string to tie around.  I should have made some paper flowers too but this has been a busy week - however I may add them in the future

Paper Artsy bottles challenge

Classic!

I bought these stamps recently in a sale as I thought they would be great for men's cards. They did not have a label, so I don't know the make.
I stamped onto a couple of 'leftovers' that were on my desk, then layered onto black, and then onto an embossed orange piece which I wrapped with a spotty ribbon. I have added some bling in the corners with enamel accents.

Challenges - Craft Barn - transport
                     Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets
                     Cuttlebugmania - bling
                     Sweet Stamps - polka dots

Christmas

I have made a start on my Christmas cards as I was given this lovely holly flourish die for my birthday. I die cut the front of the card, and filled in the space with another die cut in green, attaching a sheet of paper at the back to hold it all in place. I coloured the leaf veins and the berries with 'Smooches" then added a stamped and embossed greeting.

Challenges
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas - use diecut or punch
Rudolph Challenge - anything goes Christmas

Music

Today's card features the lovely music stamp from Crafty Individuals. I have placed it into a decorative card blank which I coloured with Promarkers and a Sakura glitter pen. The dancing couple is a very old stamp by PSX, and I computer generated the words.
Challenges
Crafty Individuals
Little Miss Muffet
Mema's Crafts

Thanks for looking

oh boy!

Today's card is for a new baby boy. I have added the piece of dp to the top section, and used my 'tied together' embossing folder on a scrap of matching blue for the bottom section. (it matches better IRL)
I stamped the Docrafts image, and coloured with copics and promarkers, then fussy cut and layered it with mounting tape. The scrap of blue ribbon covers the join nicely.
Challenges - Craft Stamper - use a stamp
Mema's crafts - anything goes
Cuttlebugmania - use a ribbon
Southern Girls - animal crackers

Lots of Love

Today's card uses an interesting technique that I came across somewhere on 'blogland' I swiped my ink pad (Brilliance pearlescent lavender) across the raised part of the embossing folder, and the ran it through my cuttlebug, which then left a coloured image on the card. I then stamped my butterfly with the same ink onto the card and also a wee snippet of velum. I ran the velum through with my swiss dots folder and cut it out and attached over the image. I added some wee 'diamantes' to the body, and stamped the message in the same ink.
Challenges - Cuttlebugmania - stamping
                     Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets

Quick Post

I have made a little wall hanging from a coaster. The background is painted with Fresco Nougat and the dabbed with picket fence stain. I stamped the words on a scrap of card and cut them out and edged with walnut stain DI. The flourish is an old stamp (unknown brand) and the little butterfly is coloured orange and then gone over with Wink of Stella pen. I have then added glass fragments to the edge.
Challenges
Sweet Stamps - anything but a card
The Craft Barn - words
Pixies playground - using snippets

Top Bloke!

Today's card features a cute golfer from one of the Sullivan's sets. I have coloured him with a mixture of Promarkers and Copics.
The golf ball and the message are from the same set
I layered them onto a piece of dp from my snippets box and I sponged the edges with walnut ink DI

Challenges -
Craft Barn - masculine
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - use snippets

I am back again

....after a long absence - life got in the way of my crafting time.
This card uses up some scraps from my 'snippets' box. The strip was an experiment with 2 colours of paint and 'smooshing' 2 pieces of card together. I rather like the effect it gives. The flower image is stamped twice, with the main flower trimmed and layered to give a 3d effect. I have used copics and promarkers to colour it.
Challenges

Sisters of Craft - anything goes
Noor design      - anything goes
Graphit markers - Flower Power
Fussy and Fancy - Springtime flowers
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - using snippets

Birthday

I am slowly getting back into cardmaking again, and had a little play this afternoon.
I cut a circle card, and applied some DP to the front. I then layered a band across, added a diecut flourish, a felt flower with a tiny button, and stamped the birthday message in a toning colour. Both DP's and the card for the flourish were from my snippets box

Challenges
Sweet Stamps - Happy Birthday
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - snippets
                                                                    Creative Card Crew - Birthday with a                                                                       sentiment
                                                                    Whimsy - use a sentiment

Amour!

I have been away on holiday, so my blog has been very neglected!
For this card I used a damask style dp on the background, and a piece of brown dp, which I embossed and rubbed with Treasure Gold. I cut the Eiffel tower on my Cameo, and also added a snippet left over from my "Bonjour" pad.
  I would like to enter this in
Pixie's Playground

Happy Valentines Day. Did you all get some lovely flowers?

Birds on a wire

I was having a tidy up in my stamp drawers and came across this one which I haven't used for some time.  I needed to make a birthday card, so found a snippet of the jade paper in my scrap box, used a piece of it for the layering, and stamped on the remaining piece for the vertical strip. I have used a peel-off for the message which I coloured with a black Sharpie

I can enter this at Scribble and Scrap for anything goes, and also share it in the playground at Pixie's Place

vintage

Today's card uses a lovely Kaiser image that I bought recently, and this is the first time I have used it. I stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' onto DP from "One Moment in Time' I have sponged the edges with DI walnut stain, and used copics for the colouring. The lamps are highlighted with 'Wink of Stella' pen The bow is made from a muslin bandage, and the flower has been re-assembled with a brad added.
Challenges
Craft Stamper - take a stamp
Paper Creators Crafts - anything goes
Vintage Stamping - New Year new stash

Christmas candle

Here is a lovely glass bowl that I have decorated with blue vinyl snowflakes (cut on my cameo),  holly leaves punched from a snippet of green card, and  edged with a gold pen, and red gems for the berries. I have placed a battery operated tea light in it.




Challenges
Electic Ellapu - anything but a card
Scribble and Scrap - anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - a/g
Not Just Cards - a/g
Pixies Playground - use snippets
Southern Girls - festive