Mail Art

I am currently taking part in a mail art swap, and this is one of the envelopes that I have decorated.
I started by sponging some shades of distress ink on, using a baby wipe. I then stamped with Memento the cute cats from Indigo Blu, and coloured parts of them with my copics. The fish skeleton is a stamp that I hand carved a number of years ago, so I thought the cats looked like they had full tums after a meal of fish!! I also used a piece of the honecomb background stamp (also from Indigo Blu) on the top left, and overstamped with a postmark (unknown brand)

I would like to enter this at Indigo Blu for monochrome
Colour Crazy Craft Challenge for anything goes

More birds

Another card using the birds from my SU Wetlands set.
I printed the background paper and layered it onto the black card, after winding some baker's twine around it.
I have stamped the images on a snippet from my scrap box, and edged it with a black marker. I coloured three 'diamantes' with the same marker and added them to finish off the design.
I am entering this one at Paperbabestamps challenge, as I have used the inspiration colours, and the houndstooth design. I will also add this to Pixies Crafty Workshop.

A little birdie told me!

Hi there!
Some more of my shopping while on our travels. I bought this Sketchy birds and stencil set at Michaels in Halifax, Canada.
There are so many Autumn challenges around at the moment, so decided to enter a few of them.
I used DI sponged through the stencil for part of the background, and anothy dotty stencil for the other half. The branch is a die cut which I shaded with DI walnut stain. I stamped the bird so it stands on the branch, and stamped it again on a scrap. After colouring, I cut it out (without the legs) and glued it over the one on the card.
Challenges I would like to enter:-
Penny Black and More - autumn colours
Stamping Sensations - autumn colours
Happy Little Stampers - use dies
Lets Craft and Create #118 - I chose the autumn option
Bastel-traum#46 - autumn option
Stamplorations CAS - I did not take the option

Stamplorations - Stamps and sponging

Squares and Grids

Hi everybody, it is so good to be home again after a month's travelling.
I was catching up on my blog reading when I saw the challenge at Paper Artsy was Squares and Grids. This was perfect to try out my new Magenta stamp that I bought in Montreal. I coloured the pieces with watercolour pencils and copics, and arranged them onto a black background.
My scanner is not picking up the true colours, so I may try and photograph this later today.

I would also like to enter at Pixie's Crafty Workshop, as I used snippets to stamp onto.

Things with wings

This will be the first time I have written a post with my Android Tablet, so bear with me if I have trouble working it all out.
This very CAS design was done by masking a shape, and using distress inks to apply the colours. The images are from my Stamping Up Wetlands set, which I really love.
I would like to enter this at the Things with wings challenge at Paperbabe
www.paperbabestamps.blogspot.uk

Paris!

Hello everyone
Today's card features a very pretty printed image from a sheet that I bought at SENZ. I have matched the colours with a piece of dp for my background, layered on a toning card base after sponging and distressing the edges, and used a snippet of a slightly deeper colour across the centre. I added some pretty lace and an eiffel tower (Marianne brand) cut from a black glitter card.

Challenges - Cuttlebug Mania - a/g
Southern Girls a/g
That's Crafty - all square
Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting

Hello!

How are you!

Today's card follows the technique that is in the spotlight at the Stamplorations blog.
Flowers were stamped with Versamark, and embossed with detail white EP, on watercolour paper.
I then sprinkled a few colours of Brusho's, sprayed with water, and spread the colours with a paint brush. I diecut 'hello' on a creamy/white card, and also on black, so that I couls pop the black into the space. Trimmed and mounted onto a black card base. I have turned the design into landscape instead of portrait - I hope that is OK

Challenges - Fashionable Stamping - resist
Stamplorations

- spotlight
AAA cards - blending

Happy Birthday

The background for this card was an experiment by my granddaughter. She was using diecuts as stencils and spraying with Dylusions.
I decided to finish it by stamping a flower from a Stamplorations set that I had won, and happy from another set. I used the diecut that she had oversprayed with orange and just slightly offset it. Turned out to be a nice bright and cheerful card.

Challenges
Pixies Crafty Workshop (a snippet for the diecut)
Southern Girls a/g
Penny Black a/g with a stamp
Creative Artist a/g mixed media

Thanks for visiting, and have a great week

Pink and Pretty

Hi everyone.
I have had fun making this card. I chose some paper from my 'One Moment in Time' pad, and sponged and distressed the edges. I used a stencil from Pronty and sponged with DI spun sugar. I then die cut my corner from a scrap of pink card and sponged it with the spun sugar as well. Finished of with a scrap of string twirled and a pretty rose from my stash. I can assure you it looks much more pink IRL

Challenges - Scrap and Craft #1 - I have used stencil, rose, and paper from the options
Doing Life - a/g
In the Pink - pink!
Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets
Mod Squad - use a die

Thanks for your visit and have a great week

B&W+1

Hi everyone.
I have been a bit slack with my cardmaking this week, But I did manage to get this one done..
The floral image is from Crafty Individuals, and the words are from Rubberdance Affirmations set.
I have used a kraft card as my base and stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black. My white colouring is a combination of a white coloured pencel, and a Sharpie waterbased paint pen.

Challenges - Rubberdance for black and white + one (my kraft base)
A Blog Named Hero - Pop of colour (white)
Paperbabe - Anything goes

CASplorations - a/g with the option of gold, which I did not do.

Butterflies

I almost forgot to post this card. It fits in very nicely at CASplorations, where the optional colour is orange.

I have used my new (to me) SU butterfly which is very big, I stamped it on an angle while the card was opened out, and computer printed the message on the inside. I then trimmed along the edge of the butterfly, so that it shows the message.

Christmas in July

There are a few Christmas challenges in blogland at the moment so I thought I would join in.
I made a pretty Brusho background, and for the first time I added black into the mix of reds - it gives a great effect.
The stamp is by Hero Arts, and I used a sparkly Christmas embossing powder. I added stars to the corners.
Challenges -

Mixed Media

Rubberdance - Christmas in July The starfish reminded me to use stars on my card

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas - Use a sentiment

Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge - Christmas in July

So here is the start of my Christmas cards for this year. I hope you are all doing better than I am.

No card today!

This weeks challenge at Allsorts is 'Anything but a card'
I have made this in a deep picture frame.
The green splatters are a stamp by Paper Artsy, and the 'Dream' is by Rubberdance
I cut a series of butterflies with my Cameo in various shades of green DP, sponged the edges of some, and arranged them as a flight of butterflies.





Here is a closer view.
                                                      I would also like to enter at Simon Says Wednesday challenge for Things with wings, and the butterfly challenge for dimension

Birthday Wishes

Todays card uses a piece from an A4 'arty' background that I made useing various paints, sprays, and stamps.
I die cut 'birthday' twice, and glued them together, and stamped 'wishes' on Memento tuxedo black.The butterfly is sitting on a die cut branch and is highlighted with Wink of Stella in gold and clear.
Challenges -
Damsel Of Distressed cards (it's her birthday and my inspiration is the lovely bright hot colours)
CASEplorations - casing Elina Stromberg
Paperbabe #38 - anything goes

Summer Florals

I was so excited to be asked by Nikki from Indigo Blu to be a Guest designer for the latest challenge 'Summer Florals'

 I used one of my new winning stamps 'Blazing Poppies'

I have used a little artistic licence in colouring, as this is not your normal colour for poppies. 

I stamped with Memento-tuxedo black, and coloured with a mix of Promarkers and a Wink of Stella pen for the wee lemon flowers. I stamped the image again on scrap card, coloured, and cut out the 3 mauve flowers and shaped and raised them with mounting tape to give dimension. I also sponged around the edges with a toning mauve Distress ink.

Challenges - 

Passion for Promarkers - summer flowers

Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets
Paperbabe - anything goes

Help!

I am having problems with blogger.

I am unable to write comments on some blogs, although I can write the comment and it just disappears,

It is not happening with all blogs.

Can anyone advise please

Teal butterfly

Todays card uses Indigo Blu stamps and a piece from a designer paper block. I stamped in Adirondack Expresso, and overstamped the flowers and butterfly (on a scrap of paper) with DI Broken China. Finished off with some toning bakers twine and a little bling

Challenges
Indigo Blu - brown and teal
Southern Girls - flowers
Simon Says Stamp - colour inspired
Creative corner - anything goes
Pixies crafty workshop - snippets

Hello!!!

This crazy bird which I have coloured with Copics has just popped in to say Hello!
He is popped up onto a pretty gingham background with the edges sponged in distress ink, and the hello is from a set by 'Wow'

Challenges - Allsorts - use gingham
Pixies Crafty Workshop - snippets
Penny Black and More - a/g

Happy crafting!

Yay!

I am running so late with my challenges this week - it has been a really busy week, plus we now have 2 grandchildren staying and their Dad.

I have used another of my Brusho backgrounds, and stamped one of the crazy birds. I stamped him again on a scrap, and coloured with copics to tone in with the background, cut it out and layered it directly over the image on the card. I added some googly eyes for the challenge at AAA cards.

The colours and bird are also perfect for challenge  #36 at Paperbabe

I hope everyone has a great week, it has suddenly turned very cold here, but then it is mid-winter after all!

Who is for Coffee?

I have printed the lovely free image from Shery at Stamplorations, directly onto my card front. I printed it again on a scrap so that I could layer the two cups, which I coloured with copics. The dotty background is from a lovely stamp by Paperbabe, and the message I found on a quote website (I loved the pun) I am joining in at the coffee lovers blog hop
and also at Stamplorations Anything goes challenge, and Pixies Crafty Workshop

CASEing!

My second post for today!
I used two of the stamps from the Wetlands set, that I have just bought, onto a scrap of white card, adding a little colour sponging with di's.
I diecut it with a circle die, and cut another slightly larger black piece. I then layed them onto a kraft card base, and added 3 black tiny circles to finish
This is my entry for the Caseplorations June challenge

And also Happy Little Stampers - Anything goes with dies

Happy Birthday!

I made this card for a 7 year birthday which is coming up next week. He is a big fan of minecraft. I used 2 pieces of dp, and joined them diagonally, diecut the circles, the image Mr Google found for me!! The arrows and the message are embossed with silver ep.
I would like to enter this one at Casplorations for the June sketch

I would also like to add it to Crafty Hazelnuts patterned paper  challenge, as I have used 2 different papers

watercolour

For this card I cut my friends name in vinyl with my Silhouette, then used 3 shades of watercolour paint and washed them over the name. When it was dry, I removed the vinyl, and went around the edge with a very fine black pen.
Challenges
AAA Cards - watercolour

even more Brushos

I have had quite a productive day today In my craftroom. This is another background made with Brushos and the cling wrap technique. You never quite know how it is going to turn out. I used purple and turquoise, and I am very pleased with the result.
I stamped some assorted flowers and message from a Paper Artsy set, and stamped the flowers again on magenta card, which I cut out and paper pieced. I also went over some of the lines with my Sharpie white paint pen.
Challenges -
Rubberdance - use purple, turquoise & magenta, and optional flowers
Pixies Crafty Workshop - I used snippets for the flowers

More Brushos

My card today uses another brusho background in shades of blue and green. I have layered it onto a black card, and used a word stamp (dream) randomly onto it. The indigo blu stamps were used with versamark and detail white ep.

Challenges
Indigo Blu - may all your dreams come true
Paperbabe - anything goes
Sweet Stamps - anything goes
Great Impressions - anything goes
Penny Black and more - flower power

Have a great week and thanks for visiting

Soccer!

There is a Sporty themed challenge on over at LOTV, but I will have to email this entry to them.
I have simply layered the trimmed image onto red, then yellow, and then did the same for the message. I am also sending this one over to Pixie's Crafty Workshop, because I have raided my snippets box!

Brushos and a butterfly

I was looking through my box of Brusho pieces, and chose this one to use.
I have layered it onto a yellow card and then added an embossed strip down the side layered on to black. The butterfly is a Martha Stewart stamp which has been lying idle in a drawer for too many years. I stamped it onto a snippet of orange card, and added some glitter and Wink of Stella. Birthday wishes are from a set that I won from Paperbabe stamps. I would like to enter this into the challenges at Paperbabe: using a sketch
Southern Girls: layers
and of course Pixie's Crafty Workshop, cos I used snippets!

birthday wishes

It has been a rather dull day today, so I have been busy playing in my craftroom.
Stamplorations have a challenge to use magenta, and I saw a card recently similar to my one. Sorry I can't remember where!
I stamped the writing stamp byTH off the edge of the page and then overstamped with a lovely flower from Rubberdance. The message is stamped with Memento tuxedo black.
I am entering in the May challenge at Stamplorations, and also the Happy Birthday challenge at Allsorts  and the 2nd birthday challenge at AAA cards

Paperbabe

Today's card is for the challenge at Paperbabe

I stamped the image on white card with Memento tuxedo black,  trimmed it, and layered onto a leftover piece of turquoise card that was on my desk. I tore across the bottom edge, added a flower from my stash, coloured only the butterfly, and glued in some matching beads to the centre of the flower.

I can also add this one at Pixies Crafty workshop

Thanks for looking, and have a great week

Caseing Shery

Here is my entry for the May challenge at Caseplorations.
I stamped the background with a variety of leaves, and then used a stamp from Darkroom Door for the message.

I have tried to follow Shery's style, so hope you like it

a little bit vintage

Today's card features this lovely bird stamp from Crafty Individuals. I stamped it on a piece of textured card, and coloured with copics. The circle is also cut from the same scrap of card. The background is DP which I added some coloured to with tattered rose di, (masking off the centre first) The edges are distressed, with a little lace tucked in here and there, and then (very) roughly stitched around. The whole thing was then attached to a white card. I don't know who the branch diecut is from, it was a leftover from a class I did
I would like to enter this at Crafty Individuals for a/g
Rubberdance for vintage brown, dusky blue, & faded rose
Allsorts for vintage
Pixies crafty workshop (I used snippets of lace and textured card)

Have a great week and happy crafting

Birthday

I made this card for one of my grandsons who is a very keen snowboarder.
I found a suitable image on the internet, and printed it and the message, from my computer.
I made the background using some Stampin Up stamps and also polka dot one, which I have lost the packaging from. The panel is layered onto a white card base.
Challenges
Paperbabe  - birthday

Have a lovely week and thanks for visiting

Butterflys

Today's card uses an embossing folder from my 'nbus' pile, and I must admit I rather like it. I embossed the piece of teal card using my cuttlebug, and then swiped across the butterflies with a versamark stamp pad, then added some EP (2 different ones) I tied a matching ribbon across the bottom,tucked in a tiny flower, and then added my larger butterfly, which I cut out from an old calender and recoloured to match the teal theme. I am entering at
Butterfly Challenge #83 texture/teal
Cuttlebugmania Butterflies
Mixed Media #24 Butterflies and Blooms
Pixies Crafty Playground - I hope my butterfly counts!