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This blog was created to act as a record of the cards and other projects that I have made. It is for both my own reference and to help inspire anyone who wants to take a look.

I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment so that I know what you think of my projects and that you've been to visit!

Anyone can comment, even those who don't have a blog. (Just look for the word 'Comments' under the three little pictures at the end of each post). Readers without a blog can add an anonymous comment, but please leave your name (and docrafts username if applicable) so I know who you are!

Slideshows of all the cards I've uploaded to my blog can be found at the bottom of the page.



PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW MY BLOG

Thursday 30 June 2011

Red, White and Blue Dangling Sea Edwin with Shaving Brush Clouds

Well, I have finally had a go at the shaving brush clouds with the Distress Inks and I have to say I love the technique. A couple of tips I will give however are add a little ink at a time and dab your brush on some scrap paper before applying to your project to check you don't have too much ink on the brush..


Firstly, the Dangling Sea Edwin image, from Magnolia, was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink and coloured with Copic markers:
  • Hair: YR00, YR14, YR24, E35
  • Skin: E00, E13, E21, E51
  • Hat: R20, R24, R27, R29, B00, 0
  • Matelot Jacket: B23, B24, B00, 0
  • Shorts/Tie: B21, B23, B24, B26
  • Buttons: B24
  • Socks: B00, C0
  • Shoes: R20, R24, R27, R29. B26
The anchor in the image was highlighted with a clear Sakura Stardust pen, and highlights were added to Edwin's cheeks with a Papermania Snow White gel pen. Tthe image was then cut out.

A circle was cut from white card using a circle Nestabilities die and clouds were created using Tim Holtz Faded Jeans Distress Ink, a hand-cut mask cut from a Post-It note and a shaving brush. Basically, the brush with very little ink, was swirled over the edge of the mask, pinching the bristles of the brush together, focusing them on a smaller area.

A frame was also die cut from white card using two circle Nestabilities dies positioned on a piece of magnetic paper. The shape was then embossed and lightly coloured with Tim Holtz Weathered Wood Distress Ink. The edges of the circle were then coloured with a Copic marker (R29) to make them stand out more and small gold Papermania eyelets were set around the circle to create a porthole.

The cloud background, Edwin image and porthole were then all layered up.


A strip of the Wide Tie paper from the Basic Grey Boxer paper pad was matted onto a strip of navy
shimmer card and matted across a panel of the Oxford paper from the same paper pad. This was then also matted onto the navy shimmer card.

A red and blue button (items I've had in my stash for a very long time now!) were threaded with white embroidery thread and a white button with blue thread and positioned in the top right hand corner.

The 'Happy Birthday' sentiment, from the Personal Impressions Paula Pascual Mixed Sentiments stamp set, was stamped onto a die cut circle of the white card using Versafine Majestic Blue archival pigment ink and matted onto a circle of the navy shimmer card.

Here are the challenges I am entering this card into:

Monday 27 June 2011

Blue and Grey Paper Artsy Castle

So, as promised, here is the card I made using the Castle stamp from the Paper Artsy Crowns and Castles 4 stamp set.



The Castle image was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink and coloured with Copic markers:
  • Castle: W1, W3,W5,W7,W9
The image was then cut out.

Using Nestabilities dies, a petite cream oval and petite scalloped blue oval were die cut. Keeping the cream die cut within the die, the edges were distressed using Tim Holtz Weathered Wood and Antique Linen distress inks with shaving brushes. I much prefer the effect using the brushes to the Cut & Dry foam as I always get heavy smudges when I use the foam, whereas this gives a much softer look.

The Castle image was then mounted in the centre of the ovals.

A panel of the cream and blue medallion paper from the DCWV Once Upon A Time mat stack was then matted onto a strip of the blue card punched with the XCut Diamonds border punch and lengths of brown ladder ribbon and blue fibre from the HOTP Sapphire Sarabooks fibres were wrapped around it.


This was then matted across the blue distressed birds paper from the same mat stack. The edges of all of these pieces were distressed with the two distress inks and then matted onto blue card.

The corners of the blue distressed paper were then stamped using a small corner flourish stamp from the Fiskars Friends Forever Quotes stamp set and Versafine Smokey Gray archival pigment ink and then overstamped with Brilliance Graphite Black pigment ink.

The Birthday Wishes sentiment, from the Hero Arts Birthday Messages stamp set, was stamped in the bottom right corner also using the Graphite Black ink.

Here are the challenges I am entering this card into:

I Made The Top 3 At 2 Sisters Blog Challenge

I've just discovered that I made the Top 3 over on the 2 Sisters blog challenge.




You can see my original post for this card here.

Friday 24 June 2011

Red, Black and Grey Captain Edwin

This card was based on a layout in Issue 68 of Papercraft Essentials magazine.


The Captain Edwin image, from Magnolia, was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink and coloured with Copics:
  • Hat/Trousers/T-Shirt/Belt: N1, N3, N5, N7
  • Jacket/Bandana: R20, R24, R27, R29, R32, R37, R39
  • Sash/Patch: R32, R37, R39
  • Boots/Sword Hilt: W1, W3, W5, W7
  • Sword Blade/Buckle: C0, C2, C4
  • Buttons: N5
  • Hair: W3, W5, W7
  • Skin: E00, E13, E21, E51
  • Shadow: W1, W3
  • Outline: C2
The image was then matted onto black card.

Patterned papers from the Dovecraft Charcoal Designer paper pack (Dots and Squares), Papermania Monochrome Capsule Collection paper pad (gingham) and Papermania Red Hot Capsule Collection paper pad (red Clover Leaf) were cut to size and matted on the black card and layered up.


A length of black grosgrain ribbon was knotted and added across the layers and the image panel added over the top.

The Birthday Wishes circle sentiment, from the Hero Arts Birthday Messages stamp set, was stamped using Brilliance Graphite Black pigment ink and coloured using Copics:
  • Sentiment Circle: R24, R27, R29, C2
This was then added beneath the knot of the ribbon.

Three dark grey polka dot Card Candi, from Craftwork Cards, were then added in the top left corner.

The sword blade in the image and the circle sentiment were then both highlighted with Anita's 3D gloss.

Here are the blog challenges that I am entering this card into:

Thursday 23 June 2011

Call Out To All Whimsy Stamps Users

The lovely Ann from Raindrop Echo Designs has put out a request for all users of Whimsy Stamps (real or digi) to submit their cards for the future issue of their virtual magazine.

Here is the request she posted over on the docrafts forum:

Hello everyone! I'm not sure if this is allowed to be posted here, and if not, I apologize. We have seen some traffic coming through these forums to visit our magazine and I thought I would post up this magazine call for those who may be interested. See details below.

Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Magazine will release its next issue in August and we are looking for samples created by you! Our first issue (which you can find here) was a huge success. Would you like to have the chance to have your Whimsy Stamps creation included in the next issue? If so, keep reading!

All creations must include Whimsy Stamps images whether rubber, digi, or sentiments. We have specific themes for the next issue which are listed below. Please remember these need to be never before seen or posted creations.

Deadline: August 1st

Themes of interest:
  • Using Whimsy Stamps' exclusive line of Shapeology dies
  • Combining Whimsy artists (for example: Crissy’s Fancy Bench and KennyK’s Queens Cutie, or Meljen’s Baby Bunny Bottle and Raindrop Echo Designs Welcome Baby Sentiments)
  • Beyond Cards: Anything-but-a-card creations
  • Using doilies, twine, sewing, distressing, and wet/dry embossing
  • Masculine-themed cards
  • Summer/Travel theme
  • Glitz and Glam
Please email all submissions to Whimsy Magazine with your name and blog address (if applicable) and also include the following information with your submissions along with photograph(s) of your creations. We welcome all types of creations!

Creation information:
  • Stamps:
  • Ink:
  • Coloring medium:
  • Papers:
  • Embellishments:
  • Tools:
  • Other:
  • Quick how-to (optional):
We will send you a confirmation message that we have received your submission. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at Whimsy Magazine. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your support!

Ann Vento
Raindrop Echo Designs
http://raindropecho.com/
http://raindropechodesigns.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Pink Green and Blue Paper Pieced Butterflies

Well, as promised here is my attempt at colouring with Distress Inks and the shaving brushes from Wilkinsons in place of the much more expensive Inkdusters or similar. The card I made, an anniversary card, was actually based on a beautiful tag created by the very talented ClarkyJ and you can see her stunning masterpiece here.

Having looked back at Janet's tag, I realized hers looks more balanced as she has followed the 'rule of thirds' whereas mine is more half and half. I shall try and remember that for the future!!


I started by stamping the Butterfly image, from Chocolate Baroque/Craft Stamper, onto pieces of the pink butterfly paper from the Papermania Summer Bloom paper pad using Brilliance Graphite Black pigment ink and cutting them out.

A piece of white textured card was coloured using the shaving brushes and a selection of Tim Holtz Distress inks. The green area was created using Shabby Shutters and Forest Moss and the blue area using Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans. The edges were then distressed with the Walnut Stain ink. In retrospect, I think maybe Antique Linen may have been a better idea - never mind!

The green area was then overstamped using the Forest Moss ink and the Cone Flower and Grass stamp from the Inkadinkado Meadow stamp set.


The butterfly image was stamped a couple of times onto the blue area and then paper pieced using the pieces already cut out. The excess was cut away from the edge of the panel.


The sentiment, from the Hero Arts Anytime Messages stamp set, was then stamped onto the panel using the Graphite Black ink and then a frame from the Papermania Mix and Match Frames stamp set was stamped to go around it. The frame section was coloured in using a black Whispers Brushstroke marker.

A clear Sakura Stardust pen was then used to trace over the frame and the word 'JOY' and on the swirly sections of the butterflies. You can just make it out on the above pictures.

A length of green fibres from the HOTP Emerald Sarabooks Fibre Pack was then tied around the panel and this was then matted onto a panel of the pink dragonfly paper from the Summer Bloom paper pad.


A strip of the lime green plaid paper from the same paper pad was punched using the Martha Stewart Doilly Lace border punch and distressed with the Forest Moss ink. This was matted directly onto the card blank and the image panel matted over the top to the right of the card blank.

Here are the challenges I am entering this card into:

Monday 20 June 2011

I Am A Cupcake Cutie

I have just discovered that I am a Cupcake Cutie over on the Cupcake Craft blog challenge.




You can see my original post for this card here.

Thursday 16 June 2011

Purple and Green Gingerbread Tilda Panels

Here is the card I made for my matey Julie B for her birthday.


The Gingerbread Tilda image was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink and coloured with Copic markers:
  • Hair: YR23, YR24, Y17
  • Skin: E00, E21, E51, R02, R20
  • Blouse: YG03, YG11, YG13, YG17, Y00, Y02
  • Buttons: V12
  • Hearts/Trousers/Hat: V04, V06, V09, V12
  • Shoes/Basket: E31, E33, E35
On 'girly' characters, I usually just use R20 on the cheeks, but I decided to experiment with R02 and R20 (especially as I now have a few more colours to use) and went for a rosier cheek and I think it rather suits her! Tell me what you think.

The image was then cut out and highlighted with Craft Planet Iridescent Sparkle glitter glue.

A petite oval Nestabilities die was used to die cut a panel of white card which was then stamped around the edge with a small flourish stamp from the Fiskars Friends Forever Quotes stamp set using ColorBox Wisteria fluid chalk ink. This was then matted onto an oval of the green polka dot paper from the Papermania Spring Burst paper pad and a scalloped oval die cut from purple card.


Three panels of the green and purple daisy paper, also from the Spring Burst paper pad, were matted onto the green polka dot paper and a length of wide purple satin ribbon was adhered across all three panels. These were then matted onto a panel of purple card.

The sentiment, also from the Friends Forever stamp set, was stamped onto white vellum using Brilliance Graphite Black pigment ink and die cut using a circle Nestabilities die. This was then matted onto a Spring Burst journalling page.


The image panel and the sentiment panel were matted onto the panel and three purple paper flowers from The Crafty Cow were added to the panel and image panel with green Papermania pearl brads before the panel was added to the card blank.

Three green Kort & Godt pearls were added to the scallops of the sentiment panel.

Here are the blog challenges I am entering this card into:

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Monday 13 June 2011

Blue and Brown Father's Day Sugar Nellie Knight

Here is the design of this year's Father's Day cards that I've made for my dad and hubby's dad. I decided to go with the Sugar Nellie Knight image.


The image was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink and coloured using Copic sketch markers:
  • Armour: C0, C1, C3, C4, C6
  • Sword: C2, C4, C6
  • Skin: E00, E13, E21, E51
  • Shield: W1, W3, W5, W7, B32, B34, B37, B39, E31, E33, E35
  • Feather: B32, B34, B37, B39
  • Shadow: W1, W3, W5
Somehow I actually managed to get the armour and shield to look quite metallic and shiny!!

The corners were rounded using the large XCut corner rounder punch and matted onto bronze shimmer paper and navy card.


A panel of the Jute paper from the Basic Grey Granola paper pad was matted onto the navy card, punched with the XCut Diamonds border punch.

I wanted to add an element of texture but also keep it masculine, so four holes were punched using the Cropodile Big Bite and the Stampin' Up Mat Pack template and small dark blue Papermania eyelets were added. The holes were then threaded with a double strand of tan hemp cord from Hobbycraft.

The card was assembled and the 'Happy Father's Day' sentiment, from Elzybells, was stamped in the corner using Versafine Majestic Blue archival pigment ink.

Here are the challenges I am entering this card into:

Saturday 11 June 2011

I Received My My Grafico Prize!!!

My prize from My Grafico has arrived. It's the Teresa Collins Notations Memory Album Kit. It's absolutely gorgeous! I'm even thinking I might put my wedding pictures in it as they have never been put into an album!!!


I didn't get the Graphic 45 Flowers but the rest is lovely and great quality.

Friday 10 June 2011

Light Blue Embossed Inkadinkado Swan

Here is a card I made for a good friend's birthday. We met at uni 17 years ago and are still in touch today.


The image, from the Inkadinkado Butterflies and Birds stamp set was stamped using ColorBox Smoke Blue pigment ink and cut out. It was then matted onto the reverse of blue Core'dinations Whitewash card.

A square was die cut with a Nestabilities die from the blue Whitewash card and embossed with a square embossing folder from the Cuttlebug Decorative Squares #3 set. The detail was then sanded and the image matted onto it.

A panel of white card was embossed using the Papermania Victorian Fleur embossing folder and coloured around the edges with the Smoke Blue pigment ink and ColorBox Creamy Brown fluid chalk ink.

A strip of the light blue medallion paper from the Papermania Persimmon paper pad was matted onto the blue whitewash card and matted across the embossed card and then matted onto navy blue shimmer card.


A large white Papermania Imaginisce paper flower was coloured with the Smoke Grey ink and the Creamy Brown fluid chalk ink. A small white flower was highlighted with the Creamy Brown ink and layered with a white pearl Papermania brad coloured with a W3 Copic marker.  The flower was added in the top corner of the panel.

The sentiment, from the Studio G 'Friends For Life' mini stamp set was stamped with the Smoke Blue ink and matted on the blue whitewash card.

Champagne coloured pearls from the Kort and Godt Autumn selection and added to the embossed square and sentiment panel.

I also made a lightly different card using a 'Best Wishes' sentiment from the Papermania Just For You stamp set:


Here are the blog challenges I am entering this into:

Monday 6 June 2011

Dark Blue and Green Inkadinkado Anniversary Butterflies

The Butterfly Rainbow image from the Inkadinkado Butterflies and Birds stamp set was stamped using ColorBox Midnight Pigment ink and die cut using square Nestabilities dies. These were then matted onto scalloped squares, also die cut with Nestabilities, from navy blue shimmer card.

Here is a close-up view of the image and sentiment:


A strip of the dark blue and green paisley paper from the Laura Ashley Traditional paper pack was matted onto the navy shimmer card and a length of olive green stitched woven ribbon from the Chatterbox Olive ribbon pack was wrapped around the panel.

This was matted onto a panel of the green and dark blue etched botanical paper from the same paper pad and matted onto a panel of the navy blue shimmer card.


The sentiment, from the Elzybells Swirl Sentiments stamp set was stamped using the Midnight ink and matted onto the shimmer card. The image panels were matted over the ribbon and the sentiment placed beneath it.

Green pearls, from the Kort and Godt Pastels set, were added to either side of the sentiment panel, lined up using the Stampin' Up Mat Pack template.

I have to say I'm rather pleased with it!!!

Here are the challenges I am entering this card into:

Saturday 4 June 2011

Update On My Grafico Prize

You may remember a few weeks ago I said  that the lovely lady from My Grafico said that she would send me a prize even thought the competition was only open to US residents. Well, after waiting for nearly four weeks to hear anything, I decided she must have changed her mind and emailed her to confirm that this was in fact the case.

It turns out that life had just got in the way and that she thought she had emailed me to say the shipping label wouldn't accept my address and could I resend it to include GB in it.

Well, seems she just forgot to click the send button as it was still in her drafts folder!!

Well, she has now sent me the parcel and a tracking number, so now I shall be stalking the poor postie once more!!!

I can't wait for it to arrive and will let you know what it is when it gets here.

YIPPEE!!!

Big Grin Smiley

Big Thumbs Up Smiley

Thursday 2 June 2011

Pink and Green Flourish Butterfly

This card was based on a beautiful card that was sent to me by the very talented Angie. You can see her card here (it's the top one!)

This is the card that I made for my matey Loretta for her birthday. I know she has received it so I can post it now.

I decided to make my card a more simple version than the intricate one I received from Angie, and used my new Spellbinders Butterfly Shapeabilities die set.


Using the largest of the butterfly dies, two butterflies were cut from cerise card and white vellum and embossed. A smaller butterfly was also punched from light green glitter card using the Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and the three butterflies were layered up along the centre, with the wings loose and fluttering, although you can't see that in the scanned picture. The butterfly was then adorned with Papermania silver shimmer dots.

A panel was die cut from the cerise card using the Labels 1 Nestabilities die and matted with a smaller die cut from the pink rosebud paper from the Papermania Henbury Lane paper pad.

Flourishes were then die cut from the light green glitter card using the Sizzix Sizzlets Flower and Flourish #2 die and attached to the patterned panel beneath the butterfly.

Using silicon glue, three pink paper rosebuds were attached to the patterned paper panel in the bottom left corner.


The sentiment, from the Fiskars Friends Forever Quotes stamp set, was stamped using Versafine Crimson Red archival pigment ink and the corners of the panel were punched with the small corner rounder punch from Avec. This was then matted onto a panel die cut with a Label 8 Nestabilities die and matted over the bottom right corner of the butterfly panel.

Three silver shimmer dots were then added in the top right corner of the card blank.

Here are the challenges that I am entering this card into:
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