KOOKABURRA CRAFTS

I Made Top 3 At Digistamps4Joy

2011-09-21T13:51:00.000+01:00

I've just seen that I made Top 3 over at the Digistamps4Joy blog challenge.

My Red and Cream Tiddly Inks Mushroom New Home card was chosen as Top 3 in their Colours Of Fall challenge.

You can see the original post for this card here.

Brown and Blue Floral Chandelier Tags Anniversary

2011-09-21T13:28:00.002+01:00

This is a second version of the anniversary card I made recently using the Chandelier stamp that came free with the July 2011 issue of Craft Stamper Magazine.

I went for more muted tones with this version, using one of my favourite colour combinations of blue and brown.

The Chandelier image was stamped using Adirondack Stream dye ink and matted onto the blue diamonds paper from the Prima Madeline paper pad.

The card blank was completely covered with the Brown Script Floral paper from the same paper pad and the image panel added to the right.

A strip of the Alphabet paper was added to a strip of the Multi Border paper and this was then added over the image panel. Faux stitching was then added over the joins of the paper pieces using the Zigzag Stitch stamp from the HOTP Stitches stamp set and ColorBox Chestnut Roan Fluid Chalk ink.

Two mini tags were coloured around the edges using the Chestnut Roan ink and letters were stamped using the Stream ink and a Studio G mini alphabet stamp set. The tags were attached to some teal embroidery thread and added to the card and a brown Card Candi from Craftwork Cards was added over the ends of the threads.

Highlights were added to the Chandelier image using Glossy Accents and DecoArt Crystal Glamour dust.
All papers were distressed with the Chestnut Roan ink.

The inside of the card was also decorated using a photo corner stamp from the Stamps Away Bookplates, Corners and Anchors stamp set, stamped onto the blue diamonds paper used on the front of the card using the Stream ink and cut out

Slits were cut into the photo corners and the writing paper inserted into the corners, and a strip of the Brown Script Floral paper used on the front of the card was added across the paper and the sentiment, from Elzybells, was stamped using the Stream ink.

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

Citrus Lily With Moving Sentiment - Lia Stampz Challenge #3

2011-09-16T12:58:00.009+01:00

Well, here goes!! Here is my very first DT card! I was very kindly asked by the ladies at Lia Stampz to join their DT team. The images designed by Lia are pretty quirky and I look forward to using them! You can find them here

This card is made for Challenge #3 over at Lia Stampz which was to include a moving element. This took me completely out of my comfort zone I can tell you and took quite a bit of thought and research. In the end, I decided on a card with a moving sentiment. I followed the tutorial over on the Splitcoaststampers site, and you can see the tutorial here.

I've made this card for my sister as I think she'll appreciate the quirky nature of the image. She lives in (sunny) Spain and is enjoying much warmer weather than us here in the UK.

The image, a digi from Lia Stampz called Lily, was coloured using Copic sketch markers:

Skin: E00, E11, E21, R02
Hat/Top/Socks: YR00, YR02, YR04
Bow: RV04, RV11, YG11, YG13
Hair: E31, E33, E35, E37
Jacket/Boots: YG11, YG13, YG17
Flowers/Trousers: RV04, RV06, RV09, RV11
Stems: YG13, YG17
Hair Ties: RV06, RV09
Eyes: YG13, E35
Belt/Buttons: YR02, YR04
Watch Glass: C0

The image was then cut out.

The image was then matted onto a panel of white card and a panel of hot pink card die cut with a Nestabilities Labels 8 die. Three brads, from the HOTP Ultimate Cardmaker's Creative Pack embellishment kit were then added to the image panel.

An aperture was cut into the card blank using a Classic Circle Nestabilities die. Unfortunately, I don't have a Grand Caliber so I had to cut my aperture through the front and back of the card blank. I tried to cut through just the front, with the back of the card folded over the cutting plate, but it got too damaged to be used so I just cut through the front and back!

A strip of the orange daisies paper from the Dovecraft Kate Knight Wild Blossom paper pack was matted onto the hot pink card and a circle die cut from it the same size as the aperture in the card, making sure it fitted over the aperture. Hot pink satin ribbon was then wrapped around the panel either side of the aperture.

A length of Invisithread was then added across the aperture. Two circles were then die cut from white card and the sentiments from the Personal Impressions Paula Pascual Mixed Sentiments stamp set were stamped in the centre of them using Memento Lilac Posies dye ink. There were matted onto Classic Scalloped circles of pink card and adhered to the Invisithread.

A panel of the light green butterfly paper from the same paper pack was matted onto the pink card and the location of the aperture was marked and then die cut with the circle die. The two patterned paper layers were then matted up and onto the card blank.

A scalloped frame was then created using Nestabilities dies from the pink card and added around the aperture.

The image panel was then added to the left of the card blank.

The inside of the card was also decorated.

Having cut a whacking great hole in the back of my card, I decided to make a feature of it and so decided to use vellum.

A panel of the pink card and a panel of the leaves vellum from the Papermania Exquisite Vellum Collection pack were die cut to fit over the aperture.

A small panel of the vellum was then added to the reverse of the pink panel and a scalloped frame was cut from the pink card to go around the aperture.

A panel of the orange daisies paper was matted onto the vellum with a panel of writing paper. This was then stamped with the sentiment from the Mixed Sentiments stamp set using the Lilac Posies ink.

So, having seen my card, please pop over to the Lia Stampz blog and have a look at all the different types of 'moving element' cards they've come up with.

Here are the blog challenges I'd like to enter this card into:

Red and Cream Tiddly Inks Mushroom New Home

2011-09-14T14:12:00.000+01:00

I needed to make a New Home card for my friend who has just moved back to Germany. Of course, having made the card, I learnt that there were issues with the new house and so they weren't actually moving into it. But, thankfully all the issues have now been resolved and they can now move out of the hotel and into their new home.

I decided that I would make the New Home card using this cute digi image.

The Mushroom House digi image, from Tiddly Inks, was coloured with Copic Sketch markers:

Mushroom Roof: E04, E07, E09, R02, R37, R39
Mushroom Base: Y00, Y02, Y11, E40, E41, E43
Door: E33, E35, E37
Window Frame: E35
Window: BG10
Grass/Leaves/Trees: YG13, YG95
Flowers/Sign/Door Mat: R02
Pot: E07
Shadow: E35, E43
Letters: E40

The corners of the image panel were then punched with the large XCut corner rounder. This was then matted onto a panel of cream card and a panel of deep red card die cut using a Nestabilities Labels 1 die.

A panel of the Cream Floral Script paper from the Prima Botanical paper pad was matted onto the red card, both punched with the corner punch.

The sentiment panel was created by stamping the curly frame image from the Papermania Tweet stamp set using Versafine Onyx Black archival pigment ink and the sentiment from the Papermania Mix and Match Scrolls and Sentiments stamp was stamped in the centre using the same ink. The frame was cut out and matted onto the cream and red cardstocks.

The flowers on the main image were then highlighted with Craft Planet Iridescent Sparkle glitter glue.

The frame of the sentiment panel was traced around using the clear Sakura Stardust pen.

The inside of the card was also decorated, using my much-neglected Sizzix Sizzlits Latches die. The rivets of the latches were coloured using the 110 Copic sketch marker and traced over with the clear Sakura Stardust pen.

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

I Am A Winner Over At I Did It Creations

2011-09-14T00:07:00.001+01:00

I have just seen that I am a winner over on the I Did It Creations blog challenge.

My Pink and Brown Reverse Masked Heart Aperture Anniversary card was chosen as the winning card in their Girly Girls challenge.

You can see the original post for this card here.

I Was Chosen As A VIP Top 3 Over On PartyTime Tuesdays Blog Challenge

2011-09-10T02:53:00.002+01:00

I've just found out that my card has been selected as a VIP Top 3 over at PartyTime Tuesdays Blog Challenge.

My Light Blue and Brown Prairie Fairy Lewis card was chosen in their Anything Goes challenge.

You can see the original post for this card here.

Pink and Brown Reverse Masked Heart Aperture Anniversary

2011-09-08T15:00:00.004+01:00

Well, I don't know about you but I've had enough of masculine cards so here's a more feminine anniversary card for you!

This card was inspired by a card I saw over on the Splitcoaststampers gallery by MarieMc and you can see the card that she made here and here on her blog.

I needed to make a couple of anniversary cards and thought this idea would work really well. I'm thinking I might try it with my butterfly die too.

The heart, from the Marianne Creatables set of three heart dies (LR0159), was cut from the card front. A mask was also cut and affixed to the inside of the card behind the aperture so that it lined up.

Colour was added through the mask using Tim Holtz Tattered Rose distress ink and then overstamped using the Tattered Rose and Frayed Burlap distress inks using the flourish stamp from the Personal Impressions Paula Pascual Mix and Match Sentiments stamp set.

The sentiment, from the Woodware Jane's Script sentiment stamp set was then stamped on the inside using the Frayed Burlap ink.

Using the Stampin' Up Mat Pack piercing template, holes were then pierced around the heart aperture.

A panel of pink paper was punched using the Eyelet Lace border punch from Martha Stewart, and a strip of the pink floral stripe paper from the Papermania Regency paper pad was matted onto it. A length of pink woven ribbon was then knotted around it and the panel added to the card blank.

The sentiment, also from the Jane's Script Sentiment stamp set was then stamped at the bottom of the card blank using the Frayed Burlap ink.

As my personalized 'Handmade By' stamp is a circle and I felt sure you would be able to see it through the card blank if I stamped it on the reverse of the card, I decided to die cut a heart from the pink paper using another of the heart dies in the Marianne Creatables die set. The embossed design was highlighted with the Frayed Burlap ink, and 'Handmade By' was stamped on it using a stamp from the Aspects Of Design Botanical stamp set from The Stampman. It was then added on the reverse of the card behind the inked heart on the inside of the card.

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

i Made Top 3 At The C.R.A.F.T. Blog Challenge

2011-09-08T14:57:00.001+01:00

I've just seen that I made Top 3 over on the C.R.A.F.T. blog challenge.

My Light Blue and Brown Prairie Fairy Lewis card was chosen as Top 3 in their sketch challenge.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

You can see the original post for this card here.

Red and Brown Explore Invoke Arts Tags

2011-09-05T14:27:00.003+01:00

Well, here is the first of the masculine 40th birthday cards that I need to make. Got to get my thinking cap on for the second one now!

A piece of white card was coloured using Tim Holtz Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany and Frayed Burlap distress inks using the shaving brushes.

This was then overstamped with the Explore tag from the Invoke Arts Travel Tags stamp set and the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment stamp from the See D's Celebration Messages stamp set. All were stamped using Memento Rich Cocoa Dye ink.

Using a damp paint brush and a piece of tissue (OK, toilet roll, but I couldn't be bothered going downstairs to get a tissue!!), some of the colour was removed from the face image on the tag. Areas of the compass were then lightly coloured using the Angel Green Mica Pigment from Stamps Away. Unfortunately that doesn't show up on the scan.

The tags were then cut out by hand and matted onto cream card and dark brown card. Holes were punched in the top of each tag using the Big Bite and small cream eyelets from Papermania were set in the holes. Each hole was then threaded with cream embroidery thread.

The sentiment was also matted onto cream and dark brown cardstock and large cream brads from Papermania were added either side of the sentiment, with a length of cream embroidery thread threaded through the legs of the brads.

A strip of the red/brown paper from the DCWV Old World mat stack was embossed using the Moroccan Screen embossing folder from Cuttlebug and Frayed Burlap ink was added to highlight the embossing using Cut 'n' Dry foam.

This was then matted onto cream and dark brown card and then matted across a panel of the dark brown flourish paper from the same paper pad.

Once matted onto the dark brown cardstock, the panel was then paper pierced all the way around using the Stampin' Up Mat Stack piercing template.

The tags were adhered onto the card in the centre over the embossed strip and the sentiment was added beneath, wrapping the lengths of embroidery thread behind the panel before adhering to the card front.

The inside of the card was also decorated, using another strip of the embossed cardstock. The sentiment was stamped using the Rich Cocoa ink and stamps from the See D's Lower Case Script stamp set ('4', '0' and 'th') and the HOTP Sentiments stamp set (Happy and Birthday).

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

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz - #59 - Vintage/Grunge
Pile It On - #36 - B Is For..... (Brads)
Stampin' Sisters In Christ - #105 - Muted Tones
Stamptacular Sunday - #127 - The Sky's The Limit (Anything Goes)
Card Caravan - #1 - Use Twine
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
Secret Crafter - #150 - Colours Of Autumn
Clearly Inspired - #35 - Patterned Papers
Crafty Catz - #98 - Monochromatic
Inspire Me Fridays - #22 - Anything Goes
Our Craft Lounge - #81 - Anything Goes
Patties Creations - #29 - Birthdays
Crafting Misfit - Anything Goes
Heidi's Hobbystuggu - Fall/Autumn Colours
Craft Us Crazy - #16 - Autumn Colours
Crafty Purple Frog - Birthday Cards
Rainbow Lady - #168 - Let's Emboss It
My Mum's Craft Shop - 1, 2, 3 (1 Embossing Folder, 2 Brads, 3 Tags)
Paper Shelter - #29 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Scrap Creations - Decorate Inside Of Card
Partytime Tuesdays - #31 - Anything Goes
Crafty Boots - #1 - Anything Goes
Kreative Stempelfreunde - #33 - Card For A Man
Lexi's Creations - #48 - Autumn
Lia Stamps - #2 - Birthdays
Make It Monday - #53 - Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - #8 - Vintage or Distressed Look
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes
Stamp With Fun - #127 - Autumn
Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Anything Goes (Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads)

I Made Top 3 Over At 2 Sisters

2011-09-04T23:32:00.002+01:00

I have just spotted that I have made Top 3 over at 2 Sisters blog challenge.

My Red Yellow and Blue Superduper Boy Aged 4 card was chosen in their Boys and Their Toys challenge.

You can see the original post for this card here.

Light Blue and Brown Prairie Fairy Lewis

2011-09-02T21:50:00.003+01:00

This is one of the many masculine cards I need to make at the moment. I decided to use the amusing digi image of Lewis from the Prairie Fairy.

The image was coloured with Copic markers:

Skin: E00, E11, E21
Glasses: B45
Glass: N1
Jumper: B41, B45, B93
Shorts/Boots: E41, E43, E44
Shadow: W1, W3

Highlights were then added to the cheeks on the image using the Papermania Snow White gel pen.

The image was then trimmed and the corners rounded with the XCut large corner rounder punch. This was then matted onto a panel die cut using a Mega Curved Rectangle die from Nestabilities that was embossed with the Cuttlebug Moroccan Screen embossing folder.

A strip of the light blue and brown stripe paper from the HOTP Ultimate Cardmaker's Creative Pack was matted onto beige card and a strip of blue paper punched with the XCut Diamonds border punch.

This was added across a panel of the light blue paper from the same paper pad.

A couple of lengths of mid-blue hemp cord were added across the stripe panel and the panel was then matted up onto the card blank.

The sentiment, from the Personal Impressions Paula Pascual Mixed Sentiments stamp set was stamped using Tim Holtz Faded Jeans distress ink and die cut using a classic circle Nestabilities die and matted onto circles of the beige card and blue paper.

A small beige eyelet was added to the tag and threaded with the blue hemp cord and tied to the cord across the card.

I also decorated the inside of the card, using the same papers as the front of the card and the sentiment, from the Personal Impressions Paula Pascual Mix and Match Sentiments stamp set, was stamped across the patterned paper using the Faded Jeans ink.

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

365 Cards - #178 - Buried Deep (Hemp Cord and Stamp)
Rainbow Lady - #168 - Let's Emboss It
C.R.A.F.T. - #118 - Sketch

Crafty Creations - #134 - Dies/Punches
Little Red Wagon - #96 - Border Punches
My Mum's Craft Shop - 1, 2, 3 (1 image, 2 patterned papers, 3 lengths of hemp cord)
Paper Shelter - #29 - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Scrap Creations - Decorate Inside Of Card
Partytime Tuesdays - #31 - Anything Goes
Cards For Men - #18 - G is for ..... Glasses
Daisy Doodles - #41 - Anything Goes
Happileigh Scrappin' - #37 - Birthday
Lia Stamps - #2 - Birthday
Make It Monday - #52 - Anything Goes
Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Anything Goes (Circle Nesties)
Crazy4Challenges - #102 - Male-Themed Cards
Clearly Inspired - #35 - Patterned Papers
Fun With Shapes and More - #91 - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays - #22 - Anything Goes
Jellypark - Die Cuts/Punches
Our Craft Lounge - #81 - Anything Goes
Stamp Something - Digi Day
Crafty Purple Frog - Birthdays

Red Yellow and Blue Superduper Boy Aged Four

2011-08-29T16:30:00.004+01:00

I really enjoyed making this one!! It's for a friend's little boy. We went to stay with them down in Devon a few weeks back and he was constantly dressing up in super-hero costumes so I knew straight away which image I was going to use on his card.

The Superduper Boy image from Mo's Digital Pencil was coloured using Copic Sketch markers:

Cape: R20, R24, R27, R29, E09, Y00, Y21, Y26
Shorts: R24, R27, R29, Y21, Y26
Gloves/Mask: Y21, Y26
S & Panel: R24, R27, R29, Y21
Boots: R20, R24, R27, R29
Body Suit: B32, B34, B37
Hair: E43, E51, E57
Skin: E00, E21, E51

The image was then cut out.

A strip of the dark blue stars and banners paper from the HOTP Ultimate Cardmaker's Creative Pack was matted onto dark cream card and a panel of red card embossed with the Cuttlebug Herringbone embossing folder.

Lengths of yellow hemp cord were wrapped around the panel to form a cross and the panel was adhered to the card blank.

A star was die cut from the cream card using the Sizzix Sizzlit Hearts, Stars and Tags die and the number 4, die cut from red card using the Ellison Curlie Girlie alphabet set, was adhered in the centre of the star. A hole was punched in the top of the star using the Big Bite and was then threaded with more of the hemp cord and tied to the cord across the card.

Three soft white Card Candi from Craftwork Cards were coloured yellow with a Copic marker:

Card Candi: Y21

These were then attached in the top right corner of the patterned paper.

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

I Am A Winner Over On Paper Creator's Crafts

2011-08-28T17:52:00.001+01:00

I've just found out that I am a winner over on the Paper Creator's Crafts Blog Challenge.

My Red and Aqua Tilda with Hawaiian Flower card was picked as the winner of the Red and Blue challenge.

You can see the original post for this card here.

I Am A Winner Over On The Stamp Something Blog Challenge

2011-08-26T16:18:00.001+01:00

I have just seen that I am a winner over on the Stamp Something blog challenge.

My Burgundy Floral Thank You card was chosen as the winner of their Thank You Something challenge.

You can see the original post for this card here.

I Am A Winner Over On The Rainbow Lady's Blog Challenge

2011-08-26T16:10:00.000+01:00

I have just learnt that I am a winner over on The Rainbow Lady's Blog Challenge.

My Burgundy Floral Thank You card was chosen as a winner in their #166 - Song Of Choice challenge. I chose Dido's Thank You!

You can see my original post for this card here.

Red and Aqua Tilda With Hawaiian Flower

2011-08-24T18:25:00.007+01:00

The Tilda with Hawaiian Flower image from Magnolia was very kindly donated to me by the lovely, talented Teresa/Craftingallday.

The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink and coloured with Copic sketch markers:

Hair: E43, E44, E49
Skin: E00, E21, E51, R02, R20
Dress; B00, BG10, BG11
Flower: B00, BG10, BG11, R32, R37
Leaves; YG13, YG95, E44
Butterflies: R32, R37, R39
Socks: BG10
Lace Frills: BG10
Shoes: B00, BG10, BG11, E44

Tilda's cheeks were then highlighted with the Papermania Snow White gel pen.

Once again, large parts of this image were coloured using the Transfer Technique as discovered in the Copic Colouring Guide, using both the lighter shades and the blender pen.

The image panel was then trimmed and the corners rounded with the large XCut corner rounder punch. This was then matted onto a panel of red card die cut using a Labels 8 Nestabilities die and embossed with the Indentz Ellipse embossing folder.

A strip of the multi border paper from the Prima Madeline paper pad was matted onto a strip of the red card that was punched with the Martha Stewart Doilly Lace punch. A length of aqua grosgrain ribbon was wrapped around the strip and a shorter piece was knotted to the right.

This strip was then attached across a panel of the butterflies paper from the same paper pad and a Marianne Creatables leaf flourish die cut, also cut from the red card, was tucked under the ribbon.

The image panel was then added over the ribbon.

A large pale blue pearl brad from Papermania was added in the top right corner.

The circle sentiment, from Aud Designs, was stamped using Memento Rhubarb Stalk dye ink and coloured with Copic markers:

R32, R37, BG10, BG11, B00, YG13, YG95

This was then die cut using a classic circle Nestabilities die and matted onto a red classic scalloped circle.

Once the card was fully assembled, the circle sentiment and the butterflies in the image were then highlighted using Ranger Glossy Accents.

I also decorated the inside of the card using a strip of the border paper matted onto a strip punched with the Doilly Lace punch. The sentiment stamp, from the Papermania Clare Curd Sentiments stamp set, was stamped using the Rhubarb Stalk ink.

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

I Am A Winner Over On Creative Craft

2011-08-22T22:39:00.000+01:00

I am a winner over on the Creative Craft blog challenge.

My Burgundy and Lime Curly Flowers Friends card was selected as a winner in their It's Summertime blog challenge.

You can see my original post for this card here.

Burgundy Floral Thank You

2011-08-20T17:38:00.004+01:00

This card was inspired by a card I saw over on Kerry/Pickle's blog.

I changed the layout a bit but I'm sure you can see the influence!

The picture isn't the best as it was scanned in and I always struggle with white cards and cards with dimension!!

The floral background stamp, from the Non Sequitur Memories of Italy stamp set, was stamped directly onto the card front using Adirondack Currant dye ink.

A length of burgundy grosgrain ribbon was attached across the card blank and a faux bow was created from two lengths of the ribbon.

Just wanted to add a tip on how to make the faux bow.

I created two loops of ribbon from a 9cm and 4cm length of ribbon, joining the loops with narrow double-sided tape. A small piece of double-sided tape was added in the centre of the loops to create two small side -by-side loops in a sort of figure of eight shape. The smaller loop was stuck on top of the larger one and both stuck to the length of ribbon. You could also add a brad in the centre to ensure they maintain their shape.

The sentiment, from the Woodware Jane's Script stamp set, was stamped using the Currant ink above the ribbon.

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

I Won Over On Paper Creations Ink

2011-08-18T23:57:00.001+01:00

I've just noticed that I was picked as the winner over on Paper Creations Ink.

"Stop By Anytime And See All The Latest News, Causes, Tutorials, And Our Most Current Challenge!"

My Pink and Blue Floral Chandelier Tags Anniversary card was randomly chosen as winner of their Stitching challenge.

You can see my original post for this card here.

Light Blue and Cream Pollycraft Cherry Kisses Tea in the 20s

2011-08-17T23:02:00.002+01:00

Here is the birthday card that I made for my aunt. She is only four years older than me so thought this image was appropriate. I think it's a really cute image and is one I won in a blog challenge.

The digi image, Cherry Kisses Tea in the 20s, from Pollycraft, was printed out and coloured with Copic Sketch markers:

Hat: E41, Y21, BG11
Flowers: BG11, B00
Leaves: YG95, G07
Hair: E33, E35, E37
Skin: E00, E21, E51, R02, R20
Dress: Y21, BG10, BG11, B00
Shoes: BG10, BG11, B00
Cup: Y21, E41, BG11, B00

For quite a lot of this image I used what is called the Transfer Blending technique whereby a darker colour chisel nib is held to the brush nib of a lighter colour, thereby transferring the ink. Whilst colouring, the two colours blend together. This was done on the flowers, leaves, shoes and the dress in particular. I discovered this technique in the Copic Coloring Guide book that I recently purchased from WHSmith Online.

The image was then cut out.

A scalloped petite oval was die cut, using a Nestabilities die, from light blue cardstock and distressed around the edges using Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink and a plain petite oval, also distressed, was matted on top. The image was then centrally matted using 3D foam pads.

A strip of the light blue and cream scroll paper from the Prima Botanical paper pad was matted onto a strip of the light blue card that has been punched with the XCut Lace Trim border punch and a length of cream crochet lace was wrapped around it.

This was then matted onto a panel of the light blue and cream roses paper from the same paper pad and matted onto the light blue cardstock. All panels were distressed with the Antique Linen ink.

Three cream Prima paper flowers from the Botanical Mix were added in the top right corner. A light blue Prima flower was added in the centre of the large flower and turquoise self-adhesive pearls from the Hobby House Sea Green set were added in the centres of the smaller flowers and a champagne pearl from the Kort & Godt Autumn set of pearls was added in the centre of the larger flower.

The sentiment, from the Papermania Clare Curd Sentiments stamp set, was stamped onto the cream card using Memento Rich Cocoa dye ink and matted onto the light blue cardstock and added in the bottom right corner of the card.

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

Copic Creations - #56 - Blue-Greens
Cupcake Craftroom - Soft and Sweet
The Emerald Fairie Garden - #7 - Birthdays
Happileigh Scrappin' - #35 - Cool Colours
Incy Wincy - #106 - 3 embellishments, 2 papers, 1 image
Make It Monday - #50 - Anything Goes
Paper Playtime - #53 - Anything Goes
Victorine Originals - #14 - Birthdays
The Ribbon Reel - #8 - Citrus Sunshine
Crafty Pad - #134 - Cute 'n' Girly
One Stitch At A Time - #75 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Days Away - #26 - Birthday Celebrations
Card Makin' Mamas - #26 - Birthday Cards
Crafty Ann's - #47 - Scallops and/or Fancy Borders
Fussy and Fancy - 3+ Favourite Embellis
Fussy and Fancy - Celebrations (1000 Follower Challenge)
Inspire Me Fridays - #19 - Anything Goes
Jellypark - Use Your Favourite Embellishment
Sweet 'n' Sassy Digi Challenge - #15 - Let's Use Lace
Craft Us Crazy - #14 - Anything Goes
Some Odd Girl - Use Complementary Colours
A Spoonfull Of Sugar - #162 - Birthdays
Anything Goes - #47 - Happy Birthday/Celebration
Deep Ocean - #6 - Light Blue
Papertake Weekly - Bingo (Lace, Blooms, Free or Pearls, Blooms, Free)
Try It On Tuesday - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - #48 - Blues or Blue/Green
Divas By Design - #8 - Birthdays
Papercraft Star - #58 - Photo Inspiration
Scrapbook Sisters - #48 - Blue
Simon Says - Food and Drink
Stampavie and More - #149 - Girlie
Truly Scrumptious - #63 - Lace It Up
Addicted To Stamps - #10 - Anything Goes
Pollycraft - #106 - Distressing

I Won Over On The C.R.A.F.T. Challenge

2011-08-15T16:23:00.000+01:00

I've just seen that I am a winner over on the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge.

My Pink and Blue Floral Chandelier Tags Anniversary card was chosen as a winner in their Anniversary challenge.

You can see the original post for this card here.

Burgundy and Lime Curly Flowers Friends

2011-08-14T19:43:00.005+01:00

This card was made with a stamp I bought from a fellow crafter who was having a clear-out. I also used the Memento inks I bought from her too!! I really must have a clear-out myself - I just seem to be helping everyone else clear out!!

The Curly Flower image, from Hero Arts, was inked up using the Sweet Pea, Bamboo Leaves and Rhubarb Stalk Memento inkpads. The corners of the panel were punched using the Woodware Inverted Corner punch and matted onto lime green paper and burgundy card.

Lime green self-adhesive pearls, from the Hobby House Green To Go set, were added in the corners.

A panel of the French Lace paper from the Basic Grey Eva paper pad was matted onto the burgundy card and a length of lime green organza ribbon was wrapped around the panel and then added across the Papermania Kraft card blank.

The image panel was added to the left of the panel.

The sentiment, from Elzybells, was stamped using the Sweet Pea ink and matted onto the lime green paper and burgundy card and added to the right of the card blank.

The inside of the card was also decorated using a strip of the Courtier paper from the Eva paper pad, and the sentiment from the Papermania Clare Curd Sentiments stamp set inked with the Sweet Pea ink.

On the original card I made, I forgot to wrap the ribbon around the panel before I stuck it to the card blank so added a loop of the ribbon behind the sentiment panel.

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

Craft Your Days Away - #26 - Birthday Celebrations
Card Makin' Mamas - #26 - Birthday Cards
Inspire Me Fridays - #19 - Anything Goes
Mami Doodles - #31 - Flowers
Poodles Parlour - Round and Round The Garden
The Stamp Man - #29 - Anything Goes (with summer colours)
Art Impressions Stamps - #27 - Favourite Technique (Stamping)
Craft Us Crazy - #14 - Anything Goes
Divas By Design - #8 - Birthdays
A Spoonfull Of Sugar - #162 - Happy Birthday
Crazy Amigo - Anything Goes
Creative Craft - It's Summertime
Everybody Art - #154 - Summer
Tuesday Throwdown - #61 - Birthday
Use It Tuesday - #13 - Indian Summer (Papers)
Incy Wincy - #106 - Something Old, Something New (Old: Papers, New: Flower Stamp & Inks)
Victorine Originals - #14 - Birthdays
365 Cards - Day #163 - In The Garden
One Stitch At A Time - #75 - Anything Goes
Addicted To Stamps - #10 - Anything Goes
Sundays with Crissy - #20 - Keep It Simple Stamper
The Craft Garden - Bold, Bright and Loud

Pink and Blue Floral Chandelier Tags Anniversary

2011-08-10T14:11:00.004+01:00

Here is an anniversary card that I made for a couple of friends. I really like the design (I actually adapted it from one of the projects in the July 2011 issue of Craft Stamper magazine using this particular stamp).

I absolutely love the Chandelier image tht came with the July 2011 issue of Craft Stamper magazine. The image was stamped using Adirondack Stream dye ink and matted onto the blue diamonds paper from the Prima Madeline paper pad.

The card blank was completely covered with the Floral Bird paper from the same paper pad and the image panel added to the right.

A strip of the Alphabet paper was added to a strip of the Multi Border paper (both from the Madeline paper pad), and this was then added over the image panel.

Faux stitching was then added over the joins of the paper pieces using the Zigzag Stitch stamp from the HOTP Stitches stamp set and ColorBox Chestnut Roan Fluid Chalk ink.

Two mini tags, that have been in my stash since the beginning of time, were coloured around the edges using the Chestnut Roan ink and letters were stamped using the Stream ink and a Studio G mini alphabet stamp set (also underused!!). The tags were attached to some teal embroidery thread and added to the card and a brown Card Candi from Craftwork Cards was added over the ends of the threads.

Highlights were added to the Chandelier image using Glossy Accents and DecoArt Crystal Glamour dust.

All papers were distressed with the Chestnut Roan ink.

The inside of the card was also decorated using a photo corner stamp from the Stamps Away Bookplates, Corners and Anchors stamp set, stamped onto the blue diamonds paper used on the front of the card using the Stream ink and cut out.

Slits were cut into the photo corners and the writing paper inserted into the corners, and a strip of the Floral Bird paper used on the front of the card was added across the paper and the sentiment, from Elzybells, was stamped using the Stream ink.

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

I Was Awarded Bronze Medal Over On Shelly's Images Blog Challenge

2011-08-04T15:08:00.001+01:00

I've just discovered that I was awarded the Bronze Medal over on the Shelly's Images blog challenge.

My Red and Green Scalloped Butterfly Anniversary card was entered into their Summertime challenge.

You can see the original post for this card over on my blog here.

Red and Green Butterfly Scalloped Circle

2011-08-02T16:31:00.003+01:00

Here is the anniversary card that I made for the in-laws. It's their 48th wedding anniversary this year.

The card blank was created by die cutting it with the Marianne Creatables Frame Circle die and it was then embossed.

Layers were die cut using circle Nestabilities dies, cut from pale green linen card and the floral paisley paper from the K&Co Classic McKenna paper pad. These were matted together in the centre of the card.

A butterfly was die cut using the Marianne Creatables Butterfly 2 die from the light green card and coloured with the Marvy Matchables Jungle Green dye ink with a shaving brush and then outlined with Glitz It Pear Green glitter glue.

Small light green gems from the Anita's Gem Wheel were then added along the body of the butterfly.

The sentiment, from Stamps Away, was stamped onto the patterned paper using Versafine Crimson Red archival pigment ink but as it didn't show up too well, I traced over the top with a red Sakura Stardust pen.

I also decorated the inside of the card using circles of the green card and patterned paper, and the sentiment, from the Papermania Mix and Match Scrolls and Sentiments stamp set, was also stamped using the Crimson Red ink.

And I finally got to use my new personalized stamp that I bought from this ebay seller. I stamped it up with the Crimson Red ink and matted it onto the patterned paper and green card die cut with Nestabilities Circle and Big Circle dies.

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

Blue, Rust and Olive Paper Artsy Houses

2011-07-30T17:51:00.007+01:00

This is the first time I've used this stamp set. I know - it's terrible as I've had it a while now and only got around to mounting it up yesterday.

This is the card I have made for my father-in-law. I figured he'd had enough cutesy character cards of late and decided I'd dig these stamps out. I've loved them for ages and have seen some lovely cards using them.

The line of houses image, from the Paper Artsy Bricks and Mortar 2 stamp set, was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink and coloured with the Copic sketch markers:

Houses 1 & 4: B41, B45, B93, BG11, N1, E04, E07, E09
House 2: G99, YG17, YG95, BG11, B41, B45, B93
House 3: E04, E07, E09, G99, YG17, YG95
Windows: BG10
Outline/Shadow: N1

Houses 1 and 4 took some adjusting as I didn't really have a colour to match the paper so I tried blending with the grey and the blue/green to try and get as close a match as I could. I think it worked.

The image was then matted onto blue and rust paper.

A strip of the Light-Hearted paper from the Basic Grey Offbeat paper pad was punched along both edges using the XCut Diamonds border punch and matted onto the rust paper. This was then matted onto a panel of the Alternative paper from the same paper pad, which in turn was matted onto the blue and rust papers.

The image panel was then matted towards the top of the panel.

To create the sentiment panel, the rectangular bookplate image from the Stamps Away Bookplates, Photo Corners and Anchors stamp set was stamped onto the rust and blue papers using Versafine Onyx Black archival pigment ink and layered up. The sentiment, from the Dovecraft Make A Wish mini stamp set, was then stamped onto the white card using the Onyx Black ink and matted on top.

The sentiment was then added below the image panel.

Highlights were then added to the image and the sentiment panel with Ranger Glossy Accents.

The inside was also decorated using the blue and rust papers, and the sentiment, from the Papermania Clare Curd Sentiments stamp set stamped with the Onyx Black ink.

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

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - #69 - Anything Goes
Inkspirations - #80 - Colour Challenge
Inspire Me Fridays - #17 - Anything Goes
Sew Many Cards - #62 - Anything Goes
Amber's Crafts and Stuff - #20 - Patterned Paper
Papercraft Star - #55 - Anything Goes
Paper Shelter - #24 - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Sisters - #45 - Happy Birthday
Clear It Out! - Anything Goes
Karen's Doodles Netherlands - #73 - Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts TLT - #35 - Summer Birthday
Partytime Tuesday - #26 - Anything Goes
Use It Tuesday - #12 - It's A Two-fer (Paper Artsy stamp/Stamps Away stamp)
Make It Monday - #47 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes
Stamps R Us - Happy Birthday
Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes
Allsorts - #114 - Anything Goes
Crafter's Companion - #14 - One For The Boys
My Grafico - Anything Goes
Theme Thursday - Masculine
Off The Wall Craftiness - #58 - Colour Challenge

My Card Was Featured As A Super Sundae

2011-07-29T16:23:00.000+01:00

I have just seen that I have been selected as a Super Sundae over on the Birthday Sundaes blog challenge.

My Blue and Brown CAS Tea Collage card was entered into their Anything Goes challenge.

You can see my original post for this card here.

Red and Blue Butterfly Landscape

2011-07-27T19:14:00.004+01:00

This was a really quick and simple card to make - something I really need at the moment to try and get on top of the list of cards I need to make.

The die is one that I bought at the Newbury Artstamps Show at the start of July - and it was reduced in price so a bit of a bargain.

I started by inking the edges of a panel of the light blue Moroccan Tile paper from the K&Co The Best of K&Co Too paper pad using ColorBox Maroon fluid chalk ink and then attached it to the bottom of a side fold A6 card. A length of cream grosgrain ribbon was then added across the join.

Using my new Marianne Creatables Butterfly 2 die, a butterfly was die cut from red card and added in the top left corner, adhering only the body of the butterfly to the card so the wings are fluttering.

The body of the butterfly was then embellished with large grey and aqua pearls from the Create and Craft carousel.

The sentiment, from the HOTP Sentiments stamp set was added in the bottom right corner using Versafine Crimson Red archival pigment ink.

Here are the challenges I'm entering this card into:

Black and Teal Fleur de Lis Script Anniversary

2011-07-24T12:47:00.006+01:00

This card was inspired by a card I saw made by the lovely LizzieS. I told her I'd be borrowing the idea!!!

I started by colouring a panel of white card with Adirondack Stream dye ink using a shaving brush and overstamped using the same ink with the Prima Notary stamp, using second-generation ink.

The Fleur de Lis mini stamp from Inkadinkado was stamped over the top using Versafine Onyx Black archival pigment ink, as was the Stamps Away Happy Anniversary stamp.

The image panel was then matted onto black card.

A strip of teal floral circle paper, from the Papermania Temptations Big One paper pad, was matted onto the black card and across the card blank and the image panel matted over the top.

Three large teal pearls (from the Create and Craft carousel) were added in the top right corner.

I also decorated the inside of the card using the Warm Wishes stamp from the Hot Off The Press Sentiments stamp set and the Onyx Black ink.

Here are the challenges I am entering this card into:

Black and White Ornament Sympathy Card For Liz G's Family

2011-07-21T16:17:00.003+01:00

This was a difficult card to make. Just last week I discovered that a lady who is very active on the docrafts forum, Liz G, sadly passed away suddenly. Her lovely daughter, Pixie-Lou, also a forum member, kindly took the time to let us know despite her obvious grief.

So, having reclaimed my craft room after the in-laws had visited, I got my stash out and had a think. I went with a clean and simple idea.

I didn't have a suitable sentiment stamp so created something in Word using Century Gothic and Lauren Script fonts and cut it into a panel.

The ornament image, from the Papermania Chatsworth Furnishings stamp set, was stamped centrally using Versafine Onyx Black archival pigment ink. The corners of the panel were punched with the Woodware Inverted Corner Rounder punch and matted onto black card.

Ivory pearls, from the Hobby House Wedding Day set of self-adhesive pearls were added in the corners and on the ornament image.

A strip of the black card was added across a tent fold card and the image panel added over it.

I also decorated the inside of the card using the Thinking Of You stamp from the Hot Off The Press Sentiments stamp set and the Onyx Black ink.

I Was Picked As Card Of The Month On My Grafico

2011-07-20T20:37:00.000+01:00

I thought that I'd already posted this but seem I hadn't.

I was picked as Card Of The Month over on My Grafico.

M Pink, Green and Blue Paper-Pieced Butterflies card was picked.

You can see my original post for this card here.

Blue and Brown CAS Tea Collage

2011-07-17T21:21:00.007+01:00

Well, having spent more than I care to admit to at the Newbury Artstamps Show last weekend, I decided to use one of my new stamp sets to create my mum's birthday card.

This card was based quite heavily on a card I saw at the show on the Snazzy Stamping stall using this stamp set. It was what convinced me to buy it!!!

It''s from a new stamp company to me - Chapel Road Art Stamps. It's a Canadian company and they have some lovely collage style stamps and background stamps.

So, to create the card, the twig image, from the Tea Collage stamp set was stamped directly onto the card blank using Memento Rich Cocoa dye ink.

Using the same inkpad, the Tea Collage image from the same stamp set, was stamped onto the same white cardstock as the card blank, trimmed and distressed around the edges using Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass distress inks, applied with a shaving brush. This was then matted onto dark brown linen cardstock and matted onto the card blank.

A length of the light blue grosgrain ribbon from Dovecraft was cut and fishtails added to each end. This was added across the bottom of the card.

The sentiment was computer generated using Calibri and Callie Hand fonts and distressed with the Tumbled Glass ink. This was then matted onto the brown cardstock and adhered over the ribbon.

The inside was also decorated using the twig image, stamped with second-generation Rich Cocoa ink. The sentiment, from the Papermania Mix and Match Scrolls and Sentiments stamp set, was then stamped in the centre also using the Rich Cocoa ink. The panel was then distressed with the Tumbled Glass ink with a shaving brush.

Here are the challenges I am entering this card into:

I Made Top 3 At Stamping Scrapping Central

2011-07-12T23:13:00.001+01:00

I have made Top 3 over on the Stamping Scrapping Central blog challenge.

My Red, White and Blue Dangling Sea Edwin with Shaving Brush Clouds card was entered into their Red, White and Blue challenge.

You can see my original post for this card here.

I Am In The Spotlight Over On Sweet Stampin'

2011-07-05T01:44:00.002+01:00

I've just spotted that I was In The Spotlight over on the Sweet Stampin' blog challenge.

My Blue and Grey Paper Artsy Castle was entered into their 'Something Old, Something New' Challenge.

You can see my original post for this card over on my blog here.

Lilac, Blue and Cream Scribble Daisies Anniversary

2011-07-04T14:13:00.002+01:00

Here is the anniversary card that I made for my matey Teresa and her hubby Ken. I wanted to go with something a bit more summery so opted for the lilac colour tones.

Three panels were cut from white card and stamped with the Scribble Daisy stamp from the Papermania Hampstead Collection Sketch Flower stamp set using Brilliance Pearlescent Purple pigment ink. The panels were then matted onto blue paper and scalloped lilac squares die cut using a Nestabilities die.

A strip of the mottled blue paper from the HOTP Floral Ultimate Cardmaker's Creative Pack was matted onto the lilac card and across a panel of the lilac, blue and cream weave patterned paper from the same paper pad. This was then punched with the Martha Stewart Scallop Dot border punch and matted onto the blue paper and lilac card.

Detail of image and sentiment

The 'Togetherness' sentiment, from the Making Memories Express It stamp set, was stamped using the Pearlescent Purple ink and matted onto the blue and lilac. Once the card was assembled, the lilac pearls from the Kort and Godt pastels set were added between the image panels. It seemed only fair that I used the pearls on Teresa's card as she very kindly split a couple of the sets with me!!

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

I Won The Craft Garden Blog Challenge

2011-07-01T16:44:00.002+01:00

I have managed to be the winner over on The Craft Garden Blog Challenge.

My Blue and Grey Paper Artsy Castle was entered into their Something Old, Something New, (Something Borrowed), Something Blue challenge.

You can see my original post for this card over on my blog here.

ETA: I have won some handmade flowers, so can't wait for them to arrive!

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

2011-06-30T16:29:00.007+01:00

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:

Blue and Grey Paper Artsy Castle

2011-06-27T13:16:00.004+01:00

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:

Digi's With Attitude - #32 - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays - #12 - Anything Goes
Stampin' For The Weekend - #11 - My Favourite Things (Shaving Brushes)
Colour Create - #73 - Blue, Grey and White
My Mum's Craft Shop - #11 - One Of The Boys
Scrapbook Sisters - #41 - Anything Goes
Sisterhood Of Crafters - Male Themed Birthday/Anniversary
Everybody Art - #147 - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - #39 - Cross It (Fibres)
Tuesday Throwdown - #54 - Masculine Card
Sweet Stampin' - Something Old, Something New (Old: Castle stamp New: Shaving Brushes)
Word Play Weekend - #7 - Home/House
Card Cupids - Cards For Boys
Make It Monday - #43 - Anything Goes
Freshly Brewed - #49 - For The Guys
My Grafico - Anything Goes
The Craft Garden - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (Old: Castle stamp New: Shaving Brushes Blue: Papers)

I Made The Top 3 At 2 Sisters Blog Challenge

2011-06-27T02:19:00.000+01:00

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

My Red, Black and Grey Captain Edwin card was entered into their For A Guy challenge.

You can see my original post for this card here.

Red, Black and Grey Captain Edwin

2011-06-24T14:38:00.006+01:00

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:

Call Out To All Whimsy Stamps Users

2011-06-23T00:07:00.000+01:00

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/

Pink Green and Blue Paper Pieced Butterflies

2011-06-21T14:15:00.004+01:00

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:

I Am A Cupcake Cutie

2011-06-20T15:23:00.000+01:00

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

My Blue and Brown Father's Day Sugar Nellie Knight card was entered into their Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy challenge.

You can see my original post for this card here.

Purple and Green Gingerbread Tilda Panels

2011-06-16T15:28:00.010+01:00

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:

Crafting For All Seasons - #3 - Summer
Crafty Creations - #123 - Just Imagine
Little Darlings - #1 - Summer
The Paper Shelter - #18 - Punches and Dies
Penny's Paper-Crafty - #55 - Best Friends
Simon Says Stamp - Bingo (Brads, Flowers, Sentiment)
Anything Goes - #43 - Summer
Bearly Mine - #12 - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Ribbons and Brads
Deep Ocean - #1 - Anything Goes
Scrap-Creations - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - #38 - Anything Goes
Creative Stamp Friends - #27 - Birthday
Hooked On Crafts - #1 - Anything Goes
KB Cute Monday - #17 - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - #41 - Anything Goes
Pollycraft - #97 - Ribbons and Flowers
Stamp With Fun - #115 - Pearls and Flowers
Stamps R Us - 1, 2, 3 Recipe (1 image, 2 patterned papers, 3 embellis)
There's Magic In The Air - Pick Two (Flowers, Ribbons, Pearls/Gems and/or Die Cuts)
Woodware USA - #31 - Happy Birthday
Creative Cowgirls - Summertime Fun
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Anything Goes
2 Sisters - #43 - 3, 2, 1 (3 embellis, 2 patterned papers, 1 image)
Word Play Weekend - #6 - Birthday
Stampin' With The Dragon - Friendship
Totally Papercrafts - #70 - Summer
Alota Rubber Stamps - #61 - Summertime
Always Something Creative - #8 - Start of Summer
Crafter's Companion - #13 - Here Comes Summer
Emerald Faerie Garden - #3 - Petals
Tiffany Doodles - #13 - Steppin' Into Summer
Aud Sentiments - #30 - Summertime
AiFactory - Summer Fun
Crafty Purple Frog - Your Favourite Things (Tilda)
Delightful Challenges - Anything Goes
Southern Girls - #21 - Anything Goes
Theme Thursday - Summer
Addicted To Stamps - #6 - Summertime

I Made The Top 3 At The Stampin' Sisters In Christ Blog Challenge

2011-06-14T21:39:00.001+01:00

I have just discovered that I made Top 3 over on the Stampin' Sisters In Christ blog challenge.

My Light Blue Embossed Inkadinkado Swan card was entered into their 'Use Something New' challenge.

You can see my original post for this card here.

Blue and Brown Father's Day Sugar Nellie Knight

2011-06-13T12:47:00.007+01:00

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:

I Received My My Grafico Prize!!!

2011-06-11T12:51:00.001+01:00

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.

Light Blue Embossed Inkadinkado Swan

2011-06-10T18:20:00.004+01:00

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:

Dark Blue and Green Inkadinkado Anniversary Butterflies

2011-06-06T13:20:00.006+01:00

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:

Dream Valley - #8 - Stamp Something
Stampin' Sisters In Christ - #92 - Use Something New (butterfly stamp)
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
Crafty Ann's - #42 - Use More Than One Image
Inspire Me Fridays - #9 - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz - #22 - Something That Flies
Crafty Purple Frog - Things Of Beauty
PaperCrafting Journey - #11 - Anything Goes
The Rubber Cafe - #20 Weddings/Anniversaries
Stamp Insanity - #61 - Anything Goes
Digistamps4Joy - #20 - On The Wings Of The....
My Mum's Craft Shop - #8 - Things With Wings
Partytime Tuesday - #18 - Anything Goes
Cheerful Stamp Pad - #19 - A Special Reason
Craft Your Passion - #61 - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - #40 - Anything Goes
My Partner In Crafting Crime - #28 - Uncoloured Image
Addicted To Stamps - #5 - Bingo (Pearls, Flowers, Non-Cute Image)

Update On My Grafico Prize

2011-06-04T00:29:00.001+01:00

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!!!

Pink and Green Flourish Butterfly

2011-06-02T17:28:00.005+01:00

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: