Saturday 28 February 2015

Flutter By Again

Hello.  Welcome. I made a second card using the Hero Arts Butterfly Collage stamp and a technique by Deepti.  


Joining the fun at
STAMPlorations CASEplorations February I cased Deepti
Hero Arts - Nature Challenge 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Papertake Weekly - Take Your Pick  cool colours

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Flutter By Fast

Hello.  Welcome.  Just a quick make using Hero Arts Butterfly Collage stamp. 


I started with a card panel cut using SSS Stitched Rectangle die.  I masked off the RHS using a piece of ripped paper and stamped Hero Arts Stripes stamp with Ripe Persimmon distress ink.  Then I stamped Hero Arts Butterfly collage using black archival and mounted on a bright orange base card.  

Joining the fun at
A Blog Named Hero Challenge - Masking
Hero Arts - Nature Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - No Rules 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Fiddle Fuddle

Hello.  Welcome.  Gosh, the last day of February.  I've been working on a wintery christmassy card.  It seemed a good idea at the time.  I am not a big fan of fuss and fiddle and it took a lot longer than I thought it would.  Isn't that the way??  But I like it.  So that's OK.  I doubt I will make another one though.  But then again, I rarely do LOL.


I took a piece of Authentique patterned paper and die cut using Memory Box Tivoli Snowflake.   TIP!! position your die so you have single big pieces falling off the edge of the card.  This picture shows the die cut paper mounted on silver embossed paper before I pieced back in the edges. 


Here's it is with the edges pieced back in.  I used distress inks, Ocean Spray, Iced Spruce, Stormy Sky and Brilliance Starlite Silver on the die cut showflakes and then stuck them back on the panel. 


I've added some more backing layers.  I cut the snowflake again from white and pale blue glitter card and layered them together.  The sentiment is a Crafty Individuals  stamp.


Close up on the sparkly snowflake.

Joining the fun at
Hjerteboden Utfordring i Februar - Blatt og Vinterlig
Rudolph Days February 2015
CHNC Challenge 218 - Cut It Up
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - No Rules
Papertake Weekly - Take Your Pick cool  colours

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Friday 27 February 2015

Born Again

Hello.  Welcome.  This is one of the UFO's I produced yesterday.  I made a background using a homemade circle mask and sponged on various blue distress inks



Then I came to a halt.  But today, on reflection, I had an idea.....



I took a piece of the background, cut it into three, mounted on a dark blue base and added a nutcracker from Mark's Finest Papers Nutcracker stamp set.  I obviously was still stuck in purple and green land courtesy of my Promarkers.

Joining the fun at
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 250 - Sponged Circle Background
DL ART February Linky Challenge - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Ett Trykk Vi Jubilerer Utfordring 13 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Not All Right Is Not All Bad

Hello.  Welcome.  Yesterday spring was away and the mojo with it.  Blown away in the strong winds and drowned in the heavy rain.  With snowdrops blooming and other signs of spring it's hard to realise that it's still only February.  Just.  The end of another month is nigh.  I was trying to put something together.  It became an attempt to put anything together.  But it just wasn't to be.  I have a few UFO's to show for it, but whether I will be brave and show these far from perfect objects, or if they will become re-purposed objects, remains to be seen.  So I decided to visit some blog friends who have been constant, but neglected.  And I am inspired anew!!!   With the smell of newly baked chocolate cookies filling the house I reached for Swagger and coloured a bird.   



I have followed the Die-namites sketch and used the Rubber Dance Stamps colours turquoise, deep red and chocolate brown.  I cut and embossed some brown bazzill card using Sizzix Retro Circles embossing folder.  I used Colourbox Alabaster chalk to highlight the embossing.  I cut a piece of music printed vellum.  The heart was cut by hand from Basic Grey paper.  I cut Die-namites die Cute Bonsai three times from the turquoise card, clipped it a bit and added it behind Unity Stamps Co. Swagger bird.  I coloured the bird with watercolour pencils.  I doodled a wire, for him to stand on, and stamped one of the sentiments from the same set onto a piece of the Basic Grey paper.  I clipped the ends of the sentiment to make it a bit more interesting. 

Joining the fun at

Thanks for dropping by.   Hope you are getting inky.  Hugz

Wednesday 25 February 2015

Get Your Swagger On

Hello.  Welcome.  Isn't it strange how sometimes lots of inspiration all comes together in one place.  I started this card with a 10 x 10 cm card base, because that's one of the challenges over at Ett Trykk, where they are celebrating 10 years.  I chose they colour scheme cos RRR have a purple and green with ribbon theme, which also fits the Papertake Weekly cool colours.  I decided to use the sketch over at STAMPlorations for my layout and Cheery Lynn have an anything goes theme, which works perfectly because I was in the mood for some ribbon weaving.  And it's not even Christmas!!!  Ahh well, once in a while it's good to go crazy..........

So here he is.  Sweet......



My 10 x 10cm base card was cut using Bazzill Grape Jelly.  Love those dots.  I used a layer of pale purple leaf embossed paper and also cut a stitched circle using a Simon Says Stamp die.  I used Cheery Lynn Southern Charm Valance die cut twice from MME patterned paper.  Then I cut off the flourishes and wove green satin ribbon.  I cut Cheery Lynn Mini Rum Punch Doily from purple card and layered it with the stitched circle.  The bird is Unity Stamp Co. Swagger coloured with distress inks.  I stamped 'sweet' from STAMPlorations Sugar Rush set onto a piece of the ribbon. 

My Inspiration Sensation is joining the fun at
RRR Challenge 112 - Purple and Green with Ribbon 
STAMPlorations Sketch Challenge 28 
Ett Trykk Vi Jubilerer Utfordring 12 - Minikort 
Papertake Weekly Take Your Pick - Cool Colours 
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 173 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Unity Stamp Co. Friends With Flair

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Tuesday 24 February 2015

Necessary to Life

Hello.  Welcome.  A special hi and hello to Kelly.  So glad you joined my lovely followers.  Thanks to everyone who follows and visits.  I really appreciate your support and encouragement.  Hugz all round.

Korthobby have a really great photo inspiration this month.  

 
I liked the lattice, I liked the blue and white coffee grinder, I liked the retro lady and the green grey colour of the sign.  So I made this.........



I started by cutting grey card with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle die.  Then I used Salty Ocean distress ink through Tando Distorted Harlequin mask.  I left the mask in place and stamped with Kaisercraft Grafitti stamp and black archival.  I cut a piece of white card with the stitched rectangle die and embossed with Sizzix Bricked embossing folder.  Then I added a slither of MME patterned paper that I cut wiggly with a craft knife.  I stamped Flonzcraft Gibson Girl 18, coloured her with watercolour pencils and waterbrush, fussy cut and mounted on some foam pads.  I added some metal charms from Korthobby .  The mmmmmm is a STAMPlorations stamp.  I didn't have a coffee stamp so I used my embossing pen and black embossing powder.  Note to self.... get a coffee stamp LOL.

Joining the fun at
Korthobby Februar Utfordringen - Bildeinspirasjon
FSC #92 - Colour Between the Lines
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Tando
Tando Creative Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny Black and More February Challenge - Anything Goes 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Sunday 22 February 2015

Cake, Paint and Glitter

Hello.  Welcome.  PaperArtsy have a painty theme going on.  Well, going on for at least a few more minutes LOL.  I saw this post by Anneke and loved the colours and the texture she got.  Here's my take.....



I followed Anneke's directions using GP with PS007 and generic acrylic paint.  Love the texture with the plasterboard tape.  I used a small heart and  a bubble stamp with black and white paint.  Then I stamped an image from LPC007 and splashed about some watercolours.  I fussy cut her and added her to the background.  She looks a little sad!  And unfinished.  



So I ripped a mask from paper to protect the center of my card and used black acrylic around the edges.  Then I used some of the plaster board tape and some gold acrylic to stamp on the black.  

Joining the fun at
PaperArtsy Challenge 3 - Paint
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Add a Little Texture
STAMPlorations February Challenge - Stamps and Hearts 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Beach Shoes

Hello.  Welcome.  The Craft Barn have a challenge for shoes.  Now I got a paper mache mini sandal box in a goodie box from The Craft Barn many moons ago.  This seemed the idea opportunity to give it a make over.  



I didn't check the before pictures and they were too blurred to use so we are moving right along to the finished sandal.  I painted the bottom of the box blue and stamped with Dylusions fish stamp.  I painted the top yellow and stuck on some white sand.  I die cut Sizzix phrase A Day At The Beach from gold card and stuck that round the edge of the sandal.  Then I spent ages looking for one of those cocktail umbrellas!!!   I know there is one kicking around here somewhere but I was in hiding.  Then I remembered I had some beach themed buttons.  Perfect!!  Here's a view of the sand dollar, surfboard and fins.  



The sunglasses, tanning oil bottle and the umbrella.



The rest of the sentiment.  I had two umbrella buttons so I was able to take one apart and make my umbrella double sided.  

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Shoe
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - A Piece of Paradise 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Add a Little Texture 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope you are having a great weekend.  Hugz

Saturday 21 February 2015

Rocking Horse Rock

Hello.  Welcome.  I've just had a lovely pasta dinner made by my friend Elin and, whilst waiting for the chocolate cheesecake, I made this card.  Well, you got to exercise a bit to work up an appetite....



I cut my base card in kraft using Cheery Lynn English Tea Party Angel Wing.  Then I cut Cheery Lynn Spring Flower Burst Doily Angel Wing from MME paper.  I stamped, embossed and fussy cut Whipper Snapper Rocking Horse from MME paper and added some colour with promarkers.  I added embelishments cut from Cheery Lynn BAF#1 and green rhinestones.  The little orange border was cut using some decorative scissors.  

My rocking rocking horse is joining the fun at
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 172 - Shaped Card
Stampotique Designers Challenge 181 - Oranges Lemons Use Citrus Colours

Thanks for dropping by.   Hope you are having a great weekend.  I'm off to check out the chocolate cheesecake.  Hmmm, yummy......  Hugz 

Friday 20 February 2015

Paradise Spotted

Hello.  Welcome.  Now this all started when I visited Dawn this morning and was really taken with her paper piecing technique.  I am working on a beach themed thing already so I decided to make a card using my favourite beach babe, a paper pieced beach and the Waffle Flower challenge colours.  


I raided the scraps box(es) and found a selection on gold and yellow bits.  I cut these into triangles and arranged them on my blue card base.  I cut some small cloud shapes from a scrap of white card using a die sent to me by Nancy.  Thanks Nancy.  Hugz.  The palm trees are cut from a black scrap using a Sizzix die.  I stamped Unity Beach Girl onto white card, coloured with watercolour pencils and fussy cut.  I added some detail to the palm trees and water with a white gel pen.  I mounted the panel on a cornflower blue base card.  

Joining the fun at
Waffle Flower Challenge Feb 9-22 2015
Unity Stamp Co. Friends With Flair
Ett Trykk Vi Jubilerer Utfordring 7
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - A Piece of Paradise 

Thanks for your visit.  Hugz



Thursday 19 February 2015

Happy Mail Day

Hello.  Welcome.  Two pieces of happy mail today.  What a lucky bunny I am.  My CCC card came from Nancy in New York.  Yeah, Nancy, love it.  Thanks and big hugz.  And a delivery of stamps from Flonzcraft.  Ooh goody, NBUS, but not for long LOL.  Couldn't resist inking up this gorgeous horse straight away. 



Isn't that a beauty.  I got this stamp as part of the Flonzcraft Horses, Unicorns and Lions large sheet, but I think it is available as a single stamp as well.  I stamped and embossed with black on a Simon Says Stamp Stitched die cut panel.  I have extended the ground a bit either side of the horse.  Then I masked the horse and used a round mask to ink in the sun using distress Barn Door.  I mounted my panel on a white base card.  

Joining the fun at
CASology Week 134 - Monochrome
Fashionable Stamping Challenge #91 - Black and White and a Hint of Red
Addicted to CAS Challenge 57 - Mask
Stamping Sensations February Challenge - Anything Goes 

Thanks for dropping by.  I really appreciate the time you take to visit and comment.  I have been trying to get around and see you all, but if you think it's about time I visited you please write Haven't Seen You Since Last Xmas in the comments, and I will move you to the top of my list(s).  Hugz

Mojo Flow

Hello.  Welcome.  It's a grey wet day.  Let's CRAFT!!  Any excuse I say.  I have decided to try and get a few cards ahead.  Always nice to have a few to hand for that occasion that slipped my mind.  Can't see it lasting. ....... 


I cut a panel using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle die and stamped and embossed Hero Arts Artistic Fern in white.  Then I added lots of distress inks, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon.  Don't forget to wipe the embossed area to keep the contrast.  I stamped and embossed one of the tigers from Mark's Finest Papers Tiger set onto patterned paper and fussy cut.  Then I embossed the sentiment from the same set onto the same patterened paper using white embossing powder.  I mounted the panel on a kraft base.  

Joining the fun at
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 249
Hero Arts Nature Challenge
Scribble and Scrap Crafts Challenge 38 - Anything Goes
Die Cut Diva's - Words, Quotes, Sentiments 

Thanks for dropping by.  Off to tidy a few things away then I hope to be back.  Hugz

Wednesday 18 February 2015

Every Day Is A Pig Day

Hello.  Welcome.  It seems shaker cards are the current thing.  I love these.  Such  fun.  Give a little shake.  Just one more.  Hee hee.   I always have trouble getting the shaky stuff right.  Too big, too small, not enough, too much!!  I think I got it this time though!!



I cut a square panel from Basic Grey Indian Summer paper using Simon Says Stamp Stitched dies.  I stamped the pig from Simon Says Stamp Party Animal set and embossed with black powder.  I coloured the pig with watercolour pencils and also added some more green to the bottom of the card.  I carefully cut around the inside of the balloon embossed line.  I used a piece of packaging material for my window and mounted the square panel on a piece of foam, after I had cut a hole for the balloon.  I filled the balloon with bedazzle beads, and lined it up on my base card so there is a flower showing.   I cut some matching flowers and added them around the edge of the front panel, some gold sequins, and a sentiment from the party animal set. 

Joining the fun at
Virginia's View Challenge 12 - Shaker Cards
Ett Trykk Vi Jubilerer Utfordring 4
Stamping Sensations February Challenge - Anything Goes 
Scribble and Scrap Crafts Challenge 38 - Anything Goes 

Thanks for dropping by.  If you like shaker cards do check out the awesome entries at Virginia's View.  Hugz

Monday 16 February 2015

Snap

Hello.  Welcome.  A special Hi and Hello to Sid.  Welcome to my lovely following.  Hugz all round.  

Here I am with my week 17 altered playing cards.  This week Claudine used the same colour background and birds.  You can find Claudine's cards HERE



I used a mix of red and pink acrylic


I added some paper tape, made black paint circles and finger painted the black zig zag.  I drew the hearts and used my white pen to swirl inside the black circles.  



I stamped the owl on some painty paper I had left over from another project.  The hat is a dylusions stamp watercoloured.  The sentiment is a Unity stamp.  


I used black embossing paste and a LaVon stencil.  Thanks LaVon.  I also added some black paint lines. 



I stamped Crafty Individuals Owl.  I added some black paint dots and doodled some white flowers and added some more white doodles on the embossed flower


My birdie pair

Joining the fun at
Stamping Sensatons February Challenge - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Red + Pink
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - All Creatures Great and Small 
Scribble and Scrap Crafts Challenge 38 - Anything Goes 

Thanks for dropping by.  You can see all my altered playing cards by clicking on the altered playing card label in the sidebar.  Hugz

Saturday 14 February 2015

How Now Valentine Cow

Hello.  Welcome.  A special hi and hello to D-.  So glad you joined my wonderful followers.  Thank you all for your support and encouragement.  Hugz all round.  

Happy Valentines Day everyone.  Hope you shared lots of love today.  I decided to pack mine in a mini pizza box LOL




Well, it's Valentine's Day so I decided purple and hot pink was a perfect colour scheme.  I used my scor-pal and this tutorial to make my mini pizza box in purple card.  Then I die cut Sizzix Damask background from hot pink card and dyed some lace with Picked Raspberry distress ink. 



Then I stamped and embossed Penny Black Skip and Romp on white card, coloured, cut and inked the edges with Picked Raspberry.  I added some embroidered hearts and flowers ribbon and filled with some yummy chocolates.  Hmmmm, Happy Valentines Day

Joining the fun at
Scor-pal More Than One Score Challenge 12 - Hearts
Penny Black and More February Challenge - Anythng Goes 
Penny Black Saturday Challenge February - Hearts
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Red + Pink 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - All Creatures Great and Small 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Friday 13 February 2015

Short Book, Long Post

Hello.  Welcome.  Happy Friday the 13th.  Hope it's been a good one for you.  A special Hi and Hello to Jane and Lizzy.  So glad to have you along.  Gosh, at this rate I'll hit a 100 followers for my birthday!!  Won't that be something to celebrate?!  Hugz all round

OK, I have lots of pictures to share so I won't waffle too much.  There seems to be a thing for mini-books/albums at the moment.  I haven't done many of these and I saw this easy tutorial by Dawn over at The Craft Barn.  Since mini-album is their challenge this week I thought I'd give it a go.   Incidentally, Danie May made a lovely ATC book with a similar technique.  Definitely worth a look. 



I started with a piece of paper.  I knew I was going to go all hearts and love so I started pink.



I added scraps of stamped tissue and a pretty napkin



I white washed to bring it all together



I added black and a hint of red acrylic, smears and lines.  I also stamped a Pink Paislee flower with a heart in the middle using rose paint.  Then I trimmed the edges.  Using my scor-pal I scored as directed in Dawn's Tutorial


Ta Dah.....  My folded mini-book.  Then I decorated.

Welcome to my Little Book Of Love

Front cover - Cheery Lynn Design (CLD) Love You More cut from red foil.  Unity Stamp Co. Nancy Girl, watercoloured.  The letters were cut from a sheet of Prima patterned paper.  


Pages 1/2, CLD Rum Punch Tiny Doily, cut from pink and white patterned paper.  Unity Beach Girl, coloured with sharpies.  The two sentiments are from the Beach Girl stamp set.  



Page 3/4 I stamped Unity Beautiful Soul directly onto the pages.  The sentiment wasn't very clear so I quickly grabbed the clear embossing powder.  It's better, but I should have stamped it onto tissue, or paper.  I have added some watercolouring to the main image.  I cut CLD Mini Dimensional Butterflies from pink patterned paper and also added a Wink of Stella Clear to them. 



Page 5/6 CLD Southern Charm Valance cut in white and tinted with distress inks.  Unity Harmony Girl and her sentiment.  The birds are from Unity Love Life set.  I added a red heart to their breasts and some crystal glaze



The back cover.  CLD Dreamcatcher #2.  The girl is fom Unity Love Life set, with a hint of watercoloured pink.   Maybe I should have used pink for the net and dreams but I was thinking catching a bit of sunshine is a great idea.  

Thanks for your visit.  Give this a go.  It's fun.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Mini Albums
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 171 - Tickled Pink
Unity Stamp Co. Friends With Flair
Unruly Paper Arts February 2015 RAQ 
Ett Trykk Vi Jubilerer Utfordring 2
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Red + Pink
Scor-pal More Than One Score Challenge 12 - Hearts A Flutter 

Thursday 12 February 2015

Glitter and Shine

Hello.  Welcome.  Today was warm and mild day I took advantage to go out in the garden and do a bit of tidying.  I had absolutely no help from this guy



Say hi to Bob.  He was having a very relaxed day.  Now and again he would get up, nibble on something, check the girl bunnies were still in their cages, then lie down again somewhere else.  Usually where I wanted to work or walk.  No help.  



I wanted to use Unity Stamp Co. Beach Girl which I was lucky enough to win in the GIU blog hop.  Thanks Unity.  I started with paper from Basic Grey Serenity collection.  I used Memory Box Shine stencil and Stormy Sky distress ink.  Then I bumped the stencil and used Salty Ocean distress ink.  I stamped Beach Girl on white card and coloured with watercolour pencils.  I cut her out and added her to the background.  Then I thought it needed some bling so I went a little crazy with the glitter glue dots.  I think I might be using this stamp a lot.  

Joining the fun at
Unity Stamp Co Be Inspired Challenge 24 - Colours 
Ett Trykk Vi Jubilerer - Utfordring 5 
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday January 2015 the stamp is new
Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge February - Stencilling
Unity Stamp Co. Friends With Flair

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz  

Wednesday 11 February 2015

Gin Rummy, Hold The Rum

Hello.  Welcome.  Here's my week 19 cards for Claudine's Altered Playing Card Challenge.  You can see Claudine's cards HERE.  


I started by putting some dry wall tape on the first card and adding Imagination Crafts Teal Sparkle Medium.  Then I removed the tape and stuck it on the second card.  Then I sponged on some Ranger paint Pebble and Copper.


I painted some tape with black paint and then stamped with white paint using the dragonfly, ripped and stuck it on.  I added some Sizzix cogs cut from some strange pearlescent textured paper. 


I stamped PaperArtsy Dragonfly onto black card using white paint and cut it out.  The sentiment is hand written.  


I used a clock mask and Wendy Vecchi's gold embossing paste


I added Stampotique's Rabbit, some Memorybox Tiny Bubbles die cut from black card and Sizzix letters cut in white

Rabbit's going to join the fun at
Imagination Crafts February Challenge - Anything Goes 



My week 19 cards.  Fun, fun, fun

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

My cards joining the fun at
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - All Things Bright and Beautiful 

Tuesday 10 February 2015

It's A Plan

Hello.  Welcome.  I have decided I want to use up some of the patterned paper that I have in my stash.  Even the ones that are so pretty I can hardly bear to cut them up.  I mean, what's the point of having all these pretties if we never use them??  OK, I admit there might be a few ugly papers in there somewhere, and using those might possibly present more of a challenge than using the pretties ROFL.  Anyway, I was so pleased to see the challenge over at Mark's Finest Papers cos it helped me with my plan.....




I stamped Mark's Finest Papers Tiger stamp on patterned paper, clear embossed and then covered with black archival.  The paper I used was some orangey autumn themed paper which already had some embossed glittery areas.  That's the dots.  Then I stamped the sentiment from the Tiger set on orange patterned paper, clear embossed and used black archival again. 

Joining the fun at
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 248
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - All Things Bright and Beautiful 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz