Embossed wedding card

This card is for four challenges.

Firstly, as it uses Forever Friends products - a card andm topper from their Elements range (for when a quick card is needed). The challenge this week on FF is to make a different shaped card - I'm not sure whether this qualifies, but I cut off the rounded bit at the top of the card.

I then Cuttlebug embossed a piece of Core'dinations whitewash card that had a pink core, so I'm submitting this for the Be Inspired 30 challenge on Cuttlebug: weddings.

Thirdly, challenge 9 on Creative Card Crew is 'everyone emboss', so it's good for that.

Lastly, challenge 50 on A Spoon Full of Sugar is 'touchy feely', so the two lots of embossing covers this.

Red, cream and chocolate brown

This card is for three challenges. Firstly, it is for Just Christmas and Birthday cards, where challenge 30 is this sketch (this is my first time taking part on this challenge blog):

I've used BG infuse papers, with the colours red, cream and chocolate brown, which is the theme for challenge 14 on Colour Create this week, with the option of using ribbons (hence those across the right hand corner).

And, thirdly, challenge 58 on Sunday Stampers is 'Happy Birthday'.

I don't know what the stamped image is, because I received it some time ago in a swap.

Glad for the grad

'Glad for the grad' was the theme on 365 yesterday (challenge 69). I've used the quickutz die for the mortar board (haven't used that in a long time):

It's also another green and blue card for Dewdrop Craftz.

This is also good for Secret Crafter 31 'brads or eyelets'

Get well card

For this 'get well' card I've used the sketch for Cutie Sunday 40:

I'm also linking for Cute Card Thursday challenges 58: mirror mirror (use something shiny - the surrounds of the tulips picture and the gems) and 59: Happy mail (make a card to cheer someone up or make their day - so 'get well' seems OK for that).

And as this card is predominantly pink, I'm submitting it for 365 cards day 67: think pink.

Papers are K & Co Berry Sweet.

Ad inspired card

This is the picture today on 365 cards - for us to make an 'ad inspired' card (yes, I know, I've missed several of the 365 challenges since John's been poorly and here I am doing today's!):

As soon as I saw the gorgeous labrador, of course, I was reminded of Josey and so I reached for the stamp that always make me think of her (for new readers of my blog: Josey is John's ex-guide dog). I also followed the patchwork theme with paper by SEI softy baby quilt - a few other little bits and pieces ...

The Lili of the valley challenge 27 this week is 'pink green blue', so this card does nicely for that as well.

Cherries

I wanted to make some 'fruity' ATCs and cards and couldn't find the strawberry stamp that came with Craft Stamper a few months ago, so I bought a 'cherries' stamp on ebay and love it (and another one arrived in the post a little while ago, so I think you'll be seeing more cherries soon).

For this card I used Dawny's sketch on Papertake Weekly:

The background papers are K & Co Hannah, with a couple of strips from Brookfield. The cherries were coloured with copics and glossy accents added - so I'm linking for Alphabet Challenge G is for ... glossy accents.

It's also good for day 53 'fun with fruit' on 365 cards (still playing 'catch up' on there!).

Karen has asked about the cherries stamp - I meant to say that it is an exclusive KayCee Crafts unmounted clear polymer stamp (newly acquired this week from ebay).

CBC ATCs and a RAK

I've just received the April swap ATCs from the group on CBC, the theme being 'zoo'. The first one is from Sharrisse and the second from Jackie (okey-dokey):




Ellen hosted the swap for April and she kindly sent a card and some die cuts. There is currently a die cut swap on CBC; I usually take part in these swaps, but have had to curtail some crafty activities because of the health issues with John, so Ellen kindly sent me some 'swirls and flowers' so that I wouldn't miss out. Thank you, Ellen.

DCM: Old MacDonald's Farm

I'm scraping in late with this one for last Friday's DCM challenge: Old MacDonald's Farm.

I used a set of stamps that came free with a magazine - they've been in a box for ages, waiting to be used! Coloured with copics. Papers are HOTP.

I was hoping to get this posted before the new DCM went live, but it's just happened!

I'm also linking for Rainbow Lady challenges 58 (four legged friends) and 59 (make a frame), as they both seem to be incorporated in this card.

Stamping orange

The theme on Wednesday Stamper this week is 'orange', so I used a slice of orange - inked it with Brilliance pearlescent orange and embossed with clear detail. I then inked with versamark and embossed with moonglow powders 'rose orange' and 'geranium coral'.

I'm also linking as another go at challenge 60 on My Time to Craft: anything but a card ... because this is ATC size:

I'm finding it difficult atm to concentrate on anything much (John has appointment at Guy's tomorrow) so I seem to be trying out 'odd' things!!

Peacock ATC

The theme on Think Monday Think ATC this week is peacock. On My Time to Craft today, challenge 60 is 'anything but a card'.

This is also appropriate for the 'blue and green' challenge on Dewdrop Craftz, so I'm linking there, aso for A Spoonful of Sugar challenge 49: 'blue and green'. I think peacock feathers are some of the most natural blue and green gorgeousness that you can see.

So, here is my ATC, using a Rubbadubbadoo stamp, Sakura glitter pen and copics:

Bubblyfunk challenge 3: jewellery

Over three years ago I bought a melting pot - tried it out and didn't really get on with it, so I put it at the back of a drawer, where it's stayed ever since.

Recently, I bought some more UTEE and some dyes and thought I would have a go at using the melting pot again. In fact, I was due to go to a meet up of some of UKStampers at the Craft Barn on the day that John was admitted to hospital - and there was a class on using the melting pot, but I never got there.

Some of the lubbly bubbly folk on BF make some fab things and show and put instructions on Bubbly Scrumptious. So far there have been two challenges and I've never joined in.

I thought I'd look at No. 3, with the determination this time to join in ... which was when my heart nearly sank because the topic is 'jewellery' - you can read about it here - and I'm certainly no jewellery maker - the only beads I've ever managed to use have been on cards (and those not very successfully).

So I thought about my melting pot and got out some 'Deep Image' extra thick embossing crystals 'mermaid', put some in the pot and melted - poured into a vague shape and placed a large stamp over it so that it got some of the impression (the stamp is Funstamps paisley background). I made the hole with my 'bigbite' and swiped some Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink over the shape. There's no way that I'm clever enough to make a chain, so I've just put it on to one that I already have.

I might even get to like my melting pot - might use it again soon. Thanks for the jewellery challenge, Karen - it made me use it.

For a special auntie

Last week, an auntie sent me some lovely flowers to cheer me up while John was in hospital, with assurance of her love and prayers, so I've made a card to send to her to thank her.

I used Emma's sketch on the Forever Friends challenge:

I'm also linking for today's 365 challenge, which is 'Mother's Day', which, of course, is appropriate for this time of year for crafters in the States, but not here in the UK where we celebrated Mother's Day last month. So there was an option of making a card for a special lady, so this one is for a special auntie.

Papers are from the Forever Friends 'hugs& cuddles' and 'with love' pads.

More fairies

Having made the previous card, I stamped up some more fairies and tickets ready for more cards in the future, so I couldn't resist making this one, using random stamping all over the background - which fits in with 365 cards day 42: stampin' Saturday.

And it's another one for CBCC097 'just the ticket'.

Ticket to fairyland

This card is for CBCC097 'just the ticket' - the ticket is a stamp that is free with this month's Craft Stamper - and also for ABC L is for List - 1 ribbon, 3 flowers, 6 brads; and as I've mainly used the colours of Color Throwdown 40 - pretty in pink, sage shadow, chocolate chip - I'm linking for that too.

The ribbon and brads are Papermania. The fairy stamp was one that was free with a magazine. The background paper is BG Urban Couture.

Stop and smell the roses

Flowers often feature on cards, so they are the main focus of this card. Today on 365 cards (day 63) the challenge is 'floral fest' - to use eight flowers on a card (there are actually more than eight, but I don't think anyone will mind - there are at least eight!).

I used a much-loved stamp, coloured in with copics, just adding the sentiments (K & Co).

I'm linking this for Sunday stamper, where this week's theme (week 57) is 'time after time' - I hope Hels will accept my loose interpretation of this, in the phrase 'God did not create hurry' and (take time to) stop and smell the roses.

This week's Alphabet Challenge is 'f for .... so, flowers, seems appropriate.

And challenge 30 on Secret Crafter Saturday challenge is 'flowers'.

My second card today

Yay! I managed to make another card.

This is good for two challenges - day 36: super sketch Sunday on 365 cards - this was the sketch:

And also the current challenge 13 on Colour Create: orange, green and brown, with the option of making a man's card.

I used BG ambrosia and boxer papers:

365 cards day 45: tri-fold card

Not having done much crafting lately I was conscious that I was asked to make a wedding day card and the wedding is in two weeks' time. Not knowing whether John's going to have to go back into hospital again, I thought I'd get this done. I admit that it took a while to get going, but now it's done, I'm pleased with it.

The background paper is PM Victorian (it's double sided, but I kept to the pattern of one side). The Wedding Day card on the flap is gold foiled and the selection of sentiments used on the inside is vellum with gold foiling.

The invitation that my friends had received had been done in this style of card, so I thought it would be nice to use the same idea. This also fits in well with one of the challenges I missed on 365 cards: 45: tri-fold card, so I'm linking for that.


I've put a tag in the pocket so that the friends can write their own greeting on there:

I was particularly pleased with the gold printing (using the codes supplied on CBC by Dingledel - thank you, Adele)

Artarazzi challenge 21

I came across this challenge site: Artarazzi 'challenges for digital artists' - well, the title rules me out really, because I'm no 'digital artist'.

This is the picture that was given for challenge 21:

And this is my version:

John came out of hospital yesterday - not 'out of the woods' yet regarding the foot etc - but good to have him home - back to Guy's clinic on Wednesday to see what happens next.

I feel tired atm and not able to concentrate much - want to get into some crafting, but can't get going, so this digi challenge was just right to play around with and come up with something.

Salt: perseverance

It was my turn to choose the topic for today's Salt challenge. When I chose 'perseverance' I was unaware of the difficulties and circumstances that some of us are going through atm; I also didn't think about this being so close to the London marathon and the picture it represents of 'running the race' with perseverance.

You can read what I wrote here.

I used pictures of the London marathon from http://telegraph.co.uk/.

The background paper is K & Co Urban Rhapsody. I inked the soles of my trainers with versafine black for the footprints. (My first idea had been to stamp with my feet on to shrink plastic, but it curled up and got stuck, so it finished up in the bin - but I'm happier with this anyway).

To read the verse from Hebrews you will need to click on the picture to enlarge it.


Please visit our Salt blog and see all the lovely crafting done by the rest of the team - and perhaps join in our challenge - we'd love to see what you do for it.

CBC April ATCs

The CBC ATC swaps has reached Z, so the topic for April is 'zoo'. I'm just scraping in with mine - very simple, I' m afraid, using a Tanda zebra stamp ('zebra' - another Z) and simple masking:



Thanks for all the good wishes for John - he's had angioplasty done today.

Just to say ....

.... I'm still here, but no crafting to show. John is still in hospital.

This morning postie brought me a bill, but also some crafting goodies:

A box of gems from Bex on JB (I won the gems March challenge 1 - randomly picked - yay!):

I also received the lovely April 'spring' ATCs from the group on BF - very cheery:

I also received a CJ for the group of CBC - so must think now of my favourite recipe for 'comfort food'.

When I got up Sunday morning, the sun was out, but then there was a downpour, resulting in the most magnificent rainbow: