Basic Grey Challenge blog

Having discovered this new blog (thanks to Paula on JB), I've added a bit to my Salt challenge for today because the card I made for that fits perfectly in with the first challenge, which is 'buttons' - the new site is http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/

I've made two other cards for this (so it doesn't look as if I'm just submitting one I'd already done) and will post pictures in the morning.

CBC crew challenge black magic CBCC063

Joanne (Angelnorth) set a new challenge on www.craftsbycarolyn.co.uk - 'A simple challenge for you today! It's so easy to get into using white, cream or pastel bases for our projects and sometimes a dark one gives it that extra kick so today's challenge is to make something using a black base. It could be a card, a LO, an altered notebook... whatever takes your fancy.'

Isn't it strange how sometimes a new challenge just cries out to be done, although there's still plenty of the others I haven't done.

Anyway, two very simple, quick cards for men (very similar to some I've done in the past). The lettering is from a sheet of rub ons from Poundland that I bought ages ago.




I'm also submitting one of these for the BF Think Pink challenge 11: Awkward Annies.

DCM: Getting Funky template

Last Friday on Daringcardmakers, using this template was the challenge:



And the bonus this week is that there is a lucky dip to win a Funky Hand Shabby Saturday download.

I've made three Christmas cards using the template. The papers are all BG figgy pudding and the circles came with a kit from QVC:






I like this template - will probably use it more.

HS:MS over

The prompt on HS:MS today is 'over: Above, at the other side or beyond an object. Show us 'over' in your space today. '

I have to admit that I knew I'd be struggling with this one, what to do.

Well, from this view of such a dull sky, it looks as if summer is well and truly over:

so I think very soon I shall have to get my overcoat out:

Salt: He knows us inside an out

It was Lythan's turn to set the Salt challenge this time.This is what she says:

'Last time it was my turn (Lythan) I chose the Psalms as the challenge theme. I'm having a variation on that this time as I would like you to look in depth at a particular Psalm - Psalm 139. It is quite long so why not have a look at it here. That way you can also see a variety of translations.

this is one of the Psalms that I love best. It is quite challenging in parts but there is plenty to reflect on as well. Sometimes it is so comforting, sometimes a bit scary to think that God knows us so well. What does the idea that

He knows us inside and out

mean to you?

I most often make a LO for Salt, but this time I decided to make a card for a change. I find Psalm 139 both a challenge and a comfort - I felt led to produce a card to assure someone of our thoughts and prayers at a difficult time.

The papers are BG sugared.

Please take a look at the creations of the rest of the team on Salt

I've just discovered that there is a new Basic Grey challenge site, so I'm going to link this card as it also fits perfectly with the first challenge (I've made another couple to submit too, so that it doesn't look as if I'm cheating - lol!) This is the link for the new site: http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/ and the first challenge is 'buttons' (you also have to use something from BG).

A sad sympathy card

Yesterday we had very sad news of the death of our next door neighbour, so I've made a simple card for his wife and family.

The middle background is mulberry paper and the lilies of the valley are 3D embossed rub ons (bought some of these from QVC and love them).

CBC crew competition - stamping CBCC061

I've been meaning to do something for this since I got back from Eastbourne. This evening I decided to have a play - the result certainly isn't my best achievement, but it took me so long that I thought I'd show it anyway.

This was the challenge: ' so a nice simple idea - but the design can be as complicated as you like.... You must only use stamps and inks to create your card - no patterned paper is allowed. '

I used two Rhona Farrer swirl stamps that I received a few months ago as part of a prize (I love using these) ad randomly stamped them, using various parts of them. The ink pad was Brilliance pearlescent purple and I embossed with Moonglow plum.

These are the stamps randomly used for the background:


The stamp cut and mounted in the middle is one of the foam ones from QVC.

Photo has now been replaced with a slightly better one taken in daylight:



Why not check out http://www.craftsbycarolyn.co.uk/ - it's a very friendly forum with lots going on.

BF August card swap

Karen organised a swap that entailed making a card and then sending a partner the same papers etc to make a card. The cards had to be done using a summery orange.

Happy Hazel was my partner and this is the card I made, sending her the same papers etc that I had used (I think they were Chloe's Closet - I should have made a note and now I can't quite remember):

This card was made with the bits that Hazel sent me:



I know that Hazel has done her card with the bits I sent, so it is now safe to show.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Hazel's cards are like and how similar or different we made them.

I meant to say that the stained glass image was coloured with a mixture of water colours and inktense pencils (I wish I could get this colouring-in lark better - think I could colour-in better when I was a child!)

HS:MS bag lady

Suzy has stepped in on HS:MS and said 'why not try find a 'Bag' in your space?'

Now, it's strange that Suzy has chosen this prompt, because a couple of day ago I went into Primark on a rare occasion (I like their bras - they're cheap, but more comfortable than others I've tried - anyway, before there's too much information, I'll get back to what I was saying!). Having chosen my items, including a pair of PJs that were tied up with ribbon (see the post underneath), I spotted some material bags which were just £1 each.

Trying to do the right thing, I usually try to carry a bag with me, but didn't have one, so I decided to buy one of the £1 bags so that my bras and PJs could be put into it.

When I was served, the lovely polite young man proceeded to put my bras, PJs and material bag into one of their brown carrier bags - I hadn't got the heart to say anything - and at least their bags are paper and not plastic:

An 80th birthday card ... and a bonus piece of ribbon

Mum has asked me to make an 80th birthday card for one of her friends. A simple aperture card with a piece of K & Co Addison paper, a few blooms and a bit of Poundland bling (and the 80 in silver stands out a bit more irl):



The other day I bought a pair of PJs (cost me £5) which were done up with this long piece of ribbon - I measured it this morning - it's 66 inches long - so not a bad bonus!

BF Think Pink cards

The first two cards are for the BF Think Pink challenge 9: think of a number, one for a man and one for a lady:




The next one is for the Think Pink challenge 11: Awkward Annies - a card for a child (one for a man to follow):

BF Think Pink challenge 10: brown/blue

I've managed to do a card for challenge 10 on Think Pink (please click on the link on the right to see the other fab things that are being contributed).

I used a brown base card covered with a K & Co paper. The brown square in the middle was cut from a sheet of card that was in a Christmas kit I bought recently from QVC. The folder blooms seemed to sit neatly on the card (it doesn't show very well here, but there is a brown bloom beneath the blue one). The scrolling and leaves on the brown square are actually gold foiling, which, unfortunately, doesn't show up.

I was tempted to add more to the card, but resisted the temptation because I think I like it as it is:

Christmas cards

Having done over 100 Christmas cards since we got back from Eastbourne (although none since Saturday) I thought I'd show a selection:

Unfortunately, photos had to be taken by flash because the light is poor, so some reflection.

HS:MS purple

'The colour that is intermediate between red and blue. Find something purple in your space today.'

Not sure that this really qualifies as 'purple' - it's probably more like pink or lilac - but I'm going to show it, because it's one of my favourites from our Eastbourne stay that I haven't shown yet.

How the canvas looks in daylight

Still looks as if a 6-year old did it!!

Paper n Lace Altered Canvas Challenge

On Paper n Lace Jo (bagpuss) set a challenge: 'Your challenge is to ALTER a CANVAS using any materials or medium u like.'

Well, I've never done a canvas before, so this is a sad first attempt. I have Laura Ashley curtains in my craft room. Quite a while ago I received a magazine sub free gift of some LA stamps and various other matching bits. So I decided to use some of these on the canvas.

I covered the canvas with various shades of acrylic paints (using an old credit card to spread it - saw this tip somewhere on the net). Then I used a reddish pink acrylic paint brushed on a LA stamp quite a few times over the canvas. I then sprinkled hologram embossing powder and heated, which is why it's difficult to get pictures (especially at night, but the deadline for the challenge is today). In these pictures you can't really see many of the stamped images, but I can assure you that they do show up more irl, depending on the angle of light reflection. It really does look less patchy than in the photos.

Well, I did say it was a first attempt!

HS:MS sweet

Today's prompt: 'To have a pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey. Find something sweet in your space today.'

As John is diabetic and I too should go easy on the sweet stuff (ha ha), we don't have a lot of 'sweet' in our space, but this is something that I adore on pancakes or porridge (which is probably why I try not to have porridge too often - although it would be very good for me - because I tend to smother it in golden syrup:

My CJ has come home

I've really enjoyed contributing to the CJs of the little group on Bumbleberries for the last few months - and now my own fab CJ has returned home, full of beautifully crafted contributions - thank you, girls.

Front cover:


Welcome:


Rules:

My DLO:
Angie's:

Nicky's:

Isobel's:

Kathy's:

Sign in:

Back cover: