Saturday's Workout: bandana technique

I saw a challenge on Saturday's workout which involved the 'bandana technique', a tutorial for which can be seen here.

I thought I'd give it a try, but I think it was stupid trying to do it quickly at this time. I chose what I thought was a simple stamp, but, on reflection, I'm not sure it was a wise choice because it has straight lines and my white lines aren't straight (mainly because I rushed them). Anyway, I've had a try and now I know what to expect I think I could make a better effort with a bit more time and concentration.

For the blending of colours I used Stazon blazing red, cactus green, mustard and saddle brown.

Tracey's CJ Tag

The theme of TraceyR's CJ on BF is 'tags' - each person in the group is invited to decorate a chipboard tag in whatever way they choose.the light is bad, but I need to get this into the post in the morning.

The papers are BG sultry and the rub ons are Kelly Panacci. Edges inked with chalk inks, with the addition of a Brenda Pinnick chipboard square frame and some ribbon originally bought from CBC.





The scans show both sides of the tag, which obviously are the same size, although they don't look like it here!

DLO on Melissa's CJ

It's my turn to do a DLO in Melissa's fab CJ for the group on CBC.

Melissa chose 'My dream' as her subject and said, 'I would love to hear from you all what your dreams are. Big or small! Whether you have fulfilled any yet. It could be your childhood dream or most recent one! The possibilities are endless really.'

My DLO is all about a dream come true when I went to Bermuda. I've simply used some DCWV backgrounds and produced the journalling and photos on computer, adding a few buttons and doodling.

You can get a better view of the journalling by clicking on the pictures.





I enjoyed doing this, as it brought back many memories.

Dottie's world Sunday challenge: spotty dotty

This is a spotty card for the challenge this week on Dottie's World: 'spotty dotty'.

'I want to see SPOTS. It doesn't have to be Dottie, you can of course use any of the downloads. BUT I don't just want to see a circle or two.'

So I used a piece of dotty paper from English Paper Company Airy Fairy and a stripey piece run through the cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder and the lovely image of Dottie in bed. I thought it would make a bit of a different get well card:

One Stop Craft Challenge 1

I came across a new challenge blog called One stop craft challenge, so I thought I'd join in the first sketch designed by Sharon:



My card is made from English Paper Company Airy Fairy papers. The stamped image is one that I received from Carole in a swap on CBC and is called 'fantasy emblem'. The gems are from Poundland.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge 4

This is the sketch this week on Secret Crafter Saturday challenge:



and this is the card I've made, using background paper from an old 'Making Cards' magazine, a piece of Brenda Pinnick paper and an unknown image that I've had for ages, which is mounted on to purple mirror card, which, unfortunately, looks black on the scan. You can't really see it here, but there is a scalloped edge on the right hand side of the image.

Sketch Saturday 22 25 October

Another opportunity to make a Christmas card with sketch 22 on Sketch Saturday:



I've used a base card from PDA mounted with some Brenda Pinnick card and the circular image was from a QVC pack. I just added holly die cuts with Poundland bling:

Tag you're it! Oh Christmas tree

The theme on Tag you're it! this week is 'Oh Christmas tree':

So here is mine, using a rubbadubbadoo stamp, to make a simple tag. I stamped with Brilliance pearlescent ivy and embossed with clear detail.

I apologise for the poor background of the image (had to scan because a photo wouldn't come out properly) and the embossing doesn't really show up (might replace tomorrow):



I've actually made ten of these and am going to incorporate some on to cards.

Stamp something: something for the birds

The theme on Stamp something this week is 'something for the birds' - 'Make a project using bird images; any types, sizes, shapes, and colors.'

I got this Jemima Puddleduck stamp free with a magazine. I've used my copics for the first time to colour in Jemima (not very well, but I need to start somewhere with copics) - I stamped with a Brilliance ink pad because I read that was a good one to use with copics and I embossed with clear detail just to be sure. The other day I tried colouring an image that had been stamped with Stazon and the results were disastrous.

The torn papers are K & Co Hopscotch and Roam and the backgrounds of the image and computer generated sentiment are BG (can't remember which pad though - a few scraps).

Theme Thursday: vintage

On Theme Thursday the topic this week is 'vintage'.

I've used some vintage-look pyramage sheets that I picked up recently at a local craft shop.

HS:MS:HS structure

'Structure' is the word today on HS:MS:HS: 'A complex construction or entity. Find 'Structure' in your space.'

These are cheats really because they are not in my space today, but the shots were taken a couple of weeks ago when we went on the London Eye.

DCM forever autumn + Friday Sketchers 25

This week on DCM is 'forever autumn' and for this I've used a sketch on Friday Sketchers. It all stemmed from wanting to use the trees stamp (Friday Sketchers asked us to find a stamp that was more horizontal than vertical). The papers are all Basic Grey arhcaic with a strip of boxer behind the stamped image.

This Thursday challenge 19: Thrown a curve

I've done a card for another challenge site - This Thursday, it's all about - the theme this week is 'thrown a curve'.

Downloads were generously given by Pink Petticoat, so I've let them be the main focal point of the card, just running the edge of the dotted paper through my rotatrim and adding some rick rack and a sentiment:

Theme Thursday: the sun!

'The sun!' is the topic on Theme Thursday this week.

I've used a die cut and bee from Poundland, a rub on quote from DCWV and a few quilled flowers (no, I didn't make them):

Lili of the valley Thursday challenge 5: a colour challenge

This week on lili of the valley the challenge is a colour one - to use red, green and gold, so this is an opportunity crying out to make another Christmas card.

The background paper is Anna Griffin and the embellishments are Craft House. The wording etc is a rub on:

Cute card Thursday 33: the stars at night

On Cute Card Thursday challenge blog, the theme this week is 'stars': 'This week we would like to see some stars or something spooky on your cards.'

I've made another Christmas card (the stock is building up really nicely now) using some holographic stars that I've had for a couple of years and little gem stars stuck in the middles. The angels stamp is one of my favourite Christmas ones.

It was difficult to get a photo because of the holographic element of the stars.

HS:MS:HS office

Today's prompt on HS:MS:HS is office - 'A place of work and sometimes play. Find 'Office' in your space.'

An early one from me today - this is the office in my space:

Crafty Creations challenge 23: dogs and puppies

Time nearly ran out to do something for the Crafty Creations challenge - I'd intended to do something much earlier in the week - and would have loved to have included a picture of Josey, but in the end I've settled for a quickly put together card, using stickers from Poundland. The scan has shadows on the background because of the chipboard.

ABC challenge: nature

The subject on ABC this week is 'nature': 'we would like to see you using nature to inspire you this week. It can either be a creation using images (stamped or otherwise, eg leaves, flowers) or the colours of nature.'

These cards are very simple, but I felt that the 'less is more' suited them - well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

The lovely autumnal picture on the first one is a vellum:



The acorns are cut from a sizzlit die:

Cuttlebug Challenge 4: embossing on patterned paper

This is the first time I've done one of the Cuttlebug challenges. It was after I'd made the previous two cards that I realised that they would have fitted this challenge - to emboss on patterned paper (which I did with the trees).

Anyway, here is a card especially for the cuttlebug challenge. The gatefold card has a gold sheen to it (doesn't show in the scans, except to make the inside of the card look dirty!). The paper used on the fronts of the card has been cut from a Papermania card and then embossed with a cuttlebug folder and then inked.



I've used a 3d rub on for the inside of the card:

Basic Grey Challenge 8: shapes

This week on the Basic Grey Challenge blog the theme is 'shapes' - 'This week we would like you to get shapely by using squares, circles, rhomboids, triangles, etc on your creations :), and of course to use at least one item from BasicGrey somewhere on your creations.'

I've gone for adding triangles to a couple of simple Christmas cards (making 5 of each). The background papers of the cards of English Paper Company and the triangle trees are cut from BG boxer papers.

I recently bought the Cuttlebug Christmas trees die and embossing set, but thought it would be too fiddly to cut and then get into the right place in the embossing folder. So I embossed the papers, sanded them to get the white core showing and then cut round the shapes by hand.I think this has worked out well because it means that the trees have got the added embossed lines round the edges, as I've cut a bit of a distance away from them.

HS:MS:HS light

The word on HS:MS:HS today is light: 'A medium of illumination that makes sight possible. Find 'Light' in your space.'

I tried a few different settings on the camera and finished up with this:

Juliet's candy

Juliet is giving away some gorgeous crafty candy on her blog - it's worth popping along to have a look and leave a comment. And, of course, admire her crafting there.

HS:MS:HS glossy

On HS:MS:HS today the word is glossy: 'A substance that is shiny and smooth or printed on high quality paper. Find something 'glossy' in your space today.'

This is a glossy that I love using:

10 'ordinary' Christmas cards

On bumbleberries, Kathy challenged us to:

'do at least one of the following by next Friday

make 10 *ordinary* Christmas cards
1 special Christmas card for a special person
1 Christmas themed LO
or
1 Christmas themed mini book'

Well, I've done 10 ordinary Christmas cards (to make two packs of 5):





The background papers are English Paper Company and the sentiment is computer generated. The snowmen are die cut from one of my old pink peril dies (I no longer have the die, but still have a stock of a few snowmen - using up some of my bits and pieces).

Rosie Dee's challenge 6

This card is for Rosie's challenge 6 on Rosie Dee's: 'we'd like you to make a Christmas card using Christmas patterned paper.'

So, once again, I've used Brenda Pinnick Christmas papers and the frame around the Santa Collage stamp - again using Brilliance pearlescent crimson and clear detail EP. I love this stamp.

Cupcake Craft Challenge 20: sketch

The challenge on Cupcake this week is a sketch supplied by Donna:



Paper, tag and other bits are all Brenda Pinnick and I stamped directly on to the tag with Santa Collage with Brilliance pearlescent crimson and clear detail EP.



Having done the card, I realise that I didn't put a sentiment in the top left corner, but, hey ho, I hope I'm allowed a little licence!

JB Friday night challenge 10 October

Another JB challenge, this time Lisa said: 'simply make a LO or card featuring at least one wee animal please.

I bought Cats Set 2 from Tanda Stamps ages ago and still hadn't used this 'cat's face' stamp, so I thought it was about time I did. I stamped with black versafine and embossed with detail clear. What a difference the ink makes - I tried at first stamping with versamark and heating with black embossing power, but, oh dear, I couldn't see the detail of the face at all. Versafine was excellent for this and the detail EP helps as well.

I think I went a bit too mad and too big with the computer printing, but nevermind. And why is it that cards sometimes look crooked on photos when they are not irl? (one of life's mysteries - and they say: the camera never lies!)

JB Friday night challenge 3 October

Sue set a challenge on JB three weeks ago (and, yes, I've only just got round to doing it):

'we want you to SING LOUD and while you are singing craft a LO or a card or an altered item whatever BUT the song you are singing MUST influence your design.'

Don't ask me why, but the song 'our house' came into my head (I now wish it would go away!) and so I thought a Christmas card 'from our home to your home' would be appropriate:



And if, by any chance, you'd like to have the song going round and round in your head, click here.

CBC 070 for free + Sketch Saturday 21

On CBC Carolyn has challenged us: 'You must have all sorts of things free with magazines or received in RAKs so now is your chance to use something in your project.'

My card uses an image and sentiment that was free with a magazine (I think it was Making Cards from a couple of years ago).

I've used the current sketch 21 from Sketch Saturday, so I'll link this on there as well.

The base card is from PDA and the papers are Brenda Pinnick (gradually getting through my stock left over from last year):

Basic Grey Challenge 7: stitching

The challenge on the BG challenge blog this week is to use stitching.

All papers used are BG boxer - I cut the flowers out and mounted them on a different piece of boxer paper - just added two pieces of stitched ribbon:

Secret Crafter Saturday challenge 3

'This week there is no sketch but a theme, set by the lovely KIM which is "Blue, White and a little bit of snowflake!' That's challenge 3 on Secret Crafter Saturday challenge.

The background is Brenda Pinnick paper, the image is from lili of the valley.

HS:MS:HS apple

'A round, firm, fleshy edible fruit - find Apple in your space today.'

A large Bramley cooking apple that needs cooking!

CBC 069 Tag it + Tag You're It!

I've been meaning to do a card for the 'tag it' challenge on CBC set by Carolyn, so here, at last is a card, using papers from K & Co Hannah; the tag is stamped with the Inkadinkado stamp of bare trees using Brilliance coffee bean and embossed with clear detail.

As the tag is pink, brown and green, it also fits the challenge on Tag You're It!:

DCM around the world sketch

Kathy set a midweek extra sketch on DCM - why not go and have a look at all the fab cards created by the team:



I've used Brenda Pinnick paper and some die cut snowflakes, cutting away the card around the curve: