A much-needed birthday card

This card is for MTSC58 on Lord have mercy:


It's also for Paperplay 4: 'pink, white and green' and also for day 333 on 365 cards: 'the 3 G's - green, glitter and grosgrain

I've come to the conclusion that for a while I need to concentrate on making more birthday cards because my stock is quite low (and it doesn't help when I keep making Christmas cards!).

The background of this card is a green ribbed effect vellum and the foreground glittered flowery panel is also vellum.

Jumbo snowflakes

Another Christmas card - this time it's for Fab's big Christmas week 4: 'snowflakes' and I've gone for the giant size for Saturday spotlight 16: 'bigger is better'.

It's also another one for the 25th club on BF, this time with a polar bear rather than a reindeer.

The background paper is some that I got ages ago with an edition of Crafts Beautiful, the large lilac snowflake was part of a kit from BF, the centre is one of the crystal centres I got with my prize voucher (here). The polar bear was stamped from a stamp swap on CBC the Christmas before last (I loved it so much that I stamped a lot and still have some to use) - and he has been glittered with stickles crystal ice.

'Snowflakes' is the topic for challenge 27 on Pals paper arts and 'snow' is the Monday challenge this week on Fiskarettes, so I'll also show the card there.

I think it also qualifies for Susie & Vikki's Christmas club 3: 'non-traditional Christmas (the colours). And also for Die cut dreams 32: 'bears'.

Having tried different ways to take photos of my cards, I managed to get a little easel in Hobbycraft the other day, but now, of course (looking at this card) I realise that you can't see the bit underneath the sentiment - oh well ....!!

Vintage Christmas stripes

This card is for the Crafty pad sketch for challenge 55 (a new challenge will be going up any moment now, so I realise this is late, but still wanted to do it):

It's also for Fab's big Christmas week 2: 'merry & bright' - vintage colours and/or stripes - I know that I'm late for this, but trying to keep up my resolution of making Christmas cards throughout the year, so this challenge is helpful - and I think I've fulfilled the criteria

And it's already into month 2 for the 25th club on BF - so this fits in nicely with Tracey's challenge for us to use animals on our cards, particularly perhaps reindeer, so here he is! My aim for the BF 25th club is to make 10 cards each time, so that's one done, nine to go!

And, as this has a vintage 'flavour' to it, I'm linking it for If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 20: 'vintage'.


The card was made from a QVC kit (bought for making some quick cards).

Timeless memoirs

This card is for sketch 49 on Card Patterns:

It has the colours in the inspiration picture for Whimsical Wednesday Diedrich dare 20:
It's also for:

Cute Daisy May: 'vintage'
If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 20: 'vintage'
Peachy keen 21: any format, must contain a vintage item or be inspired by something vintage, must contain at least one stamped image - I used Stampendous 'timeless memoirs' stamp inked with heritage old English red on a piece of HOTP paper that was then torn and edged with tattered rose distress ink
Another for Ooh-la-la 46: 'distressing'

The background paper is BG sugared and the flowers/swirls are BG opaline designer half pearls.


Lol! Just realised I'd called this 'Timless memoirs' - I've now inserted the 'e'!

A gift for mummy

This card is for Laura's sketch 44 on 2 sketches 4 you:

Also for ColourQ 17:

It's also for:

Today (day 336) on 365 cards: 'the 3 S's - Stripes, Square, Spring'
Susie's sassy 7: 'red, white and blue'
Another for Artful inkables Think Ink Tuesday: 'think spring'
Another for Dottie's world: 'leaf it! - using the Charmed digi Sugar & Spice 'gift for mummy' - there are leaves on the stem of the flower
Sophisticat 19: 'mother, miss you ... or a tribute' - thought this is appropriate because the digi is called 'gift for mummy'
Another for Squigglefly 33: 'summer card in January'
Raise the bar 3: 'the older the better' - use old papers - the red and black background is a piece of HOTP paper that must have been in my offcuts for a long, long time, and so has the striped paper which was originally free with a magazine

Heart 4 heart's sake

This card is for this week's Card Positioning systems sketch 151:

I added to the sketch a bit, but I hope you can still see it.

It's also for:

Anyone for Anya: 'heart 4 heart's sake' - the digi image is Miss Anya autumn
Copic colour 49:
Another for Stampavie 79: 'love card/Valentine'
Another for Inky impressions 28: 'Valentine' - must include pink and hearts
One powerful hour: 'pink and brown'
Ooh-la-la 46: 'distressing' - sanded around the edges of the brown paper
Another for Little red wagon 13: 'hearts'
Another for Hand full of stamps 14: 'I give you my heart'
Another for Dare U 2 digi 30: 'hearts' - Miss Anya autumn is a digital image
Another for fussy & fancy 3: 'hearts'
Secret crafter Saturday 68: 'hearts'
Bee crafty 23: 'romance' - I've included a digi image

The papers were from my scraps box (I wish I could remember what the brown paper is because I'd love to get some more of it), the striped paper is Making memories and the sequined and beaded hearts are from Paper n Lace.

Blue periphery

This card is for challenge 75 on Ann's creative nook, which specifies this sketch:

and using white with one other colour only, so I've chosen shades of blue.

It's also for:

Day 334 on 365 cards: 'the 3 B's - Blue, Blossom and emBoss - the strip on the lefthand side has been embossed with a cuttlebug folder and the prima blossoms are embossed
Dollies colour challenge: 'Design dollies are bringin' the blue - monochromatic blues'
Another for Stampin' B 43: 'make a card with a butterfly, a flower and a die cut'
Another for Treehouse 34: 'butterfly + flower'
Another for Frosted designs: 'embossing challenge'
Apron strings: 'stamping' - the central image is a Laura Ashley stamp inked with Stazon ultramarine; the background was achieved with an Elzybell texture stamp and a couple of shades of blue inks
Elzybells 35: 'your own stamped patterned paper' - I used Elzybells texture stamp for the background
2 red bananas: 'behind the scenes' - create your own stamped background
Another for Basic Grey 12: 'animals' - birds and butterflies - all the papers I've used are BG Periphery (given to me by a kind crafting friend)
Another for Spoon full of sugar 88: 'freestyle' - anything you like
Another for Flutter by Wednesday 94: 'open - include butterfly, fairy or angel'
Another for Cute card Thursday 97: 'blooming gorgeous'
Theme Thursday: 'busy!' - with lots of elements
Tanda teaser 131: 'ink it up' - plenty of inking on the background as well as for the centre image

The embossed panel on the left and the central shape has been chalked.

Silver, pink and blue with love

This card is for sketch 48 on Card Patterns:


It's also for:

Basic Grey 12: 'animals' (butterflies are part of the animal kingdom, aren't they?) - I've used BG euphoria papers
Another for Allsorts 36: 'hearts and flowers'
KL stampin' n scrappin' 14: 'nesties, punches and dies - oh my' - the circles were die cut on my cricut, and the metallic butterfly is a spellbinders die cut
Another for One stop craft 64: 'love and kisses'
Stamp, scrap & doodle 24: 'spring'
Another for Totally Gorjuss: 'dimension' - particularly the flowers, but also the silver ribbon and the butterfly
Another for Dottie's world: 'leaf it!' - the digi image is a Charmed download - sugar & spice 'butterfly kisses'
Magical crafts 7: 'Valentine's'
Lexi's creations 6: 'Valentine's'
Squigglefly 33: 'summer card in January'
Another for Artful inkables Think ink Tuesday 12: 'think spring'
Die cuts R us 23: 'ribbon' - the silver ribbon down the lefthand side
Doodle palace: 'something new' - I couldn't wait to open the pack and use the Craftime silver flowers - and Alphabet 'N is for new' for the same reason
Another for Lucy's cards 4: 'glitter' - on the silver ribbon and in the centres of the silver flowers
Spoon full of sugar 88: 'freestyle' - anything you like
Another one for Belli 83: 'hearts'
Creative INSPIRATIONS 45: 'feminine'
Fab n funky 8: 'use any digi image or sentiment - the Charmed digi
Flutter by Wednesday 94: 'open - include butterfly, fairy or angel'
Gingersnap GC39:'metallics' - the butterfly die cut
Another for Inky impressions 28: 'Valentine' - must include pink and hearts
Little red wagon 13: 'hearts'
Quixotic 11: 'flutter by'
Stampavie 79: 'love card/Valentine'
Colour create 37: 'soft pink, soft blue, white and silver'
Cute card Thursday 97: 'blooming gorgeous'
Dutch dare 70: 'summer in winter'
Stampin' B 43: 'make a card with a butterfly, a flower and a die cut'
Treehouse 34: 'butterfly + flower'
Crafty Ann 6: 'metal' - the butterfly
Dare U 2 digi 30: 'hearts/Valentine' - the image is a Charmed digi
Frosted designs: 'embossing challenge' - the butterfly die cut is embossed
Fussy & fancy 3: 'hearts'
Humble pie: 'flowery'
Hand full of stamps 14: 'I give you my heart'

Gosh, that's a lot of challenges, but I guess that with a certain special date in February coming up soon, it's not surprising that there are a few around atm that are thinking about love, hearts, flowers etc.

I apologise that I took the picture slanting, but that was to avoid too much glare on the metallic butterfly and foiled flowers.

What's the point in lilac?

This card is for this week's DCM 'what's the point?' challenge thought up by Kathy.

I decided to use the points of stars and layered some lilac and silver ones and chipboard ones that I'd triple embossed with silver UTEE. I xyroned a piece of Christmas greetings vellum that I've had for a couple of years on to an unknown piece of starry lilac paper.

So it's a very simple card, but, with the large star and the embossed vellum, it seemed a shame to add anything else.

I'm also linking it for Alphabet L for lilac, Sparkle Creations 8: 'no colouring in' - inks are allowed, so the triple embossing is OK - and frosted designs: 'chipboard challenge'.





Having bought the 'flower frogs' with the spikes to try and display my cards to take photos, I managed to get a little easel this morning in Hobbycaft, so am trying using that (still haven't put my stamps back on the shelf though).

Visit to Hobbycraft

I've been out this morning. John was having a car to take him to a bowls committee meeting, so I went with him and was taken on to Hobbycraft at Crayford and then was collected after the meeting. So I had a good time to wander around - I did manage to spend some money (would have been rude not to), including some nice Bo Bunny papers. It really made a change to go somewhere like that ... and now I'm feeling cream crackered.

So this is what I bought:

BF January inchies

The theme for the inchies swap on BF this month was 'winter' - I've received my inchies today and they are so cool - thank you, girls - you are so creative.

Sorry, it's not a good photo because the light has faded now - much, much better irl.

Fashion

This is another gothic arch, this time for last week's SCD (yes, I'm going backwards!) on fashion.

It's also for If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 19, which is this inspiration ad:

The background paper is HOTP from my scraps box and the images are fancy ladies collage rub-ons that have been in my box for ages (I knew they would come in handy one day).

Something complete different

This is a gothic arch for this week's Something Completely Different theme 'angels' - and for me it is definitely something completely different because it's the first time I've made a gothic arch. The background is Imaginisce go for baroque rendez-vous-who. The little girl angels are from a picture on Art freebies, cut out and inked with chalk inks, as were the edges of the arch. A touch of stickles crystal ice on the wings and a piece of lace and it's done. It's simple, but it's a first - I can only get better!

A couple of prizes

I've received the stamp set that I won for the 'let it snow' rumble on 'In the Cottage Studio' - you can read about it here.


I've also just received the goodies I ordered from The Craft Barn with my £15 gift certificate for winning the Cuttlebug Spot 'let's party' - details here. I really enjoyed altering the wedding boxes that I bought from Poundland - such a good buy when you consider that I've still got the rest of the packs left and they gained me £15 worth of prizes - my original post is here.

Today's WOYWW

It's already Wednesday again and that means WOYWW over on Julia's blog.

I only made one card yesterday, so there's not much evidence of doing anything on here, except a pile of wooden stamps that I took off the shelf. I'd like to find a better way of taking photos of my cards to blog. Recently I've been standing cards on my printer because it's often the only place that is available, but I have to squat down to get a level photo (and often don't achieve that anyway).

When blog hopping I've noticed that some people put their card on a spiky thing to take the photo so I did a bit of research and came up with the idea of a 'flower frog' and I found two for sale on ebay and won them. I've worked out that the shelf that houses the wooden stamps is just about the right height to stand up and take a photo of a card in the spiky thing, so now I'm thinking I might leave a space for that purpose ... but where do I put the stamps then?

And have you noticed a non-crafty item to the left of my keyboard? - a DVD that arrived yesterday - one of my all-time favourite films, 'A Touch of Class'.

Postie has just arrived with some prize goodies, so I'll be blogging about those in a while.

All that scraps

This card is for the colour challenge on All that scraps: 'pink, chocolate and red'.

It was made with various scraps from my newly sorted box. The stamp is a Dawn Bibby one - I stamped it three times so I could decoupage the cupcake - coloured with copics. And just the addition of a few little gems and sentiment.

Nowadays, I tend to make square cards most of the time, but I need to bear in mind that some people who buy my cards to raise money for Tearfund prefer the A6 sizze (they are a bit cheaper), so I need to make more of these (must discipline myself!).

Warm wishes

This card is for the sketch on Digital Tuesday 40:
It's also for:
ColourQ 16: 'colour challenge'
and:
Pile it on 3: 'warm wishes'
Dottie's world: 'leaf it' - I've used the Charmed download Sugar and spice 'windy day'
Pink elephant 51: 'recipe: polka dots (on the ribbon), a bow and pink
Incy wincy 27: 'buttons, bows, ribbon and lace (the lace is under the paper with squares)
Another for Dare U 2 digi 29: 'buttons' - the image is a digi download
Mixed media Monday: 'the games people play'
Sunday stamper 88: 'hip to be square' (don't know whether this counts really because it's not a stamped image, but a digi, but there are squares!
Another for Spoon full of sugar 87: 'lots of layering'

I used BG Indian summer papers and an unknown strip with squares from my scraps box, three buttons, three bows, a piece of lace, some sticky polka dot ribbon and the 'warm wishes' sentiment was computer generated.

Trying to organise scraps

One of my new year crafting resolutions was to use up the leftovers, the offcuts, the scraps ... I've tried various 'systems' to store them and none of them have worked - I tried using separate folders for separate colours, tried sorting large and small pieces ... you name it, I've tried it ... and I've ended up with boxes with papers all higgledy piggledy, as you can see here:



So, I emptied the boxes today and have 'sorted' (mmmm not sure that's the correct word really, because perhaps they still need further 'sorting') them into broad colour ranges, so that the black and whites are together, followed by the blues, followed by the reds, pinks and purples etc etc ...

I confess that the large box doesn't really look much different, but at least there is some colour sorting and it has reminded me of all the paper treasures that I have, which might just encourage me to continue to use some of them. And, you will notice, that everything's in the one box now, having got rid of some of the stupid bits that were lurking in the boxes.



On the other hand, there's nothing quite like cutting into a brand new piece of paper! - which, of course, produces more offcuts!

Sweet template

This is for another challenge on CBC, this time for CBC CREW CHALLENGE - CBCC106 - template - Carolyn provided this lovely card as a template:



I've made another card with a gingham cupcake theme, similar to the ones in the last post, but following Carolyn's template:

Sweet gingham

It's quite a while since I played along with the challenges on Crafts by Carolyn, so I thought it was about time I did.

I've made four cards for the CBCcrew challenge - check it out - CBCC107 - Carolyn said: 'how about using an old favourite, dust down your ribbon box and find those ginghams, or you can use paper, fabric or anything else that has gingham check.'

A while ago I bought Dawn Bibby's cupcake kit (Kanban) from QVC, mainly because I wanted the acrylic stamps, but, of course, I got lots of glittery cupcake die cuts etc and background card.

So these are four quick cards that each feature gingham.

Sweet peas

For this card I've used copics for the Copic Colour challenge 48:

Because I chose to stamp and colour on a pink background and blended the deep pink copic with the blue, the blue looks more purple.

The base card was a white one that was ready embossed, from the Forever Friends range, so I'm linking for FF: 'quick and simple'.

I've used the Penny Black stamp 'sweet peas', stamping only a portion of it, which is right for 365 cards day 277: 'just a fraction' - use only part of an image, and the stamp itself is my take on Penny Black 85: 'something sweet' (I was going to use cakes or whatever, but thought sweet peas was a bit different).

This is also for:

Kraftin' Kimmie 14: 'no embellishments'
Stamping sisters in Christ 23: 'use the colour green'
Another one for Incy wincy 26: 'colour me wonderful' - use your favouring colouring medium (copics)
Paperminutes 97: 'colour combo: green/rose'
Glitterbees 2: 'colour challenge: bashful blue, positively pink, certainly celery'
Crazy4challenges 21: 'pretty in pink'
Divine Diva inspiration 20: this is the picture given for inspiration:

I swiped the bottom half of the card with chalk ink and copic, and copic'ed the top half:

Da vinci tag

It's a long while since I've done anything for the challenges on UKStampers - as a new series has just begun I thought I'd try and join in again. This is the instruction:

'Each week there will be 3 ingredients to include in your tag.
The first week include all 3, the next week 1 ingredient will be dropped and 1 new one added and so on.......... a rolling recipe.
Each week make a tag 8x16cm and post your finished tags on the blog..........until we get a gallery!

We'll start off easy! Here's this weeks ingredients

1 Any stamped image.
2.Lace.
3.Glitter.

I decided to incorporate the Leonardo stamp that I had for Christmas (I used it before here).

I chose a piece of beige cardstock that had a texture to it and brayered it using a couple of Ariondack rainbow ink pads. I then added a little distress tattered rose (I've discovered this needs to be re-inked or replaced), sanded it a bit and then stamped my image and heat embossed with black detail. I only had cream lace, so I brayered that a bit and then added strips of stickles gold - I wasn't really keen on adding the glitter, but it was in the recipe, so I thought I ought to!

I had to take the photo at an angle because otherwise the black embossed areas reflected the flashlight too much.

This also fits these other challenges:

Wednesday stamper: 'da Vinci' - this is why I chose this stamp
Tanda teaser 130: 'a touch of lace'
No time to stamp? 123: 'very vintage'
Another for Magical crafts 6: 'vintage style'
Another for Gingersnap GC38 spicy supply challenge: 'embossing powder'
Another for Lucy's cards 4: 'glitter'

Egg-cellent shot

This card is for sketch 52 on the sweetest thing:

The colour scheme is for challenge 7 on Sketchy colours: 'brown and turquoise' - I haven't used this combo for a long time, but I loved working with it again - the paper is DCWV (it's been lurking in my stash for a long while, waiting to be used).

It's also for:

House mouse 61: 'faux grid' (the first time I've done this) - the stamped image is HM 'egg-cellent shot' - one of the images sent to me by dear Gez
Another one for Pile it on 2: 'tie it around it' - use at least 3 ribbons
Alphabet: 'M is for mouse!'
Another one for Crafty pad 54: 'animals'
Another for Susie's sassy 6: 'card for a boy/option of an animal'
Paper cutz 25: 'farm animal' (perhaps it's a bit of a cheat, but I'm sure there would be some mice on a farm)
Paperplay week 3: 'handwriting' (despite my poor writing, I decided to handwrite the sentiment)
Glue, scissors, paper 13: 'love your own handwriting'
Stamp something: 'funny somethings'
The play date cafe 13: 'white, turquoise, brown, black
Cooking it up with Katie 9: 'recipe' - use a 'non human' image, add some texture (the three ribbons), use a product you;ve never used before (the HM stamped image)
Rainbow lady 87/88: 'fur'
Raise the bar 2: 'the gift that keeps on giving' - use something that's been given to you - the stamped image from Gez
Crafty angels 18: 'keep it simple' - one image, one piece of cardstock (the base card), one sheet patterned paper, one type of embellishment (ribbons) and one sentiment - no more, no less

Love

This card is for Paper Sundaes 1: sketch:

It's also for:

Pile it on 2: 'tie it around it' - use at least 3 ribbons
Anyone for Anya: 'black and white + 1' - I used the Greetings Farm digi 'Anya Valentine, coloured with copics
Corrosive 47: 'let's go digi'
Caardvarks: 'red heart challenge' - use red and incorporate hearts
Little paper shop 51: 'button it'
Pollycraft 32: 'fire and ice' - red and white
Jacksonbelle Tuesday: 'Valentine's day project'
Paper Maniac inspiration: 'texture, faux stitching and buttons - not a circle button'
Crafty creations 51: 'Valentines or love'
Creative Belli 83: 'hearts'
C.R.A.F.T. 34: 'colour challenge: red'
Crafty catz 16: 'love'
Dare U 2 digi 29: 'buttons' - the image is a digi
Allsorts 36: 'hearts and flowers'
Bee crafty 22: 'favourite colour combo' - black, white and red - one of my favourite combos
One stop craft 64: 'love and kisses'
Lily-boo too January challenge: 'Valentine' - I've used a digi image
Humble pie: 'love challenge' - red, pink and white and must include hearts
Kelly Jo colour chef 35: 'black, grey, red, white'
Ildi Co 8: 'colour combo - pink, red and white' (I hope it's OK that there's black as well)
Inky impressions 28: 'Valentine' - include pink and hearts
Another for Totally Gorjuss: 'dimension' - the ribbons, flowers and heart buttons

Winter inchies

These winter inchies are for the January swap on BF forum.

I started off with a piece of Fancy Pants dainty paper and spritzed it with my own home-made glimmer mist (a combination of water, drops of broken china distress ink and some perfect pearls). I then fused together (ironed) some angelina fusible fibres - crystal amethyst and astral blue, sprinkled with a few grains of Metal magic by Debbi Moore. I then ran the original sprayed piece of paper through the Xyron so that the decorated side was covered with adhesive so that the fibres stuck down. I stamped random snowflakes (Dovecraft clear stamps) with Elzybells sugar candy white pigment ink (this really is the best white I've discovered - I used to think Brilliance was the best until I tried this) and heat embossed with detail white. Lastly, I added some silver and aqua gems.

Because of the irridescence of the fibres over the 'glimmer mist', the inchies look different according to the light.

Now you see the snowflakes:



and now you don't:

I really had fun doing these, even though it involved using the iron (which doesn't get much use nowadays, lol!).

There are a few challenges current that these inchies are good for:

Sunflowers and dragonflies 24: 'winter wonderland'
Saturday spotlight 14: 'snowflakes gone wild'
Small world of inchies and twinchies: 'snow and ice'
2 red bananas: 'blue, white and silver'
Another for Apron strings: 'cardstock it is' - no patterned paper
Double dutch 35: 'baby, it's cold outside' - something frozen or frosty
Inchy by inch: 'B is for .... Brrrrrrrrrr (hope that's not cheating!)
Another for Kaboodle 22: 'anything but a card'
Squigglefly 32: 'clean and simple, plus blue'
Gingersnap GC38 spicy supply challenge: 'embossing powder'
Dollies elements challenge: 'favourite things' - choose three things from the Sound of music song - I chose (all three of these are incorporated in the inchies):

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs

Little red wagon 12: 'snowflakes'
Pals paper arts 26: 'anything but a card'
Penny's challenges: 'inchies'
Sunflowers and dragonflies 25: 'inchies and twinchies'
Lucy's cards 4: 'glitter'
Another for 3 clovers 47: 'baby, it's cold outside'
Another for Crafty Ann 6: 'embossing'
Another for Fussy & fancy 2: 'winter'
Another for Raise the bar 1: 'debut day!' - use something in your stash that hasn't been opened yet (the two packs of angelina fusible fibres)
Etsy inspired 72: 'sweetie pie tutus!' - I chose snowflak flurry tutu:

Susie & Vikki's Christmas club1: 'snow' (I know it's not a card, but when I get my inchy back from the swap I can use it on a card)