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Sunday, 5 June 2011

With gratitude

Paper players challenge 50 is 'kind thanks' so this is a quick card made with components from an Anna Griffin kit:

This is also for:

CES 39: clean & simple
Inspire me Fridays 9: anything goes

Krafty kid's card

The other day I submitted a card for the current ABC Christmas challenge, but I hadn't read the challenge properly and failed to realise that the kid's card had to be made with some kraft. So this is now an A5 card made with kraft paper background and pieces from the BG basics kraft paper pad, one piece being stamped with a whispers snow stamp.

It's also for Christmas challenges {with sketches} 1:

The embossed image is one from a kit I got a couple of years ago and the sentiment is Craftwork cards. Not sure what the red and white paper is - was in my Christmas scraps box.

This is also for:

Sentimental Sundays 58: inspired by song - Frosty, the snowman
Paper sundaes 72: let's get sentimental
Creative inspirations 114: cute bears/animals only
Pollycraft 95: be my teddy bear
Card cupids: more than three layers

Christmas candy

The theme for this week's Winter wonderland is the 'foods of Christmas' and this can include Candy canes, so I've used these decoupaged ones from Anna Griffin, with cards that were also from one of her kits. The sentiment is from Craftwork cards.

This is also for:

Sketchy colors 74: red, green and white
CES 39: clean & simple
Card cupids: more than three layers
Sundays with Santa (facebook) week 22: flat flowers (I hope holly counts)

Cool penguin

It was Carol's turn to choose the theme for today's Christmas gang challenge (if you want to know more about the Christmas gang, please click on one of the names in my sidebar and contact to find out how to join in).

Carol asked us to make a Christmas card using pastel colours, a bow and a penguin.

I've used the sketch for Ribbon reel 3:

This is also another card for my challenge 23 'wintertime blues' on my Christmas challenge blog - you can read about it here - if you haven't joined in yet, now would be a good time to start making those Christmas cards and, as the challenge was set on the first Saturday of the month, there will be a prize for a randomly picked winner.

The penguin image is a digital one from Delicious Doodles - I'm entering this for Delicious Doodles 28 ' texture' challenge - the texture on the white card has been created by using an embossing folder to create the dots. Also the silver ribbon has a texture to it. This is also for One stop craft 134 'texture' and Bling it on 4 'embossing'.

The scalloped circle was cut with a nestie and the image coloured with copics and the edges distressed with stormy sky DI. I was rather pleased with the way the bow turned out (often don't have much success with this kind of bow).

I think this could work as a card to give to a man, definitely a boy anyway, so this is also for:

Paper issues: time for the guys
Freshly brewed 49: it's a guy thing
Scrapbook sisters 38: it's a man's world
Simon says: for a male
Fussy & fancy: card for a man or boy

It's also for:

Stampin sisters in Christ 92: use something new on your project - although I've had the penguin image for some time, this is the first time I've used it
Digital Tuesday 113: animal friends
Card cupids: more than three layers
Top tip Tuesday 36: wrap it up with ribbon
Let's craft and create 20: dies to die for
Stamp something: June digi day
Creative CAS for June: winter wonderland
Cutie stampers 104: blue/white
Inspire me Fridays 9: anything goes
Stamp insanity 61: anything goes

Saturday, 4 June 2011

What's one your desk right now?

I didn't intend to make this card, but when I saw this morning's Stamp, scrap & doodle challenge 'what is on your desk right now' I thought I would make a card straight away. The idea is to a make a card with that's on your desk right now. I'm surrounded atm by bits and pieces not put away since the last crafting session.

Having made this card on Thursday evening, I had some of the paper, feathers and other bits and pieces still around me, so this is the card I've made, this time using a chipboard dress on the feather (I took the photo outside to get the light, but there's a gentle breeze which blew the feather around a bit).


This is also for Creative card crew: for a Diva!

Bubbly Funk May inchies

This morning I've received the monogram inchies made by the BF group for May inches - thank you, girls, these are lovely:

Vintage rose postcard

This is a CAS card using one of my favourite stamps: rose postcard by Stamps Happen.

It was simply stamped on to a kraft card blank using vintage photo DI and the edges distressed with the same ink. I've usually coloured this image when I've stamped it, but decided with this to leave it simple and monochromatic.

I think I might make more of these to put into sets as notecards.

This is for:

Kort o mania 41: monochromatic
Guylou's inimitability: monochromatic
Less is more 18: colour monochrome

Friday, 3 June 2011

Wintertime blues

It's June already and time for another challenge over on my Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog - challenge 23 is 'wintertime blues' - I'd like to see some blue - a little or a lot - on your card. More details and the link to enter your card are here. And, as it's the first Saturday in the month, there is a prize for a randomly chosen winner - another good reason to get out your Christmas stash and get on with stocking up to be ahead of the game when others start to panic as Christmas approaches.

For my card I've used items from a Patchwork Pals kit that I bought from QVC nearly three years ago (and I've still only used less than half of the kit). I think it would make a cute Christmas card for a child (or twins!).

I don't know why some of the snowflakes look red - they are actually silver on blue.

This is also for:

Christmas inspirations 26: a shaped card
Stampavie and more 144: more than a fold
365 cards day 42: fancy folds pop up
Southern girls 20: start of winter Christmas
Bah! humbug 22: surprise! surprise! - a different kind of card

Thursday, 2 June 2011

Passion for fashion

This is a last-minute card for Daring cardmakers 'passion for fashion' challenge.

Background paper is Imaginations 'accessory'. Although the front of the card is covered, the stardream black of the card blank adds a bit of pizzazz to the card, as well as the pink embossed corset on the feather. The pink embossing is a lot brighter irl.



This is also for:

Sweet stampin 'ooh la la'.
Totally papercrafts 68: pink and girlie
Creative card crew: for a Diva!

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Die cut Christmas

This card is for Christmas stamping 'to die for' - using a die cut as the main image.

I love these shaped cards and the foiled nestie shape sits well in the middle, with the Kanban die cut topper in the centre of that.

The holly stamped in the corners are Anna Griffin stamps with stazon cactus green, with the berries coloured with a copic.

This is also for:

Cutie Sunday 141: green/pink
Crafty catz 84: pink and green
Creations by Gill M 8: pink/green with flowers
Secret crafter Saturday 136: clean and simple

More reindeer ...

... and the man in the red suit!

This card has a topper like the previous card - this time with Santa and the reindeer.

I'm just scraping in at the last minute (hopefully!) for Jingle Belles challenge 'we three kings' - no, it's not actually the three kings, but using three different design papers (except I've cheated a bit because one of these 'papers' - the red foiled card with swirls and glitter) is in fact a recycled Christmas cracker). The top paper is Bo Bunny and the other is Craft Creations.

This has a glittery gold ribbon across the middle, so it's another for my CHNC challenge 22 and another for Bah! humbug 21: sleigh bells ring - to use bells on a Christmas card.

This is also for:

Pear tree 51: sparkle
Challenge up your life 44: recycling (the Christmas cracker)
Fab n funky 75: what'eva

Simple sleigh bells

Creative sketches 34H holiday/celebration:



I've made the most simple card possible - a red 7 x 5 card blank with a Kanban topper, with gold and red ribbon.

This is another card for my own CHNC challenge 22 'to use ribbon'. (More info about that if you click on the link - if you haven't done so yet, I'd love you to join in).

I chose the picture because it had sleigh bells on it for Bah! humbug 21: sleigh bells ring - to use bells on a Christmas card.

This is also for:

Creative inspirations 114: cute bears/animals only
Secret crafter Saturday 136: clean and simple

I nearly gave up on this one ...

The number of times I put things on and took them off and altered what I was doing ... I nearly gave up on this one.

I chose the shaped card and covered it with Victoria & Albert paper - this is for:


I die cut the brown strips at the sides using the sizzix Tim Holtz alterations 'ornate' die. The friendship word paper is Sandylion. The nestie cut frame is K & Co and the piece with 'thinking of you' stamped is BG - a mixture, using up some scraps.

The colour combo is for Colour create 71: white, cream and brown.

This would work well for a male recipient, so it's also for:

Aud sentiments 29: for a male
Charisma cardz 21: boy oh boy
Simon says: for a male
Polka doodles 21: male theme

This is also for:

365 cards day 92: my favourite thing - CHOCOLATE!
Let's craft and create 20: dies to die for
Cardmakin mamas 21: use your scraps

Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Offbeat violets

The current challenge for ABC is V for violet. I've recycled some stamped flowers from a card I received, mounting on a couple of nestie label shapes, the yellow paper being BG offbeat.


This is also for:

Make it colourful 20: yellow & purple

A life on the ocean wave ...

There are a few challenges around atm asking for us to use the colours of our country - so, being in the UK, the colours are red, white and blue:

For fun: patriotic colours
Kaboodle 69: show your colours
Daisy doodles 34: red, white, blue
The stamping boutique 7: red, white and blue
Stamp insanity 60: red, white and blue
Fun at fairy knoll: Memorial day - red, white and blue

I used the sketch for Pixie cottage 71, which has the optional theme of 'here comes the sun':

Papers are English Paper Company 'all aboard', the printed ribbon has been in my box for ages (I think it came in a scrapbooking kit) and the photo was in a Kanban 'men's collection.

This is also for:

Polka doodles 21: male theme
Scrapbook sisters 37: row, row, row your boat

Just for you

I've used a collage stamp - 'timeless memoirs' by Stampendous - one that I love using from time to time. This time I stamped a pen from an Inkadinkado stamp that actually has three pens on it - I stamped with brilliance galaxy gold and embossed with detail gold powder. I coloured with copic cardinal and gold for the nib, cut it out and placed it over the original pen that was part of the collage.

I think this card would be equally suitable to send to a male or female - I'm always being asked for male cards. The gold embossing looks much richer irl, as does the pearlescent card blank.


This is for:

Charisma cardz 21: boy oh boy
Aud sentiments 29: for a male
Stamp something: something sentimental
Stampin' B 112: make a collage card

Pastel rainbow

I wanted to use up some scraps of Tutti Frutti papers (bought these long ago and they have seemed to go on forever - not that I'm complaining, because I really like them).

I also had this lovely rainbow tag with an organza overlay - it was originally a label with a top I bought - far too good to get rid of -and the manufacturer's name is on the reverse. I printed out the Happy Birthday on my dymo letratag. This is for C.R.A.F.T. 104: alter/recycle - and Challenge up your life 44: recycling.


The flowers were cut with nesties and the 'buttons' stamped with a lovely little button stamp from the PM Clare Curd set. You can't really see it here, but I lightly distressed edges with Victorian velvet DI.

I made sure that I had six layers altogether, which makes the card OK for Shabby tea room challenge 54 '2-4-6', which has this inspirational picture:

and there is a recipe to use 2 patterned papers, 4 buttons and 6 layers.

And on Inspiration Avenue this week the theme is 'over the rainbow', so I'm linking for that - also for Papertake weekly 'pale, pretty pastels'.

This is also for:
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: let it all hang out - over the edge
HLSC 24: lots of embellishments
Ladybug: make your own embellies
Tuesday throwdown 51: DIY embellishments
Use it Tuesday 8: flowers - with a stamp you have not previously inked (the button)
Oldie but a goodie 20: lots of layers (the button stamp is over 6 months old, but this is the first time I've used it)
Let's craft and create 20: dies to die for
Ooh-la-la 81: happy birthday
Paper pretties 155: birthday card
PaperPlay 21: blossoms and blooms
Party time Tuesday 18: anything goes
2 sisters 41: anything goes

Monday, 30 May 2011

Perfume - just for you

This is for Everybody art challenge 143 sketch:

It's also for Going grey with Scrap-creations challenge to use at least three different design papers - the papers are all Basic Grey marjolaine, with the edges sponged with bundled sage DI. This is also for Basic Grey 45: shabby chic, Paper sundaes 71: vintage or shabby chic, and Amber's crafts and stuff 11: vintage.

The background paper is just right for Alota 59 'check it out'. The next layer was cut with a nestie label and the image paper was torn around a rectangle.

The stamped image is a Kanban stamp, coloured with copics. I added the flowers with the gemstone - the outer flower was an odd one that I've had for ages and it seemed to be just right for this card - I added some bundled sage DI to that.

This is also for:

Paper romance 52: distressing
My time to craft 142: use a die cut
Let's craft and create 20: dies to die for
Paper players 49: anything goes

Restful colours

This week on Creative craft the challenge is to use 'restful colours' - blue, brown and cream.

I used the sketch for ICS 116:

And the colours are for ColorLab 42: soft suede, crumb cake and baja breeze.

I stamped the PM Clare Curd flowers with memento rich cocoa and coloured with copics aqua blue and frost blue, taking some of the colour out of the larger petals with a blender - this is for iCopic lover 32: translucent colouring. The sentiment stamp is from Hobbycraft.

Unfortunately, the photo makes the base card look more grey than cream - definitely cream irl (light is so poor as it's raining now - typical Bank Holiday weather!).


This is also for:

Stamp something: something sentimental
Dream valley 8: stamp something
Use it Tuesday 8: flowers - with a stamp not previously inked - I haven't used any of this PM set until now (although I bought it a while ago)
Top tip Tuesday 35: use two or more stamps
Nightshift stamping 68: clean & simple with flowers
Sukkersott 126: show us your style - I love stamping and flowers
Clear it out Tuesday: colors: any colouring medium
PaperPlay 21: blossoms and blooms
Inspire me Fridays 8: anything goes
Creative card crew: anything goes
The paper shelter 15: anything goes
Truly scrumptious 57: anything goes

Framed with acetate

The current challenge on Stampotique 31 is to use acetate, so I found up some that I bought long ago that has 'best wishes' foil embossed all over it and put this behind a die cut frame (this is for City crafter 58: I've been framed) , having stamped the Janet Klein butterfly stamp directly on the pale pink card - also the corners using Penny Black corner piece, all stamped with memento rich cocoa. The PB stamp was one that I received as a prize for April challenges on Penny Black at Allsorts. The flowers are Martha Stewart.

It was hard to get a photo without reflection on the acetate - but at least it shows that it is actually acetate!

Stamp man challenge 23 is a recipe to choose a line from a grid - I chose: die cut, homemade background and sparkle & bling (the flowers are glittered in the centres and the acetate shines).


This is also for:

Penny Black 153: one for the girlies
Use it Tuesday 8: flowers - with a stamp not previously inked (the PB corner piece)
Dream valley 8: stamp something
Top tip Tuesday 35: use two or more stamps
Word play 4: scallops
Stamptacular 113: bugs or boys
Flutterby Wednesday 156: CAS, including butterfly
Spoon full of sugar 153: things with wings
Allsorts 105: things with wings
Crazy amigo: insects
Nightshift stamping 68: clean & simple with flowers
Sukkersott 126: show us your style - I love stamping and flowers
Inky impressions 16: shine on (the acetate and glittered flowers)
Let's craft and create 20: dies to die for
My time to craft 142: use a die cut
Inspire me Fridays 8: anything goes
Creative card crew: anything goes
The paper shelter 15: anything goes
Truly scrumptious 57: anything goes
2 sisters 41: anything goes

Corner-wise

I was prompted to make this card by this week's Less is more challenge 17 to 'pick a square'. The idea is to pick one of these squares for the placement of your image.

So I chose to stamp in the bottom left hand corner.

I've used the colours for Cards & things 80:

The base card is slightly greener looking irl. I used a La Blanche stamp 'fence with roses' and am therefore entering this into the SCAD friends with heart challenge 8 (this is a stamp that they stock) 'anything goes'.

The stamp was bigger than the space I wanted to fill and this time I didn't want to stamp it off the edge, so I put some strips of masking tape across two sides of the stamp before inking it with memento tuxedo black, taking these off before stamping, to reveal the smaller inked image. As I've never done this before, I'm linking for Spotlight 'challenge yourself' to try something new.

Because it wasn't an acrylic stamp, the hardest part of making the card was placing the image in the right place.

This is also for:

Nightshift stamping 68: clean & simple with flowers