Scraplift Yourself

This was a very different challenge today on 365 - 'scraplift yourself': 'If you are also a scrapbooker, then this is definitely a challenge for you. Take a layout that you've done, and translate it into a card. Share the layout and the card with us so we can see your source of inspiration.'

This is the LO I've chosen, which was first shown in 2007:

I've made an Easter card, incorporating four inchies (which I'm going to share separately for an inchie challenge) - stamped and embossed and coloured in with gelly roll glaze pens. I've also coloured the centres of the fabric flowers.

As this is an Easter card, I'm linking for the following challenges:

Crafty Muse

A Spoonful of sugar 44

Lili of the valley 24

Just for you

This is a card for sketch 34 on Cutie Sunday:

It's also for yesterday's 365 challenge: Touchy Feely Friday - this is all about texture: 'Try to incorporate 3 different methods of adding texture to the paper on your card.'

I rang a piece of green card through the big shot with the birdie cuttlebug embossing folder and then swiped it with green and brown chalk inks, filing it in between to give a more distressed look - so that is one texture. The next texture is the lace that goes across the middle. The third texture is the stamped and embossed 'just for you' image (a stamp that I acquired this morning) and the colouring in is also an embossed effect using Sakura gelly roll glaze pens.

The background paper with lilies was part of a decoupage kit - lots left over - and has an envelope with a maching insert.

I know it's late, but I'm also linking for Stamp Something 'spring' challenge from last week.

Another Diamond Wedding card

This card is based on Laura's sketch 22 on this week's 2 Sketches 4 you (I did flip and twist it a bit, but I think it's still recognisable!):

And this time I have used a stamp (unlike the previous card), so I'm linking for Sunday Stamper 52: Diamonds are forever. I'm also linking for today's One Stop Craft challenge 22: bling tastic, because I've used a few bling heart gems. The papers used are the same as on the previous card, the Debbi Moore Anniversary stamp on the card that has a lovely sheen irl - stamped using Brilliance pearlescent purple and clear embossed.

Sorry for the quality of the scan - the 60 is silver, of course, and not black - might try and replace with a daytime photo tomorrow.

This is another one too for Paper Minutes challenge 55: numbers.

Diamond wedding anniversary

This card uses Dawny's sketch 11, the challenge on Papertake this week:

This card was also going to be for Sunday Stampers week 52: diamonds are for ever, but when I'd finished the card I realised I hadn't used any stamping - d'oh!! So I'll be making another one for that.

Anyway, I am also linking this for Charisma Cardz challenge 12: my favourite things, because I just love lilac colours and also love using embossing folders and I have used both on this.

The piece of card that's been embossed with diamonds has a lovely subtle sheen to it and the piece overlaying this is iridescent and has a different look according to how the light catches.


Very soon now I have to make a commissioned diamond wedding anniversary card - it needs to be a large card for lots of people to sign, but I won't be tackling that today.

I'm also linking this for Paper Minutes 55: numbers (60 is quite a large number for the years to have been married).

BF March ATCs received

These are the lovely ATCs that I received this morning from the monthly swap on BF - thanks, girls, and to Ali for hosting the swap again.

Now to think what to do for the April swap: spring.

Basic Grey challenge 27: texture

Just scraping in on time with this one for BG challenge 27: texture.

I've used granola papers. The piece that's been embossed with cuttlebug d'vine swirls started off the same as the one surrounding the glittered rub on (this rub on is slightly textured as well as glittered - can see it better if you click on the picture). Having dry embossed it, it was then swiped with blue iris chalk ink, sprinkled and then heat embossed with hydrangea blue/mauve moon glow embossing powder. The flowery sticky ribbon and the blooms add further texture.

I love doing the BG challenges - a lovely opportunity to use BG papers, not that I need any excuse - I missed a couple, but still intend to do them when I can, as this has been one of my favourite challenge blogs since it started.

Another CJ: Colour

I've just finished my DLO on another CJ - this time it is Maxine's (Maxia's), the last in the group on BF that started last July. Being the last entry in this CJ means that I have the pleasure and privilege of seeing it in its entirity - I don't think Maxine is going to be disappointed - the CJ is full of rich colour.

I've used DCWV papers, dymo letratag tape, blooms etc and ribbons and chipboard as requested by Maxine, who asked us to use any colours, but not black and white. I enjoyed the opportunity to make the mostof these bright colours.

This means that this particularly CJ group is at an end and my own CJ will be making its way back to me soon - I'm so looking forward to that.

And I can't complain, because I'm already involved with the new BF group and have Paddy's 'Nature's Beauty' to add to.

Flash of Inspiration

'Flash of inspiration' is the title of Carole's (cazat81's) CJ in the CBC group. Carole says: 'I look forward to seeing what the flash of inspiration is that gets your camera clicking away.'

For the first time ever, there are no patterned papers, no embellishments, no ribbons ... only photos on my DLO, including the backgrounds which are photos that have been faded (hard to see on here). I admit that I was tempted to add other things, but in the end I decided to let the photos speak for themselves.

Sorry about the flash shining on the bottom part of the printed tape.

Stamping without a stamp

'Stamping without a stamp' is a challenge set by Nikki on CBC: 'We are all very used to picking up an ink pad and a stamp... but what if you had an ink pad... and NO stamps.. I want to see what you could do without them...'

I used a Colorbox chalk ink pad - the cat's eye shape - azurite - to 'stamp' the petals of the blue flowers.

I made this card with orange, pink and blue to fit the challenge 12 on Keryn card blog: 'Today's combination is: - Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose, Ballet Blue and a neutral.' I'm not sure whether my colours are near enough, but irl the main part of the card is a lot more orange than it looks here - once more it's a piece of K * Co BW Mira. The gingham ribbons are Papermania sticky ones.

This is another one for today's 365 as well - 'color me anything but that' - another orange card.

Art Creations Friday: challenges 17 and 18

I've crated a digital picture for Art Creations Friday 17th and 18th challenges combined (17 was the picture of the girl and 18 was the background).

This is what the picture of the girl looked like originally:

And this is my version, using various elements within Picture It:

365 day 26: color me anything but that!

On 365 today, Pam said: 'I know I have my favorite colors to work with, but I find that I shy away from others, and I suspect that you do, too. I asked DT member Amy to work with her least favorite color to scrap with, and she said that this particular color of purple is one she doesn't use very often.

Okay, now it's your turn to dig around in the bottom of your stash for that color that you don't often use.'

I found this quite difficult, because I love crafting with every colour of the rainbow and like experimenting with different combinations, but the colour that I least work with is orange, so that's what I chose.

I used a sheet of K & Co BW Mira doubled sided paper, so the background was created with one side and the bottom right hand corner was cut from the reverse and stuck over a folded bloom. The orange ribbon on the left was run through the xyron (I think I got this ribbon in a swap - it's been in my box waiting for inspiration). The swirl was cut on the cricut.

The main paper on here looks a bit yellowy, but irl it is definitely orange through and through!

I'm enjoying these 365 challenges and, as well as others, they are helping me build up some stock following my sale for Tearfund that has left it a bit down in parts.

Clowning around

I've used the sketch from Friday Sketchers 44 for this card:

I'm linking for TGIF 77: 'keep smiling' and Theme Thursday 'circus and/or clowns. It's also good for CBCC090 'child's play' on CBC. Also for Rainbow Lady's challenge 53: 'balloons'.

The papers, Happy Birthday and balloons are all DCWV and the clown image is clipart.

Tag and card

The challenge on Tag you're it this week is 'as easy as 1 2 3: 1 Piece of Ribbon, 2 Buttons, 3 Eyelets or brads.

For my tag and card I've used a Scrapworks Fastcard as the basis, which includes a put-together-yourself envelope to match. I made Ellison thin cut buttons and added the necessary ribbon (it is just one piece, but cut) and brads:

I've then used the tag to put on a card for Rosie's challenge 27 on Rosiedee this week, to use 'naturals or neutrals'.

The challenge this week on Crazy Amigo is 'stripes', so I'm linking for that and also for challenge 21 on One Stop Craft 'tag it'.

Salt: getting to know our design team

With the addition of a few new faces to the team, we thought it would be a good idea to get to know them better! With that in mind, they will each have a chance to introduce themselves to you during the week in-between each challenge, so please go on over to Salt and meet Melita, who tells us a bit about herself.

While you're there, please scroll down and look at the recent crafting of the team and perhaps take part in one of our challenges - there's still a prize up for grabs for the Friendship challenge sponsored by A Faith Perspective.

Cos I'm a woman

'Cos I'm a woman' is the topic this week on DCM and I've also used the sketch from Sketch Saturday for this card:

The stamped image was done with one of my QVC foam stamps - quite a large stamp, so I had to use a 7 x 5 card blank. I inked with Brilliance coffee bean, clear embossed - stamped on to an unknown background and then mounted on a piece of paper with gold dots, hence the Ellison thin cuts buttons in gold.

Charisma Cardz challenge 11

This card is for challenge 11 on Charima Cardz, which is this sketch:

The background paper is Papermania, the pink patterned paper is Pamela Woods and the image is another glittered rub on (I am loving these):

Tamara card sketch 87

This card is for sketch 87 on Tamara: The background paper is HOTP,plus other bits and pieces:

Birthday card

This card uses the sketch on Lili of the valley challenge 23:


The card uses various offcuts, all with a burgundy theme - I love lilacs and burgundy, so I'm linking for Secret Crafter challenge 24: favourite colour (I seem to have shown a lot of this colour today).

Rainbow Lady's challenge 52 is birthday (I keep forgetting this, even though I've shown other birthday cards) - so I'm linking this.

Cute Card Thursday 52: recipe

For this card for Cute Card Thursday 52: recipe, I've used more of those papers from this morning, plus some little Papermania elements for the recipe: something torn, two pieces of paper and four embellishments:

365 cards day 24: setting the scene

Yesterday's topic on 365 was 'setting the scene' - Krista said: 'I love those cards that create a scene, so I thought we'd give it a try. This time we'll make it a nature scene.'

I've done four quick 'invertage' cards (like decoupage, but the other way round). I had to scan them because any attempt at photos was ending up with a shining glare with the flash, so they don't look as good on here as irl, but you get the general idea:

I just missed the deadline for ABC F for flowers (new challenge today) but am still linking there - lots of flowers on these cards. And this week's Created byhand challenge is also 'flowers'.

365 cards day 25: ad inspired

The challenge on 365 today is 'ad inspired' - 'Use this advertisement to inspire your card creation':

In fact, I was so inspired by using the papers I chose for this that I ended up making three cards.

The main papers are Anna Griffin and the vellum overlays are Papermania.

For the first card, I simply cut out part of a flower from the vellum and overlaid it, tucking a bit in underneath the darker background paper.


The second card has the vellum completely overlaying the flowery paper, with just the bands of paper across the bottom on top of the vellum:

And the third one has a partially cut out flower from the vellum overlaying the two papers:

I enjoyed doing these cards and was so inspired by the colours of the ad.