You & Me...

Hi guys

I'm back again as promised.  This time I'm sharing a card I made a few days ago to give to my man, for the third anniversary of our first date (awwww!) :)

I wanted to say something other than 'Happy Anniversary' so this is what I came up with...

I adhered some Pink Petticoat digi paper to the base card.  I then had the idea of fitting two hearts together like a jigsaw so I die cut two hearts from textured cardstock and then cut a section away from one of them so they could fit together.  I used a little tape on the reverse to hold them together while I stamped the 'you & me' before using 3D foam to adhere them to the card.  I then simply printed the 'just fit' from MS Word using a font similar to that of the stamp onto white paper before using a flag die to cut this out and adhere to the card.  Two little heart gemstones were added to finish.  These were not self-adhesive so I used some Glossy Accents to stick these down and then left them well alone to dry!

Materials used:

• Digi Paper: Pink Petticoat - Pretty Little Hearts (Pure Silver)
• White cardstock from stash
• Die: Xcut - Nested Hearts
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Say It In Style
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Gemstones from stash

Challenge entries:

2 Sisters Challenge - Challenge #174 - Black, White and 1 Other Colour

Charisma Cardz - Challenge #7 - CAS

Crafty Catz - Challenge 224 - Anything Goes

That's all from me.  I hope you're having a lovely Sunday and that all you mums out there are having a relaxing day.

Take care

Happy Mother's Day

Hi there

Today I'm sharing a card I've made for my chap's mum for Mother's Day.

I wanted to have a go at the latest challenge at Uniko Studio where Bev has set us the theme of 'Hello Spring'.  We also have a lovely photo and colour palette to use as inspiration which I've shown below.

Here's what I created...

And this is the inspiration photo...

I started by using a scrap of white cardstock and stamped one of the images from the Natures Treasures 1 stamp set to create a delicate background in pale blue and green ink.  I then overstamped the leaves and the bloom from Flower Power sets 1 and 3.  I used a square die to create the inked panel which was matted onto a square of green textured cardstock.  I stamped part of the sentiment on the panel and then the rest of the sentiment on the base card before adhering the panel using 3D foam.  I finished it off with a single green pearl.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko Studio - Natures Treasures 1, Flower Power #1 and Flower Power #3; Clearly Besotted Stamps - Happy Days sentiment)
• Ink: Versa Color - Baby Blue, Seafoam, Celadon, Sky Blue, Royal Blue
• Die: Xcut - Nested Squares
• Cardstock: Green - Papermania Premium Textured Cardstock; white from stash
• Green pearl from stash

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Dream Valley - Challenge 78 - Mothering Sunday

Charisma Cardz - Challenge #7 - CAS

Crafty Catz - Challenge 224 - Anything Goes

Stampin' for the Weekend - Spring Colours

CAS(E) this Sketch - #70

Thanks for popping by.  I'll be back shortly with another card I made this week.

Bye for now

Mums are like buttons...

Hi guys

I want to start by saying a massive THANK YOU to all my followers, subscribers, anyone that's commented on my posts and my lovely crafty blog friends.  This is my 200th post and I can't believe the support and general loveliness I've received since I created Neet & Crafty.  I always feel so overwhelmed when I receive so many visits and comments about my creations.  I know I've been a bit rubbish with posts and comments lately but I'm not going anywhere, I love this hobby so long may it continue! xxx

Now, on to today's card.  This is the card I made and posted to my Mum for Mother's Day and I can share it tonight as she opened it early without realising it was a card for tomorrow! Oops :)

I printed the lovely digi sentiment from Pink Petticoat onto a white cardstock panel before doing a bit of stamping, masking and die-cutting.  I layered everything up but kept everything fairly flat on this card as it was posted oversees.  

Materials used:

• Digi Sentiment: Pink Petticoat - Mums are Like Buttons
• Stamps & Dies: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Fancy Florals
• Ink: Versa Color - Sky Blue, Hyacinth, Orchid, Sage

Challenge Entries:

Oh La La Creations - Challenge #152 - To A Special Lady

Dream Valley Challenges - Challenge 78 - Mothering Sunday

Craft Your Passion - Challenge 206 - Mother's Day / For the Ladies

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 258 - It's a Girl Thing

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes with Buttons

Crafty Catz - Challenge 224 - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 314 - Floral Delights

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you have a great Sunday tomorrow and that all you mums out there get treated :)

Take care

Geometric Birthday

Hi guys

I am still here!  Massive apologies for being missing in blogland this week, I just haven't found any crafty time at all.  Then when I sat down today, after making nothing for over a week my mojo decided to go on strike!  But after a good old shuffle through my stash I managed to create something, finally!

Most of the cards I've made recently have used very feminine and soft colours so I've gone for something completely different today - a clean and graphic design which will be great for a man's card, something I usually really struggle with.

I wanted to take part in the latest challenge at Less is More which is to use three of something.  I then tied this in with the colours from the current challenge at CAS - Colours and Sketches.  I only have one small pack of Stampin' Up cardstock and three of the colours in this pack are the ones chosen for this week's challenge so I had to go with it!

I started by die cutting a rectangle out of the three different colours of cardstock.  I then stamped each rectangle with a different pattern using VersaMark ink before embossing with clear embossing powder to add a gloss finish (and almost burnt my fingers in the process as the rectangles were so small!!).  I created a frame for my white cardstock panel by matting onto some matching Island Indigo cardstock and then, after taking ages to work out where to place everything I stamped the sentiment.

I really like how this turned out.  I was going to just use VersaMark to create the darker patterns but I think the glossiness of the embossing powder really lifts it.

Materials used:

• Die: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Geometric Style
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Building Blocks and Geometric Style
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Clear
• Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Pool Party; white linen cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Less is More - Week 164 - Three of something
CAS - Colours and Sketches - Challenge #66

Thanks as always for your visits, it really does make my day when I see people have visited and left such lovely comments.  I promise not to leave it so long before the next post!

Congratulations (Take Two!)

Hiya

I've got another card to share with you, this time its the card I made for my mum to give to my brother and his new fiancee.

Apologies for the rubbish photography on this one, it was taken late in the evening with artificial light and my daylight lamp...

This one is fairly self-explanatory.  I stamped the flourish on a white cardstock panel before matting this on some matte silver cardstock to frame it.  I then layered up with stamped and die cut hearts and a sentiment strip.  Pearl accents were added to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Inkadinkado - Modern Flower Flourish; Clearly Besotted Stamps - Love Hearts and Happily Ever After
• Ink: Versa Color - Cinnamon, Gold and Silver; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Dies: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Love Hearts; MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax
• Pearls: Hobbycraft - White Pearl Gem Stones 3mm

Challenge Entry:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #86 - Anything Goes

As always, thank you so much for taking the time to visit, and your feedback is always appreciated.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend x

Congratulations

Hi guys

I've not managed to find any crafty time yet this weekend but I'd just like to share a card I made last week to give to my brother and his girlfriend on their engagement.

I cut a square of white pearlescent cardstock slightly smaller than the base card and mounted this with low tack tape onto a piece of pale lavender cardstock, leaving a slim border.  I then cut through the two layers with a heart die.  Next I stamped the base card with the hearts, butterflies and flowers, in the area that would appear within the aperture.  Next I stamped the sentiment onto a strip of vellum with VersaMark ink before embossing with silver embossing powder.  This was then wrapped around the pearlescent panel before mounting the layers together.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Many Messages, Framed Sentiments, Happily Ever After
• Ink: Versa Color - Laurel Leaf, Misty Mauve, Smoke Blue; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Silver
• Die: Xcut - Nested Hearts
• Cardstock and vellum from stash

Challenge entry:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #86 - Anything Goes

I've not made anything new this weekend but I have been having a go at redesigning Neet & Crafty.  I'd love to know what you think.  I wanted to give it a more fresh, clean and modern feel so hopefully I've achieved that. You won't believe how many colour combos I've been faffing around with since last night!  I don't have any software of any kind so this was done entirely using the free options on PicMonkey.

Thanks for dropping by, I'm now off to hang the washing out now that we have some lovely sunshine in the UK (I know how to party!!)

Bye for now x

Spring Flower Arranging

Hi there

I'm so disorganised this week so here I go again with another last minute entry, this time for the current (only just!) challenge at Less is More which is to make a One Layer Card using the theme 'Spring Flowers'.

Last month I placed my very first order with Lili of the Valley so I thought I'd ink up this little cutie...

This was a really simple one layer card although my colouring could be a lot better, I still need MUCH more practice but tonight I had limited time to perfect it.  After I stamped and coloured the image I realised I hadn't really planned what sentiment to use or even where to put it!  So after faffing around for ages laying lots of different clear stamps in different places, I opted for the tiny With Love stamp which nestled in quite nicely.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Lili of the Valley - Flower Arranging; Clearly Besotted Stamps - A Basket Full (sentiment)
• Ink: Memento - London Fog
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers

I am also linking this up to the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #86 - Anything Goes

Simply Create Too - Challenge #57 - Animals

Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes

Phew, again!  Although, after last night's stress of linking my card with just 12 minutes to spare, I managed to bag Runner Up status!  Perhaps I work well under pressure?! Hmmmm I think not!  :D

Take care my lovelies and I hope to see you again very soon.

Make A Wish

Hi guys

I've got a really quick post for you to share a card I've literally just made when I got home from work.  One of the challenges ends in about 20 minutes so I've got to get a wriggle on to get this one linked up!

I've used two of my most favourite stamp sets from Clearly Besotted for this one.  And I love the colours on this weeks challenge at Dynamic Duos and thought they would work brilliantly with these images.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps: Dandelion Dreams and Elegant Butterflies
• Ink: Versa Color - Petal Pink and Cement; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Cardstock from stash
• Pearls: Hobbycraft - White Pearl Gem Stones 3mm

Challenge entries:

Clearly Besotted Challenge #9 - In Flight

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #86 - Anything Goes

Dynamic Duos - #93 - Soft Pink and Stone

Phew, that was a close one.   Thanks for popping by to my little space on the net.  I hope to be back very soon with more to share with you xx

Fabulous 40

Hi guys

Sorry I'm so late in the day and also for not managing to share anything with you this week, its just been one of those weeks!

Tonight, I'd like to share the card I made for my brother's girlfriend who turned 40 yesterday, and who also became my brother's fiancee on Friday!  That's one big celebration!

I recently received some new goodies from Clearly Besotted Stamps (yes, I'm addicted!) so I used a few of them on this card.  I firstly stamped the hounds tooth background.  I then layered up a die cut doily and some patterned paper die cut with a flag die, onto which I stamped the sentiment.  Next I stamped two of the butterflies from the new Elegant Butterflies stamps set, so glad I managed to get these, they are absolutely gorgeous.  These were then cut out with their co-ordinating dies and I covered these with Glossy Accents and left them to dry.  These were finally added to the card on 3D foam.  I then added a few gemstones to finish.  I also decided to stamp the corner of the inside of the card and an envelope to match.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Background Builder III, Elegant Butterflies, Say It In Style, Basic Numbers
• Dies: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Geometric Doily Die, Elegant Butterflies; MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax
• Ink: Versa Color - Magenta and Celadon; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Premium Cardstock (teal); white cardstock from stash
• Patterned Paper: Pebbles - Sunny Side 6 x 6 paper pad
• Gemstones from stash

Challenge entries:

Stampin' for the Weekend - Sparkle and Shine

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes Birthday

Crafty Creations - Challenge #258 - Happy Birthday
Totally Papercrafts - Challenge #209 - Female Birthday, must have a number or birthday sentiment
Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 226 - Pink and Green
Dream Valley Challenges - Challenge 77 - Big Birthdays
Muse Challenge - #57
I took my inspiration from the butterfly, doily and flag sentiment strip

Thanks so much for popping by.  I hope you've had a lovely weekend, and if in the UK what a lovely sight to see the sun this weekend, its about time!

See you soon

Peachy Birthday

Hi guys

So here I am back with my second card of the day, please scroll down to see my first post.

This card actually took three attempts to make.  I started off with a very different central panel but it just wasn't working so I decided to use stamped stripes instead.  Then, my first attempt at stamping these went horribly wrong, I must have my specs on wonky today! :)

Anyhow, here it is finally finished!

I started by adhering the glittered polka dot cardstock to the card base.  Next I cut a smaller panel from white cardstock and stamped diagonal stripes, then rounded the corners and added the sentiment.  I adhered this panel to the background using 3D foam.  I did intend to adhere this flat but the glittery cardstock needs a very strong adhesive to ensure things stay put!  Next I stamped and die cut the flower and leaves.  A few pearls finished off the card.

Materials used:

• Cardstock: Kanban - Sherbert Pips; white cardstock from stash
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Basic Stripes, Say It In Style and Fancy Florals
• Dies: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Fancy Florals
• Ink: Versa Color - Cinnamon, Seashell and Sage; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Pearls from stash
• Tools: Tonic - Corner Rounder

Challenge entries:

The Card Concept - Challenge #4 - Use a Floral Theme (style - clean and layered)

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Perfectly Peach

Freshly Made Sketches - #125

Thanks so much for visiting me.  I so appreciate your opinions and comments so I'd love for you to let me know what you think.

Can you believe it's Sunday evening again, it seems like only five minutes ago I was looking forward to the start of the weekend!  Take care and see you soon x

Take Time To Relax

Hi there

After a lovely day down here yesterday, its now miserable and wet here again so I've managed to fit in a little crafting today and firstly I have this very clean and simple card to share with you.  My second card will follow in the next post.

I've used this cute little teacup digi from Pink Petticoat and paired it up with a Clearly Besotted sentiment which I think ties in nicely.  As I did on this previous card, again I used a textured linen card base.  I think this really helps to make the die cut stand out when using white on white, and adds more interest to a very CAS design.

Materials used:

• Digi: Pink Petticoat - With Flowers
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Time to Relax
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Markers: ProMarkers - Tulip Yellow and Buttercup; FlexMarkers - Meadow Green and Apple
• Die: Xcut - Nested Circles

Challenge entries:

Less is More - Week 161 - Yellow and Green

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #84 - Clean and Simple

Passion for ProMarkers - Week 236 - Make it Digital

Crafty Catz - Challenge #220 - Anything Goes

CAS on Sunday - Challenge #28 - Color Me Pretty

Thanks for visiting, I'll be back shortly with my second card as promised.