40th Birthday Cocktail

Hi guys

I thought I'd wait until this morning to share my next card.

This was a commission card made for a mutual friend who turned 40 earlier this week.  I bought this Stampin' Up set, 'Happy Hour' months ago but this is the first time I've inked it up.  I wanted to make something bright so this is what I came up with...

I stamped the cocktail glass with the orange slice and straw and then cut this out using a stitched oval die.  I then stamped the 'Happy 40th' on dark pink cardstock in VersaMark ink before heat embossing with white embossing powder.  This was then cut out with a circular die.  I cut some patterned paper at an angle and adhered this to the card base.  The die cuts were popped up on 3D foam and I finished off by adding a few Doodlebug Sprinkes.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Happy Hour; Clearly Besotted - Basic Numbers
• Ink: Versa Color - Raspberry, Orange and Imperial Blue; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White
• Dies: Lil' Inker Designs - Stitched Ovals; Xcut - Nested Circles
• Patterned Paper: Doodlebug - Kraft in Color: Color
• Cardstock: Papermania - Solid Coloured Cardstock; white from stash
• Doodlebug Sprinkles - Lilac Selection

Challenge entries:

A Gem of a Challenge - Challenge #128 - Milestone Birthdays

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

That's all I have at the moment, all the cards I have made have been shared so I'd best get a wriggle on and make some more!  Have a lovely day whatever you're up to :)

You Are Beautiful...

Hi there

Please scroll down if you are looking for my ATSM design team card :)

Today, I'm sharing a card that I started late last night.  I stamped the images but my head was starting to bob!  So I decided to colour it with fresh eyes this morning.  I completed it this afternoon, luckily before the natural daylight disappeared from my lounge so I could get a half decent photo :)

I was originally going to frame my image panel with a black mat before adhering to a white card base but, unusually for me I've chosen to mount it straight onto a black card base instead.  Once I'd coloured it in I thought these colours would look great against a black background and as the outline of the stamps and the sentiment are black I think it all ties in nicely.  What do you think?

The hummingbird and flowers are two separate stamps and I've stamped only about a third of the flower stamp and stamped it upside down.  They are from the same Kanban set.  This was a complete bargain.  A local craft shop was closing down recently (probably the only one anywhere near me now apart from Hobbycraft *sobs*) and the owner was selling her stamp sets half price AND buy one get one free!  So this was one of two large stamp sets I treated myself to and at the bargain price of £5.50!  I've stamped the two images in Memento ink and coloured with my FlexMarkers.  I used a rectangular die and then stamped the sentiment before mounting the panel on 3D foam pads.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Kanban - Birds of Paradise; Clearly Besotted - Flight of Fancy
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with FlexMarkers
• Cardstock: Neenah - Solar White; Anna Marie Designs - 6" Square Jet Black

I would like to enter this card at the following challenge blogs:

CASology - Week 114 - Cue word 'Flutter'

STAMPlorations - September Challenge - Stamps & Markers

D J Kard Kreations - NBUS Challenge No. 2 (Never Before Used Schtuff) - New Kanban stamp set

Inkspirational - Challenge 65 - Word Prompt 'Flight'

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Phew, I've never posted so many cards in such a short space of time, and we're only at Wednesday!  Who knows, I may be back with more before the evening is over :)

Addicted to Stamps and More #114

Hi guys

Well, at super lightning speed we are back to Wednesday again which means there is a new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps at More.  So, we're back with another theme and this week it's my favourite...

Clean and Simple

We are looking for clean and crisp lines, minimal or no embellishments and lots of 'white' space.

Here is my DT card which is a card I made for one of my good friends for her Big 40 yesterday...

Our Sponsor this week is QKR Stampede and the prize for one lucky winner is 3 free digis!

I started by placing a strip of aqua polka dot patterned paper to the left hand side of my card base.  Next I stamped and die cut the balloon.  Once the ink was completely dry I stamped the '40' in VersaMark ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Then, on a white cardstock panel I stamped the sentiment vertically to become the string of the balloon before popping the balloon up on 3D foam.  The panel was then popped up on the base card using 3D foam strips before adding a few clear gemstones to complete the card.

Materials used:

• Patterned Paper: Doodlebug - Kraft in Color, Color
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Sweet Little Sentiments, Make a Wish, Basic Numbers
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Make a Wish
• Ink: Versa Color - Celadon; VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Gems from stash

I would like to enter this card at the following challenge blogs:

A Gem of a Challenge - Challenge #128 - Milestone Birthdays

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #90 - Anything Goes

Please pop over to Addicted to Stamps and More if you want some CAS inspiration, my fellow teamies have produced some stunners this week.  We'd love to see you enter your creations at the challenge this week.

Bye for now

Autumnal From Me To You

Hi there

I wanted to make a card for the current Clearly Besotted Challenge which has an Autumn/Halloween theme.  Where has the time gone?  I thought I had loads of time left for this one but the deadline is tomorrow so I grabbed some stash and came up with this card that I'm actually really pleased with...

The tree, leaves and sentiment were all from one CBS set.  First I stamped the tree and then the small leaf was stamped in four different ink colours.  This image was then cut out with a stitched oval die.  I scored three lines across a kraft card base to add a little interest and then lined up and stamped the sentiment above these.  The oval was popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Clearly Besotted - Design A Tree
• Ink: Versa Color - Pinecone, Bamboo, Khaki, Bark and Cinnamon
• Die: Lil' Inker Designs - Stitched Ovals

I would also like to link this card up at the following challenge blogs:

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Simply Create Too - Challenge #70 - Fall/Autumn

The Paper Players - Challenge #214 - CAS Masculine Birthday Card

Thanks for your visit today, I'll be back tomorrow with more to share, and perhaps something else in between if I get the chance.

Bye for now

This Card = Photography Hell! :D

Hi guys

I had a great idea the other day and decided to have a play with one of my new stencils with translucent embossing paste.  A fab idea, until I tried to photograph it - what a complete and utter nightmare that was!

Here's the card, detailed in three photos so you can hopefully see what's going on! haha

I started by masking a circle off the edge of a panel of white cardstock and then stamped the various images in bright colours.  I then applied translucent embossing paste through a diagonal striped stencil.  The paste is semi-opaque when first applied but it does eventually dry clear.  Once dry I adhered the panel to the card base using 3D foam strips.  I then messed about for ages trying different die cuts to add a sentiment but nothing looked quite right so I decided to leave it blank.  Perhaps I should have stamped a sentiment before applying the paste! Hey ho, hindsight is a wonderful thing!  I love the effect of the glossy embossing paste but it's just so difficult to show it well in a photo.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Paper Smooches - Reflections
• Ink: Versa Color - Fresh Green, Orange, Raspberry, Lagoon Blue, Imperial Blue
• Stencil: MFT Mix-ables Stencil - Diagonal Stripes
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver - Translucent

Challenge entries:

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Paper Smooches SPARKS - September 21-27 Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #90 - Anything Goes

Daring Cardmakers - Stencil Revolution 

Craft Your Passion - Challenge #232 - I Can See Clearly Now (use something transparent)

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stencils & Stamps

As always, thanks so much for your supportive comments, I appreciate each and every one :) 

Guest Designer - Muse Challenge #86

Hi there

I have some exciting news to share today.  I was recently contacted by the super talented Ardyth Percy-Robb to invite me to Guest Design at Muse.  I'm always so inspired by Ardyth's clean, simple, graphic and bold designs so to say I was completely stunned would be a massive understatement so once I'd stopped leaping around I calmed myself down and replied with a massive 'YES PLEASE'!

I love the Muse challenge and play along as often as I can so this is a complete honour to be able to enjoy the role of Guest Designer.  I could create any card I wanted.....oh, the pressure!  So, here is what I came up with and I hope this provides some inspiration for the challenge :)

For the challenge the rules are to:

• Use the Muse card as inspiration, explain your interpretation and link back to Muse.
• Provide supportive comments to at least 3 of your fellow members' submissions.
• Vote for 3 of your fellow members' submissions that you find inspiring.

I started by die cutting a circle to create a mask and then stamped the rose design through the aperture onto a white cardstock panel slightly smaller than my card base.  Once complete I placed the positive die cut circle over the stamped area so I could find the correct placement for the die and then I embossed the impression with the die using my rubber mats through my Big Shot.  Next I cut a strip of blue vellum and stamped the 'birthday' sentiment in VersaMark ink before heat embossing with white powder.  This was then wrapped around the panel and secured at the back.  I then cut the 'happy' from green cardstock using a word die which was adhered above the vellum.  The panel was adhered to the card base using 3D foam strips before adding a few Doodlebug Sprinkles to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko Studio - Flower Power #6; Clearly Besotted - Say It In Style
• Ink: Versa Color - Baby Blue, Atlantic and Sage; VersaMark
• Dies: Xcut - Nested Circles; Clearly Besotted - Happy Word Die
• Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - White
• Doodlebug - Sprinkles from Limeade, Blue Jean and Lily White collections
• Vellum and cardstock from stash

I'd love it if you could join in with the Muse challenge this week, it will be great to see what elements of my card you take as inspiration.  I tried to include a few different techniques to provide lots of scope :)

I'd also like to enter this card at the following challenge blogs:

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - Challenge #90 - Anything Goes

Thank you as always for popping by and please leave a comment to let me know you've visited and to let me know what you think.  I'm on holiday from work this week so between popping out here and there, having lunches out, etc. I hope to find lots of crafty time :)

Heartfelt Thanks

Hi guys

Just a really quick post to share a card I've made for the current challenge at Muse, and I've managed to combine a few more challenges too, which I've detailed below.

Last weekend I attended the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show in Taunton and one of the stamp sets I bought was from Honey Doo Crafts.  I spent ages browsing the stamps on their stand as they are all completely gorgeous but in the end I was very good and only purchased one which I've used on this card.  I will certainly be buying more though as the designs are beautiful and they don't charge for UK postage either!

So, here is my card using this stamp set called Flowers for Design...

I stamped the blooms and leaves in VersaMark on clear vellum and heat embossed these with white embossing powder.  Before fussy cutting them out I coloured them on the reverse with FlexMarkers.  Fussy cutting usually drives me mad but the embossed edges make it so much easier!  I layered up the flowers and tucked some leaves in behind.  To finish I stamped the sentiment in black, such a gorgeous font from one of the new Clearly Besotted sets, and added two Doodlebug Sprinkles in white to the centre of the flowers.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Flowers for Design; Clearly Besotted - Eastern Delights
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Doodlebug Sprinkles in Lily White
• Vellum and cardstock from stash
• Coloured with FlexMarkers 

Here is the beautiful Muse card by Marion Vagg, I think it's pretty easy to see that I was inspired by the blooms, colours and layout.

I would also like to enter this card at the following challenge blogs:

D J Kard Kreations - NBUS Challenge #2 (Never Before Used Schtuff) - Both stamp sets were inked up for the first time for this card

Time Out Challenges - Double the Joy (use two of something)

The Card Concept - #19 Color Challenge (Clean and Layered style)

AAA Cards - Game 21 - Create with Fussy Cuts

Right, off to bed for me.

I'll be back tomorrow with some exciting news!  ;)

Sparkling Cheers

Hi there

A really quick post tonight to share my entry for this week's Less is More challenge which is to make a one layer card with the theme 'beverages'.

So, without further ado, this is what I created...

I bought some word dies recently from Paper Smooches so wanted to use one of these for the beverages theme, but as it's a one layer card challenge I couldn't die cut and adhere it to the card so I ran the die through my Big Shot using embossing mats to create the impression.  I then stamped the champagne glasses in silver ink, added a few dabs of liquid glue and sprinkled with some fine glitter.

Materials used:

• Die: Paper Smooches - Birthday Words
• Stamp: Lawn Fawn - So Much to Say
• Glue: Tombow
• Glitter: Stampin' Up - Dazzling Diamonds

I am also linking this up as an entry at the following challenge blogs:

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

D J Kard Kreations - NBUS Challenge #2 (first use of word die)

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Rock the Techniques (embossing with dies)

That's all for now, folks.  One more day to go until I have a week off work so hopefully I will find some crafty time and be able to share more with you next week :)

Bye for now

Cherry Blossom Wedding

Hi guys

Just popping by quickly tonight to share a card I made last week for a wedding I attended on Saturday.

I adore this stamp set from Clearly Besotted, the Japanese cherry blossom is so pretty.

I stamped the branch on the white panel and then die cut and stamped the three-step cherry blossom blooms in three shades of pink.  I stamped the sentiment before popping the panel up on 3D foam strips.  The flowers were adhered flat to the card panel so as not to make the card too thick.

Materials used:

• Stamps and Dies: Clearly Besotted - Love Blossoms
• Ink: Versa Color - Sand Beige, Petal Pink, Orchid and Raspberry; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #47 - Oriental

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #89 - Anything Goes

Brown Sugar - Challenge #111 - Celebrations

Crafty Catz - Challenge #246 - Clean and Simple

Sorry I've been a bit quiet again on here lately.  I had a hectic weekend attending the wedding on Saturday and the Sincerely Yours papercraft show on Sunday where I bought lots of goodies I hope to use soon :)  It's mainly at the weekends when I make most of my cards, only occasionally do I make them during the week.  And I've missed lots of great challenges over the last week as I've been feeling a little under the weather and generally shattered so I haven't really found my mojo.  But I've only three days left of work before a week off coming up so hopefully I can find lots of crafty time in between having a few days out with Matt.  I can't wait...I think I may even fit a PJ day in there somewhere! 

That's all for now, thanks for popping by and I hope to see you again very soon x

Enjoy Your Day

Hi guys

Tonight I've been playing with one of my new Paper Smooches stamp sets and thought I'd share this bright little card.

I cut a raspberry card stock panel slightly smaller than the card base and used a circular die to cut out an aperture.  I then stamped the sentiment in VersaMark before heat embossing with white powder.  I stamped the images in bright colours on the card base in the area which would show through the aperture.  The panel was then adhered flat to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Paper Smooches - Reflections; Clearly Besotted - Say It In Style
• Ink: Versa Color - Fresh Green, Raspberry, Orange, Lagoon Blue, Imperial Blue; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - white
• Coloured Cardstock: Papermania

Challenge entries:

Sketch Saturday - Week #326

Paper Smooches SPARKS - September 7-13 Anything Goes

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #88 - Anything Goes

That's all for now.  I've got a busy weekend ahead with a wedding on Saturday and on Sunday something I'm very excited about, the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show.  It's coming to Taunton so finally, there is something craft related I've found out about that's within reasonable distance for me down here in Devon, it's just over an hour's drive away.  I will be going armed with a pretty large shopping bag that's for sure!

So, I may not have any projects to share over the next few days but hopefully no doubt I will purchase some new goodies to play with :)

Ok, off to bed for me now.  Take care x

Addicted to Stamps and More #112

Hi there

Well, quick as a flash we're back to Wednesday and that means a new challenge is now up and running at Addicted to Stamps and More.  And this week we're back with a challenge with the theme...

Make Your Mark

We'd like you to 'make your mark' on your projects using markers, pencils, paints, etc.

Here is my DT card...

This week our Sponsor is the fabulous Stitchy Bear Stamps who are offering 3 images up to the value of $10 to one lucky winner.

I printed off the digi image onto white cardstock and coloured it in with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers.  This was then cut out with a rectangular die.  I stamped the sentiment on the same white cardstock before die cutting with a tag die.  I than ran my base card through my Big Shot embossing the front in an embossing folder.  The folder is called 'basket weave' but I think it resembles a cottage wall so thought this would tie in nicely for this new home card.

Materials used:

• Digi: Stitchy Bear Stamps - Window by My Heart Pieces
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Sweet Little Sentiments
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Rectangles Large; Clearly Besotted - Tag Along
• Embossing Folder: Sizzix - Basket Weave

I would like to enter this card at the following challenges:

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Simply Create Too - Challenge #69 - Show Us Something New (new digi image)

A Gem of a Challenge - Challenge #127 - It's Summertime (nothing more summery than having the windows open, listening to the birds singing and seeing the flowers in bloom!)

Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #122 - Make an Impressions (Dry Embossing)

Craft Room Challenge - Something Old, Something New (old - embossing folder, new - digi image)

STAMPlorations - September Challenge - Stamps and Markers

If you're in the mood for making your mark why not pop over to the ATSM challenge blog and get some inspiration from the rest of the Design Team, they are sharing some real beauties this week :)

Thanks for visiting me today, and I hope you can join in the challenge fun this week.  See you soon.

Under the Mistletoe

Hi there

Ever since CASology posted their latest challenge with the code word 'Under' the cogs have been turning very slowly in my mind to come up with an idea.

Then this afternoon....bingo!  Where do people stand to kiss at Christmas?  UNDER the mistletoe!  So I had a rummage through my stamps when I came home this evening and luckily I found a mistletoe image in a stamp set that was free with a publication...phew!

Here's my clean and simple card...

Continuing on with the 'under' theme I stamped the mistletoe on the base card so that it would appear under the panel I placed over the top, which was die cut to create a circular aperture.  I coloured the mistletoe with FlexMarkers and finished by stamping a small sentiment to keep the card very clean and simple.

Materials used:

• Stamps: 'Tis the Season - free set with publication; Personal Impressions - Butterfly Kisses and Christmas Wishes (sentiment)
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with FlexMarkers
• Die: Xcut - Nested Circles

I would also like to link up this card at the following challenge blogs:

Daring Cardmakers - Clean and Simple

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for visiting, I always appreciate your visits and comments so I'd love to know your thoughts.

Take care

Warm Thoughts

Hi there

Tonight I've been watercolouring.  I've had a set of watercolour paints for years but they haven't seen the light of day for a very long time.

So here's a little card I created to combine a few challenges...

I downloaded a free digi and printed this onto watercolour card which just about made its way through my printer!  I gave it a blast with my heat gun to set the ink as I had no idea if the ink would bleed or not.  As it turns out it was fine when mixed with the water.  Once the card was dry I stamped the sentiment.  I cut the panel down and mounted it using 3D foam strips onto a purple card base, picking out the colour of the towel.  

Materials used:

• Digi image: Opal Manor - Beach (free download)
• Watercolours: Daler Rowney
• Stamp: Paper Smooches - Sentiment Sampler
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Less is More - Week 187 - I do like to be beside the seaside

Daring Cardmakers - Clean and Simple

A Gem of a Challenge - Challenge #127 - It's Summertime

AAA Cards - Game 18 - CAS Watercolour

I'm also going to link up with my teamies at Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #111 - Anything Goes (for Marie)

Apologies for the lack of posts the last few days, life just gets in the way sometimes!  That's all I have at the moment but I hope to be back again very soon.  Thanks for your visit as always.

Bye for now