Clearly Besotted June Release Teasers: Flutter By Me & Brushed Sentiments - Guest Designer!

Good morning!

And welcome to the final day of teasers ahead of the Clearly Besotted June Release!

I have two more cards for you today, using two more new A6 stamp sets.

And if you love butterflies you're going to adore Flutter By Me.  The images in this set are so pretty and quite different to a lot of butterfly sets I've seen before...

I masked a white cardstock panel to create a horizontal strip and blended with Distress Oxide inks in Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet and Mermaid Lagoon before splattering with water droplets and blotting with a paper towel.  Once completely dry I stamped the butterflies in Versafine Onyx Black ink, and also the sentiment which is from this new set.  The panel was then popped up on 3D foam and to finish I added some silver Doodlebug Sprinkles.

Challenge entry:

Allsorts Challenge - Week 469 - Insects, Bugs, Bees and Butterflies
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #294 - Clean and Simple





I couldn't stop at one card using these beautiful butterflies so I made another, and this one also uses a sentiment from another new A6 set called Brushed Sentiments, a fabulous mix of greetings and sentiments in lovely mixed fonts.

And I waited until today to share this card as it has hopefully made its way to Canada to the lovely Trina, my teamie at Less is More, who is celebrating her birthday today.  Happy Birthday, Trina! x

You'll be forgiven if you think I've become an awesome watercolour artist, but this is in fact a fabulous sheet of patterned paper from DoCrafts Papermania capsule collection called Elements Pigment.  I stamped the butterfly in VersaMark ink over the patterned paper and heat embossed it in white using Altenew Pure White embossing powder, and I paired it with a leaf image from another CBS set called, Magnolia Blooms, currently half price in the clearance sale.  I thought these images worked really well together.  The paper was die cut using a Wonky Stitched Rectangle die by MFT and popped up on 3D foam.  I then finished by heat embossing the sentiment in white onto a strip of black cardstock.

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - CAS Game #116 - The 4th Big Birthday Bash
CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #200 - 8th Birthday Celebration
Seize the Birthday - Patterned Paper




So there you have it, I think you'll agree that this is a fabulous release.  And if you're anything like me you're purses will be a little lighter after tomorrow evening!  The release will be available to purchase from 8pm BST on 1 June 2018 from the Clearly Besotted store, here, and from Simon Says Stamp.

Please following the link to the Clearly Besotted blog, here, where the full release will be shared, and also to catch up with the awesome Design Team who have been sharing lots of teasers.

All that remains is for me to say a massive THANK YOU to Jenny and Stephanie for inviting me to Guest Design using these fabulous products, I've had a ball :) xx

Clearly Besotted June Release Teasers: Pawfect Plushies & That's Genius - Guest Designer!

Good morning!

...and I'm still over the moon to be able to Guest Design and share the Clearly Besotted June Release teasers with you.

So, onto Teaser Day Three!  And today I'm sharing sneak peeks of two of the new A6 stamp sets.

First up is a cuter than cute set called Pawfect Plushies featuring adorable kittens and puppies and a great mix of sentiments and add-on images...

As a kitty mum I had to ink up one of these adorable cats and I kept this card super simple.  On a panel of Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped the kitten in Versafine Onyx Black ink then masked and stamped the cushion, this from a previous CBS set called You're Purrfect (currently retiring and in the sale!).  I stamped the sentiment below, also from the Pawfect Plushies set and then watercoloured the image with my Zig markers.  To add some interest to the white space I scored some horizontal lines across the background at regular intervals and then adhered the panel flat to the card base.

Challenge entry:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #294 - Clean and Simple




Next up is another of the new A6 sets, That's Genius, another cute set great for teacher cards, exams, graduations, etc...

I stamped this little guy in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured him in with ProMarkers.  I then masked him and inked through this great Altenew stencil called Warp Speed with Distress Oxides in Peacock Feathers and Cracked Pistachio.  The sentiment from the set was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black before popping the panel up on 3D foam and adding some Glossy Accents to his specs.


Thanks so much for popping by and I hope you're loving these new sets so far.  The wonderful CBS Design Team are also sharing teasers and you can find them linked, here.

I'll be back tomorrow with my final day of teasers, ahead of them launching at the Clearly Besotted store at 8pm BST on 1 June 2018 and at Simon Says Stamp.

Clearly Besotted June Release Teasers: Cooling Off - Guest Designer!

Hi there

Welcome to Day Two of the Clearly Besotted June Release Teasers!

Today, I'm sharing a sneaky peek of another of the upcoming mini A7 sets, this one is called Cooling Off and is soooo cute!

I couldn't decide which of these cute little hippos to use so I used them all, so not really a sneaky peek is it!  In this fab little set you get these little guys and a few little add-ons...

I started by stamping these cuties onto some Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock using Versafine Onyx Black ink and then watercoloured them with my Zig markers.  Oh how I'd love Copics (one day!) but I'm really pleased with how these came out.  On a panel of white cardstock I die cut three square apertures using a die by MFT and then adhered some striped paper to the reverse from the Lawn Fawn Let's Polka paper pad.  I then fussy cut the images and adhered over each window.  The whole panel was then popped up on 3D foam.

The full June Release will be available to purchase from the Clearly Besotted store from 8pm BST on 1 June 2018 and also from Simon Says Stamp.

And don't forget to see more teasers from the fabulous CBS Design Team, follow the links here.

I'll be back with more teasers tomorrow morning, I hope you'll join me again :)

Clearly Besotted June Release Teasers: Happy Hibiscus & Mix It Up - Guest Designer!

Hi guys

Well I'm super excited this morning!

I've been asked once again to Guest Design for Clearly Besotted, and if you follow my blog (and look in my stash!) you can tell that I'm a huge Clearly Besotted fan!  So to be asked to join the team with the June Release teasers is an absolute honour!  The June Release products will be available to purchase from Clearly Besotted from 8pm BST on 1 June 2018 and also from Simon Says Stamp.

Thanks so much Jenny and Stephanie for having me and for letting me have an early play with these fabulous sets.  The members of the CBS Design Team are amazing so I hope my creations are up to scratch!

So let's get to it, and for Teaser Day One I have two cards using two of the new mini A7 sets.

Clearly Besotted create fabulous floral designs and this first little set, Happy Hibiscus, is yet another gorgeous one...

I began by stamping the floral image using VersaMark ink onto watercolour card before embossing in white with Altenew Pure White embossing powder.  I then used my Derwent Inktense pencils to watercolour the image.  I carefully then used my trimmer to cut away the side of the cardstock, and cut around the edge of the design, much like partial die cutting.  I adhered a strip of burgundy cardstock to the edge of the card base, to co-ordinate with the centres of the flowers.  The sentiment, from this same set was then stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink and the panel popped up on 3D foam.

Challenge entry:

Stamping Sensations - May Challenge - Close to Nature
Happy Little Stampers - May Watercolour Challenge - Anything Goes (CAS)




My second card uses a mini set called Mix It Up which features some fun fruity cocktails, and I've used a single flower from the Happy Hibiscus set with this one too...

I chose Neenah Desert Storm kraft cardstock for my base and panel here.  I stamped the pineapple cocktail from the set in Versafine Onyx Black ink and then masked it to stamp the hibiscus.  I then coloured the images using Faber Castell Polychromos pencils (never coloured a pineapple before, that was challenging!) before restamping to make the outlines crisp.  I have a mini and a standard MISTI so I left the stamps in position to restamp afterwards.  I die cut the images using a pierced square die by MFT Die-namics and used another larger die to emboss the card base before popping up the smaller one on 3D foam.  The sentiment, also from the Mix It Up set was also stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.


Thanks so much for visiting today.  I'll be sharing more tomorrow morning so please do pop back, and of course visit the fabulous Design Team whose links you can find over at the CBS blog, here.

Less is More Challenge #372

Good morning!

It's time to announce a brand new challenge for the next fortnight over at Less is More, and we're back with the genre that some love and some...not so much, that's right it's One Layer Card challenge time.  And here's the cue card...

And our Sponsor continuing for the month of May is the wonderful Winnie & Walter so don't forget to play along for a chance to be our monthly winner!

Just one card for you this week as I've been short of time.  Behind the scenes I've been working on a few cards which I can't share yet, but they will be posted very soon!

Here's my DT card for this one layer theme...

I masked the horizontal strip and die cut a circle mask.  I then blended the sunset using three shades of Distress Ink, removed the circle mask and gently blended over it to add a hint of colour.  With the horizontal masks still in place I then stamped the foliage.  To finish, I removed the masks and stamped the flag sentiment.  That was it, super simple.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Simple Silhouettes and Flag It
• Die (for mask): Hero Arts - Infinity Circle Dies

It's always handy to have these types of cards to hand as they are sometimes a struggle to make when someone is going through a difficult time, so why not use this as an opportunity to stock up.  If you need more inspiration my teamies over at Less is More are sharing some great projects and ideas, so do follow the links over at the main challenge blog.

I'll be back on Monday morning to share some exciting news and projects with you so please do pop back and see me if you have time.  Have a lovely weekend :)

Smokin' Birthday

**Reminder**

If you haven't already done so, and you want to continue to receive my blog posts by email, please resubscribe using the button in my sidebar.  I will be deleting my previous email subscription provider account shortly.  Please read my previous post, here, for more information.  Thank you.

Hi guys

Today I'm back with a quick post to share a card I made for my brother, aka 'King of the Grill', as he's celebrating his birthday today.

I'll get straight to it...

I started by stamping the barbecue and sentiment on a panel of white cardstock and coloured the image with coloured pencils.  I then masked these and inked through a stencil with Distress Inks.  I adhered some dotty paper to the card base before mounting the panel over the top.  To finish I stamped the 'brother' sentiment and heat embossed in white on some black cardstock before die cutting with its co-ordinating die.  this was then popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Garden Retreat - free set with Creative Stamping magazine; Clearly Besotted - My Hero (and co-ordinating die)
• Stencil: Altenew - Warp Speed
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Carved Pumpkin, Barn Door
• Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos
• Patterned Paper: Doodlebug - Kraft in Color: Color

Challenge entries:

Seize the Birthday - Patterned Paper

Allsorts - Challenge #468 - Happy Birthday

Penny Black & More - May Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for visiting today.  I'll be back on Saturday morning with details of the next challenge at Less is More :)

Spellbinders - Designer Series: Flower Garden

Hi guys

I was recently contacted by the fabulous Yana Smakula on behalf of Spellbinders asking if I would like to receive some Spellbinders goodies in the mail to play with.

Of course, I didn't hesitate in saying yes so today I'm sharing a couple of cards I've made using some dies from the Flower Garden collection.

First up is a card using the Spellbinders Flower Garden Floral Panel Card Etched Dies...

I'm loving the blush shade trend right now so chose that for this card.  I die cut the main blush panel using the gorgeous floral frame and outline dies.  The cardstock I chose was from a set of blush and grey shades so I chose one of the mid grey tones to cover my card base.  I wrapped some blush toned organza ribbon around the panel before adhering flat to the base then die cut the tag from the same die set from the same grey cardstock and heat embossed the sentiment in white (this particular embossing powder is a very creamy white so co-ordinates well with the blush tone).  The tag was then popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Dies: Spellbinders - Designer Series Flower Garden: Floral Panel Card
• Cardstock: Papermania - Midnight Blush
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Scrumptious Script
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - White
• Organza ribbon from stash

Challenge entries:

Happy Little Stampers - May Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

Next up is a card using some dies from the same Flower Garden Series, this time the Corner Floral Etched Dies...

I began by adhering some patterned paper to my card base.  Next I took a panel of white cardstock and die cut the scalloped border using a Spellbinders Edgeabilities die that's been in my stash for years, the Classic Scallop.  I then chose to use the inlaid die technique and die cut the rose and leaves from the panel.  Using a separate piece of cardstock I blended with Distress Ink and then die cut these out and replaced the pieces into the main panel, using an adhesive sheet on the reverse.  All that was left to do was to stamp the sentiment and then adhere the panel onto the card base using 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Dies: Spellbinders - Designer Series Flower Garden: Corner Floral, Edgeabilities: Classic Scallop
• Patterned Paper: Dovecraft - Garden Party
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Say It With Flowers
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - CAS Game #115 - Inspired by Nature
Allsorts - Week 467 - In The Pink
Time Out - Challenge #109 - Inspired by Words





Thanks for visiting today and I hope you've had a lovely weekend.  It's back to work for me tomorrow after a lovely week off taking a few days out here and there, and for once the weather has been great for the most part.  Let's hope it stays that way as it was a long time coming!

Bye for now. 

Stay Subscribed to my Blog

Hi guys

If you currently subscribe to my blog by email please continue reading.

Due to the upcoming General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which come into effect on 25 May 2018 I have decided to change my mailing provider for email subscriptions.  I'm unsure how my current provider stores your data and haven't been able to find out any information about how compliant this mail provider is.  It's more than likely perfectly fine but even so, I have decided to change to MailChimp for this service as I want your data to be secure and I know that MailChimp is a compliant provider.

I am unable to transfer my current subscribers' information and do not want to be in breach of any of these new regulations so if you wish to continue receiving my blog posts by email, I kindly ask that you please resubscribe using the the 'Subscribe to My Mailing List' button in my blog sidebar.  I apologise for the inconvenience but I want my followers' data to be safe.

For a short while you may receive duplicate emails while my existing mail service is still active.  You can unsubscribe from this if you wish but I shall be deleting that account shortly, once you have had the chance to resubscribe.

Thank you for your understanding and I hope you will continue to subscribe.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

Less is More Challenge #371

Hi guys

Another two week challenge is just starting over at Less is More, and this time we're back with a Colour challenge for you.  Here's the cue card...

And for May we have a great new sponsor, Winnie & Walter, so do play along to be in with a chance of winning the monthly prize!

We have a fabulous Guest Designer joining us for this challenge, JoJo who was our March winner.  She has a great card she's sharing with us so please do pop by her blog and show your appreciation :)

Ok, onto my cards, and I have two I'm sharing with you this time.  Both using new stamps.

First up, using a gorgeous stamp set which was a pressie from my OH for my birthday, just had to ink it up...

I started with a white cardstock panel and inked through a dot stencil with yellow Distress Ink to create a little background interest.  Next I stamped the sentiment to ensure I had enough room before creating the rest of the elements.  I then stamped the layered bloom and leaves and die cut with the co-ordinating dies.  The panel was popped up on the card base using 3D foam, as was the flower, and the leaves were then tucked in and adhered behind.  Although the leaves should be green I've seen many designs where the leaves are stamped in grey shades and I realy like the look so it fitted this challenge perfectly.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Build-a-Flower: Anemone (and co-ordinating dies); Winnie & Walter - Big, Bold and Party
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Dot Fade
• Ink: Distress Ink - Mustard Seed; Versafine - Onyx Black; Altenew - Arctic, Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Mango Smoothie, Limestone, Silver Stone

Challenge entries:

Time Out - Challenge #109 - Inspired by Words
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #291 - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations - May Challenge - Close to Nature






Next up is a card using another new stamp set, this one was free with a recent publication...

I started by adhered some gingham paper to the card base.  Then, on a white cardstock panel I stamped the washing line with the pegs, the images and the sentiment in grey pigment ink.  The pegs were masked slightly before stamping the other images.  I then coloured the teddy bear, booties and bib with coloured pencils before adhering the panel flat onto the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Bright and Breezy - Free with Creative Stamper magazine
• Ink: Versa Color - Sky Gray
• Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos
• Patterned paper from stash

Challenge entries:

Penny Black and More - May Challenge - Anything Goes
CAS on Friday - Challenge #132 - Cute
Creative Inspirations - May Challenge - Clean & Simple or Fussy & Fancy (CAS option)

Thanks so much for visiting today.  This is a lovely colour combo, please do pop over to the main challenge blog to see the creations posted by my teamies, they won't disappoint.  And why not play along?  The challenge will run for the next two weeks.

Muse Challenge #265 - Party Time!

Hi there

It's Bank Holiday Monday here in the UK and also my birthday today so right now I'm on my way to a local hotel to enjoy a 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea'!! Can't wait...a little naughtiness is allowed on one's birthday, right?!

Now the real reason for this post, it's my turn to be your designer over at Muse.  So, what better time to break open my new Altenew set, Party Time!  Hopefully there are a few elements here to inspire you to play along this week: the colours, layout, striped paper, shadow stamped images.

Here it is...

I started with a panel of white cardstock slightly smaller than my card base and stamped the steamers in three different layered colours, and then the shadow sentiment which is so easy to line up.  This was then simply popped up on 3D foam onto the card base which I'd covered with striped paper.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Party Time!
• Ink: Altenew - Volcano Lake, Lagoon, Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Lavender Fields, Deep Iris, Silver Stone; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Patterned Paper: Avery Elle - The Sorbet Collection

Challenge entries:

Penny Black and More - May Challenge - Anything Goes

Just Us Girls - Challenge #439 - Shadow

Creative Inspirations - May Challenge - Clean & Simple or Fussy & Fancy (CAS option)

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Cards in Envy - One Layer Card Challenge

Thanks so much for popping by today.  I hope you'll find time to join in and link up in the gallery.

Happy Little Stampers May 2018 CAS Challenge

Good evening!

I can't believe we're into May already, and the start of a new month means lots of new challenges starting over at Happy Little Stampers.  Right now the CAS Challenge is just beginning so here is this month's challenge cue card...

One layer cards don't have to be challenging so please do give this a go even if OLCs fill you with dread!  

Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 coupon to spend at the shop! Check out all the details HERE.

IF YOU USE STAMPS BY HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS AND YOU ARE OUR RANDOM WINNER, YOUR PRIZE WILL BE DOUBLED!

I decided to get ahead and create a Christmas card!  I know I'll still be rushing to finish them all once we get to December but every little helps!  Here it is...

I started by die cutting a circle from a scrap of cardstock which I then used to mask a negative circle on my card base.  I firstly blended with two shades of Distress Ink and created more shading around the edges.  I then used two different snowflake stamps to create the pattern on my bauble using dark blue pigment ink.  After removing the mask I hand drew the string and bow using a silver pen and then stamped the sentiment which was heat embossed in silver.  To finish I added some tiny silver gemstones to the snowflakes.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Let It Snow
• Die: Hero Arts - Infinity Circle Dies (used to create mask)
• Ink: Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean; Versa Color - Neptune; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Silver
• Accents: Uniball Signo pen - Silver; Gemstones from stash

Challenge entries:

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - May Challenge - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - May Challenge - Clean & Simple or Fussy & Fancy (I obviously went for CAS!)
Sweet Stampin' - Circles


This challenge, as with all the HLS challenges (some which will start in the next few days) will run until the end of the month, so plenty of time to play along and link up.