Clearly Besotted May Release - Mr and Mrs Hoot and A Class Act (Guest Designer!)

Hi there

Today's the last day of the Clearly Besotted teasers before these fantastic new stamp sets go on sale at the Clearly Besotted store at 10pm tonight!  If you've got your eye on some of these then don't delay as every month there are sell-outs...and fast!

I want to say a MASSIVE thank you to Stephanie for inviting me to Guest Design once again, it's such an honour, and to the rest of the amazing Design Team for their lovely comments.


Ok, let's get to it.  Today I'm sharing the final two sets of this release - Mr and Mrs Hoot and A Class Act.


Mr & Mrs Hoot
This mini set has an adorable image of a bride and groom owl together with a swing and some lovely marriage themed sentiments.

I stamped the owls and then masked them before stamping the swing.  These were then coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers.  I masked the whole design and cut some clouds from post-it notes to also used as masks, before blending the background to create the sky.  I wanted the scene to appear that they were swinging from a branch high in the sky.  I then adhered this behind a white cardstock panel which I had die cut to create a heart shaped aperture.  The panel was mounted on 3D foam and I then added some Wink of Stella to Mrs Hoot's veil and Glossy Accents on their eyes.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Mr & Mrs Hoot
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Cloud Trio; X-cut - Nested Hearts
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents

Challenge entry:

Daring Cardmakers - Wedding / Anniversary

A Class Act

This set features cute little animals with a school theme and sentiments for back to school and for teacher thanks.

Lots of masking involved for this card.  The cat, desk, chalkboard, owl teacher and even the little piece of paper are all separate stamps.  I masked these and then stamped the hardwood image across the scene to create the wooden floor.  Then I used the chalkboard technique on the teeny chalkboard!  I clear embossed the chalkboard onto black cardstock.  The 'abc' was handwritten with an embossing pen which I heat embossed in white and then gently swiped across it with white pigment ink before fussy cutting and adhering to the scene.  I used stitched rectangle dies to cut the scene and the kraft border before adhering to the base on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - A Class Act; Stampin' Up - Hardwood
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa; Versa Color - White; Whispers - Embossing Marker
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangles
• Kraft Cardstock: Neenah - Desert Storm
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entry:

Penny Black and More - May Challenge - Anything Goes with Stamping

Thanks as always for visiting, I appreciate each and every one of you.

Clearly Besotted May Release - Cool Dude & All In Onesie (Guest Designer!)

Hi there

Welcome to Day 3 of my teaser cards for the upcoming Clearly Besotted May Release.  All the sets will be available to purchase from the Clearly Besotted store on 5 May at 10pm BST.

Today my cards have been made using two great sets, Cool Dude and All In Onesie.


Cool Dude
This mini set features the most adorable turtle images with fun sentiments.  I think this is my favourite from the whole release this month.

I started by blending some blue Distress Inks up from the bottom corner.  I then inked through a stencil to create the seaweed using two shades of green.  This is a stencil I recently purchased at a papercraft show and is actually hanging vines, so I flipped it and used it upside down.  I then stamped the turtle, fish and bubbles in waterproof ink before watercolouring with Distress Inks.  I finished by heat embossing the sentiment in white onto a green die cut flag from Clearly Besotted's Tag Along set and mounted my panel on 3D foam to the base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Cool Dude
• Stencil: The Crafters Workshop - Mini Moving Vines
• Ink: Distress Ink - Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Gathered Twigs, Brushed Corduroy, Crushed Olive, Spiced Marmalade; Archival - Jet Black; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Tag Along (discontinued)

Challenge entries:

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #174 - Anything Goes (optional Beach/Nautical elements)
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Water theme
Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #423 - No Patterned Papers
Dream Valley - Challenge #130 - All Creatures Great and Small

All In Onesie

This cute set features charactors wearing animal onesies and birthday sentiments for ages one, two and three.

I decided to use the little character wearing the penguin onesie and made it into a Christmas card!  I used a pierced square die to cut the snowy background from patterned paper, and also cut a white square and used the Clearly Besotted Tree Landscape die to create the foreground.  I don't have any dark enough grey ProMarkers so I stamped the image in waterproof ink and watercoloured with my Zig pens.  I then masked the onesie image to stamp the present, also from this new set, which was also watercoloured with Zig pens.  I then used the sentiment from the Clearly Besotted Santa Baby set.  The two layers were adhered together and mounted on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - All In Onesie, Santa Baby
• Ink: Archival - Jet Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens
• Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn - Let's Bokeh In the Snow
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Tree Landscape Die

Challenge entries:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #279 - Anything Goes

Of course, the amazing Design Team and my fellow guesties are sharing more teasers with you today which you can find linked from here.

Thanks so much for popping by.  I'll be back tomorrow with my final two teaser cards ahead of the launch tomorrow night.  Hope to see you soon!

Addicated to Stamps and More #192

Hi there

There's a new challenge just starting over at Addicted to Stamps and More and following our challenge sequence, this week we're back with our regular challenge...

Make Your Mark

Please include the use of markers, paints, chalks, watercolours, etc. on your creation

Our Sponsor this week is the fabulous Sami Stamps who are offering a prize of a $12 gift certificate.

I decided to have a go at no line colouring and chose to use a Zig pen and water.  For some silly reason I chose a really detailed stamp and every petal had to be coloured separately.  I think I overworked some areas but not too bad for a first attempt, I won't be giving up the day job any time soon though!

I stamped the Chrysanthemum in a pale Distress Ink onto some mixed media paper and set to work.  I added a tiny amount of ink from the pen to the base of each petal and then drew the ink out to the tips with a wet brush.  You really don't need to add much ink as these pens are very highly pigmented.  And this was all done with one pink pen! I'm a bit disappointed that the stamped lines can still be seen, I was hoping they would soften more with the water.  Perhaps I'll try a different type of paper next time.  I finished off by adding the sentiment in black and some scattered sequins, and then mounted flat onto a purple card base (which is showing up a lot bluer in my photo!)

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Pure Florals Chrysanthemum; Clearly Besotted - Brushed Greetings II
• Ink: Distress Ink - Antique Linen; Versafine - Onyx Black; Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pen - Pink
• Cardstock: Daler Rowney - Mixed Media; Bazzill Basics - Purple
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Sparkling Rainbow Sequin Mix

Challenge entries:

The Crafter's Cafe - Challenge #148 - Feminine
613 Avenue Create - Challenge #174 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

My teamies have created some lovely cards this week which can be found over at the main challenge blog.  Lots of different mediums can be used for our Make your Mark challenge so we would love to see your creations in the gallery this week.

Bye for now.

Clearly Besotted May Release - Just The Two of Us & To You With Love (Guest Designer!)

Hi there

I'm back today to share some more teasers of the fabulous Clearly Besotted May Release.  All the sets in this month's release will be available to buy from the Clearly Besotted store on 5 May at 10pm BST.  Over at Stephanie's blog you will find links to the Design Team and other guest designers who are also sharing more teasers.

Today I'm sharing cards made with two more sets, Just the Two of Us and To You With Love.


Just the Two of Us
This set has adorable images of parent and baby animals, with co-ordinating sentiments, ideal for Mother's Day and Father's Day.

I opted for the cute little panda pairing for this card which I stamped and masked.  I also masked before ink blending the grass, then swapped the mask around to blend the sky.  With these masks still in place I stamped the bamboo from CB It's a Celebration set (limited edition - now discontinued) and used second generation stamping to stamp again alongside.  I finished by stamping the sentiment and adhering to the card base on 3D foam, and some Glossy Accents was added to the pandas' eyes.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Just the Two of Us and It's a Celebration (discontinued)
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Green Tea; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass and Mowed Lawn
• Accents: Glossy Accents

Challenge entries:

Retro Sketches - Challenge #213 

Penny Black and More - May Challenge - Anything Goes with Stamping

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #423 - No Patterned Papers

Crafty Creations - Challenge #314 - Black and White and a Pop of Colour

Dream Valley - Challenge #130 - All Creatures Great and Small

To You With Love

This mini set has a gorgeous floral image and sentiments.

I wanted to have a go at the Distress Ink Lifting / Watercolour Bleaching technique with this gorgeous stamp.  And I chose an usual colour of Distress Ink which I've never used before, Iced Spruce.  I really liked this when I first made it, but now I'm not so sure.  I would love to know your opinion as I'm still very much on the fence with this one!

I started by stamping the image and sentiment in VersaMark ink and heat embossing in white.  I then blended the Distress Ink up from the bottom corner gradually fading it out diagonally.  The next part is where the magic happens.  Armed with water, a small paint brush and a paper towel I painted water onto the petals, left for a few seconds and then blotted with the paper towel.  The colour then lifts away revealing a paler shade.  I believe this only works with Distress Inks.  To add a little interest I finished by adding some splatters of a mix of mica powder and water, to add some shimmer, seen much more clearly in the next photo.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - To You With Love
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Iced Spruce
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Mica Powder: Honey Doo Crafts - White Opal

Challenge entry:

Fantasy Stampers - Challenge #61 - Monochrome

Thanks so much for popping by.  I'll be back with more CBS release teasers tomorrow morning.

Happy Little Stampers May 2016 CAS Challenge

Hi there

As we are now into the month of May the new challenges are starting over at Happy Little Stampers and today it's the turn of the CAS challenge.  This challenge is all about making clean and simple cards and each month we have a different technique for you.  This month it's...

If you are unfamiliar with this technique there are some video tutorials included over on the challenge blog.

Happy Little Stampers is the sponsor for this month and one lucky winner will receive a stamp set!

So, onto my card.  I wanted to use a leaf die that is new to my stash and decided to create a sympathy card in soft colours.

I started by die cutting the leaf from a panel of white cardstock.  I then stamped the sentiment in black.  Next I cut a panel of beige cardstock, slightly larger to create a border, and adhered the white cardstock to it ensuring that there was lots of adhesive behind the leaf aperture.  I then die cut the leaf again from the same beige cardstock and gently blended the edges with Distress Ink before adhering in the aperture.  The whole panel was then adhered to the cardbase using 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Die: Memory Box - Pointed Leaf
• Stamp: Happy Little Stampers - Doodled Flowers
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Crushed Olive
• Coloured Cardstock: - Bazzill Basics

Challenge entries:

Fantasy Stampers - Challenge #61 - Monochrome

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #174 - Anything Goes

My teamies have created some great cards to inspire you this month.  We would love to see you in the gallery this month so why not play along.

Clearly Besotted May Release - Let's Party & Feeling Fruity (Guest Designer!)

Good morning, crafters!

Well, I'm super excited and honoured this week as the fabulous Stephanie from Clearly Besotted has asked me to be a Guest Designer to showcase the wonderful May product release.  If you follow my blog you'll already know how addicted I am to this brand, I just adore the stamps and dies, so I'm thrilled to be joining this fabulous team once again.

This month there are eight new stamp sets being released, four A6 and four of the mini A7 sets.  All of these will be available to purchase at the Clearly Besotted store on 5 May at 10pm BST.

Today I'm sharing cards to showcase the new Let's Party and Feeling Fruity stamp sets.


Let's Party
This mini set features lots of balloons in solid images and party themed sentiments.

I stamped lots of the balloon images overlapping in bright colours onto my card base.  On a panel of white cardstock I cut the aperture with a stitched window die and stamped the sentiment below in black.  I then adhered some acetate behind the aperture and made this into a shaker card with lots of brightly coloured sequins and confetti.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Let's Party
• Ink: Memento - Dandelion, New Sprout, Summer Sky, Danube Blue, Grape Jelly, Lilac Posies, Rose Bud, Tangelo; Verafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Rectangle Peek-a-boo Window
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Kaleidescope Shaker Selection

Challenge entries:

Penny Black and More - May Challenge - Anything Goes

House of Cards - May Challenge - Clear Papers (Vellum or Acetate)

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #423 - No Patterned Papers

AAA Cards - Game #63 - CAS Shaker

Time Out - Challenge #55 - Celebrations with optional twist of Die Cutting

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Pinterest Inspired Challenge - May Challenge

Feeling Fruity
This set features lots of cute little fruity mice and fun co-ordinating sentiments.

I stamped the mouse in waterproof ink and watercoloured him with Distress inks.  I then framed him using the strawberry vine wreath from CB Simply Scrumptious set, die cut with the co-ordinating die.  The sentiment was stamped below in black.  I adhered some red striped paper to the card base and adhered the white panel to the top edge.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Feeling Fruity and Simply Scrumptious (and matching die)
• Ink: Archival - Jet Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Green Tea; Distress Ink - Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn, Hickory Smoke, Spun Sugar
• Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn - Let's Bokeh in the Snow

Challenge entries:

Allsorts Challenge - Week 361 - With a Cherry on Top

Dream Valley - Challenge #130 - All Creatures Great and Small

Thanks so much for visiting today.  Please pop over to Stephanie's blog where you will find links to the super talented Design Team and my fellow Guest Designers.  I'll be sharing more cards made with each of these new sets over the next few days, right up until release day and would love for you to drop by.

Bye for now.

Stamping Sensations May Challenge - Guest Designer!

Hi there

I'm thrilled to be joining the lovely design team over at Stamping Sensations as Guest Designer for their May challenge.  Thanks so much, Brenda for inviting me.

The theme for this month is

Anything Goes with a Stamp and Ribbon

Here's my card...

I've got sooo much ribbon in my stash but haven't used any on a card for a long time!  I stamped the flower image in black, along with the sentiment onto some Neenah white cardstock and die cut with a diagonal stitched rectangle.  I then coloured the Cosmos flowers with ProMarkers.  To continue with my love of creating clean and simple designs I took a small piece of yellow grosgrain ribbon, twisted it and adhered it behind my panel.  This panel was then adhered to some polka dot patterned paper using 3D foam before being adhered to my card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Pure Florals Cosmos, All Occasion Sentiments #6
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Inside and Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangles
• Patterned Paper: Pebbles - Basics Cardmaking Pad 2
• Ribbon: American Crafts

Challenge entry:

I Love ProMarkers - Challenge #307 - Pastel Colours 

Thanks for visiting today.  And why not play along at Stamping Sensations, the challenge will run until almost the end of the month :)