Feeling Blue?

Hi guys

This morning I would like to share a card I've made for the current CASology challenge where the cue word is 'Sea'.

For the last few days I've been trying to think about what I have in my stash that I could use to create a little seaside scene and then this morning when I finally had a proper rummage I had a brain'wave'!  I found a stamp set from Hero Arts which had a sort of leafy flourish stamp where the edges looked like the crest of a wave so this is what I created.

I printed the sentiment from MS Word in blue and cut the panel to be slightly narrower than the card base.  I then used some scraps of blue textured cardstock in three different colours and stamped a section of the leaf flourish in VersaMark before heat embossing with white powder.  The stamp I used was the right hand section of the central stamp shown below, and the curl below, which I moved up slightly.

I then used a small rectangular die to cut all three stamped images in the same position before mounting in a row on my panel.  The panel was then popped up on 3D foam strips.

Materials used:

• Stamp: Hero Arts - Shadow & Element
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Rectangles
• Cardstock: white and scraps from stash

As I used some blue cardstock snippets to make this card I'm also going to link up at Pixie's Snippets Playground, Week 150.

I've made another card this morning but I can't share that one with you until later in the week.  But, perhaps, as my mojo seems to be in good form today, I may be back with more :)

Have a lovely Sunday 

Masculine Abstract Happy Birthday

Good morning

Today I'd like to share a masculine project, this is the card I made for Matt for his birthday yesterday.

I used a new stamp set by Inkylicious that I bought at a craft fair last month for part of this design, and I think it's a great option for a masculine card, something I always struggle to create.

I got my inspiration for this card a while ago when I spotted a similar design on Pinterest.  On a white panel I stamped the three brush stroke designs in different colours.  Then in charcoal ink I stamped the sentiment and the stripes.  This panel was then matted and layered first onto tan textured cardstock and then navy before adhering flat to the card base.  As this card was for my chap, I punched out a little heart, coloured this with a pale blue ProMarker and then adhered alongside the sentiment before accenting with Wink of Stella.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Inkylicious - Brush Strokes; Stampin' Up - Gorgeous Grunge; BoBunny - Sentiments
• Ink: Versa Color - Sand Beige, Atlantic, Sky Gray, Charcoal
• Die: Lawn Fawn - heart dies
• Cardstock: Papermania - Premium Textured Cardstock; white card from stash
• Other: Wink of Stella; ProMarker - Powder Blue

Challenge entries:

Brown Sugar - Challenge #118 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Challenge #253 - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Loves Rubberstamps - Challenge #125 - Anything Goes

Thanks for popping by today.  As we're off work for a couple of days me and the man are going out for breakfast today and then I want to go to one of our fairly local garden centres, they always have such lovely Christmas displays and of course, a craft section!  I'm not sure Matt will be impressed but he can make himself useful...holding my shopping basket while I fill it with pretty things! haha

Have a lovely day x

Red Monochromatic - Colour Me...! Guest Designer!

Hi there

I'm very excited this morning because, as you can probably work out from the title of this post, I have a new role!

I was recently contacted by Hayley and Tara at Colour...Me! and couldn't wait to accept their kind invitation to join their fabulous Design Team for the month of November.  Thanks so much for having me :)

So, let me introduce the new challenge, and for this week it's Monochromatic...

Here's my card...

I used a panel of white cardstock smaller than the card base and used a circular die to cut a mask from some scrap paper.  I placed the aperture over the panel, slightly off the edge.  Then I inked up the script stamp, stamped it off onto some scrap paper and stamped it through the aperture onto my panel to create a slightly faded impression.  Next I stamped the rose image which is made up of three separate stamps, the stem and leaves, the bud, and the petals at the base of the bud.  The sentiment was stamped next and while the ink was still wet I heat embossed it using clear embossing powder to add some gloss.  The panel was then matted onto some red textured cardstock before adhering flat to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - En Francais; Clearly Besotted - Sweet Rose
• Ink: Versa Color - Cardinal
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Clear
• Die: Xcut - Nested Circles

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

Brown Sugar - Challenge #118 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Challenge #253 - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Loves Rubberstamps - Challenge #125 - Anything Goes

I must admit, the monochromatic theme did scare me a bit as it's not something I would usually create but I'm really pleased with the result.  So, why not pop on over to Colour Me...! and have a go yourself, the Design Team have some great inspiration for you.  Full details for the challenge can also be found there.

It's my chap's birthday today so we have the rest of the week off work and we're off for a yummy lunch today.  I'm not sure what the rest of the week has in store but not setting the alarm is good enough for me!

And, as it's November 5th, if you're off out to a bonfire/firework party tonight, have a wonderful time and stay safe.

Addicted to Stamps and More #120

Hi guys

Well, the weeks seem to be flying by at the moment and as one more has passed that means there is another new challenge for you over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  This week it's the turn of a very festive...

Photo Inspiration Challenge

You may take any element from this photo to inspire you, e.g. image, colours, theme, layout, etc.

Our sponsor this week is the fabulous StampArt Design and the winner of this challenge will have the treat of choosing 5 free digis from the store.

Before I was a member of the Design Team I was lucky enough to be a challenge winner here at ATSM and bagged myself some free StampArt digis so I've used one of them on my card today, Christmas Candle.

I printed the image onto some white cardstock and coloured it with my ProMarkers and FlexMarkers.  I then decided to fussy cut it out (who knows why?!) which took some patience but I got there in the end!  I cut a panel of textured red cardstock the same size as my card base and used a rectangle die to cut an aperture.  I then adhered some vellum printed with gold foiled stars (this has been in my stash forever!) to the back of the aperture.  Next I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  I really need to find another gold embossing powder, this one although it embosses beautifully doesn't really add any sparkle so against the gold foil it looks very dull.  I then adhered the panel to the card base and popped the image up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Digi Image: StampArt Designs - Christmas Candle
• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Rectangles Large
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Ornamental Style
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Gold
• Cardstock: Papermania - Premium Textured Cardstock; foiled vellum from stash

If you want some inspiration to get your creative mojo going, take a look at the lovely creations by my fellow teamies at ATSM.  They never fail to come up with some fab ideas.

I'll be back very soon with more to share with you so please do pop back if you have the time.

Take care

Butterfly Kisses and Christmas Wishes

Hi guys

I'm so sorry it's been a whole week since I shared anything with you.  I will have a few cards to share with you in the coming week so I hope you'll swing by again.

Today's card, well actually two cards, were made for the latest challenge at Less is More.  I ran out of time to enter last week's challenge so have made sure I could enter this current one where the theme is 'Non-Traditional Colour Christmas Card'.

Here is my entry...

I bought this stamp set over a year ago and never used it last Christmas so felt it deserved an inking this year.  On a panel of white cardstock I stamped the butterfly tree and sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then coloured the butterflies with FlexMarkers.  The panel was then popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Personal Impressions - Butterfly Kisses and Christmas Wishes
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
• FlexMarkers: Duck Egg, Sorbet and Tulip Yellow

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

Simply Create Too - Challenge #73 - Shop in your Craft Room (old unused stamp set)

The Crafter's Cafe - Challenge #88 - Things with Wings

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 260 - Non-traditional Christmas Colours

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #119 - CAS

Now, this second card was actually the one I made first.  It's made in exactly the same way but I coloured it with ProMarkers in Ocean Teal, Pastel Green and Cloud Blue.

I was going to enter this one but Less is More state that no green would be allowed for the challenge.  Although these are teal, aqua and blue I thought I'd make another to be sure it qualified.  But, if I had to choose a fave I think this one would win, mainly because teal is one of my favourite colours.  Which would win your vote?

On a separate note...

Those of you that follow my blog regularly may have noticed I have recently changed my photograph watermark.  In the past I've made my own with a bit of a struggle as I only have the option of free online editing at the moment.  The watermark I am currently using was created by the super-talented and lovely Kylie Purtell, who also happens to be my 'boss' at Addicted to Stamps and More.  

Watermarks are such a good idea as I know a couple of people who have had their photographs 'stolen' and then gained recognition for work that isn't their own.  For a small fee Kylie will happily create a bespoke watermark for you.  Here are her details...

That's all for now folks, Happy Sunday!

Just Sitting Here Thinking of You

Hi guys

I'm back to share another card, this time for the latest challenge at CASology where the cue word is 'Home'.

When I think of home there are lots of things that jump to mind and a nice squashy sofa is one of them :)

I decided to use brown tones for this card, making it suitable for a girl or a guy.  I die cut an oval from some scrap paper and placed this over the card base and fixed a stencil over the top before using my ink dusters to blend the ink.  Next I stamped the polka dot sofa and die cut it using its co-ordinating die and this was popped up on 3D foam.  I then curved the sentiment from the same set and stamped it to follow the line of the oval.

Materials used:

• Stencil: MFT Mix-ables - Graduated Dots
• Ink: Memento - Desert Sand, Potter's Clay and Rich Cocoa
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Time To Relax

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

Crafty Creations - Challenge #274 - Thinking of You

Loves Rubberstamps - Challenge #123 - Warm Colours

That's all from me today, I hope you've all had a lovely weekend.

Wish Big

Hi there

This morning I'd like to share a card I've made to combine a few challenges.

The photography isn't great, as usual I had trouble with the purples looking more blue so I used artificial light (something I usually hate to do!) but in this case it warmed up the colours to look more true to life.

I stamped the flowers in VersaMark onto vellum and heat embossed with black powder.  I then coloured the vellum with ProMarkers.  I coloured on the reverse first but the colours weren't vivid enough so I coloured on the front and then on the reverse a second time.  I then fussy cut these out.  On a flat base I stamped the flourish which came from the same stamp set as the flowers.  I positioned the flowers where I wanted them and stamped the sentiment.  I then adhered the flowers with glue dots and added black gemstones to the centres.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Flowers for Design; Clearly Besotted - Dandelion Dreams
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Vellum and gemstones from stash

Challenge entries:

Colour Me...! - Challenge #43

Crazy for CAS - Challenge #56 - Sketch

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #50 - Vellum


Right, off to do some overdue housework (again!) but hopefully I will find some crafty time later.  Thanks, as always, for visiting.  Your comments are always so appreciated x