Tuesday 30 June 2015

Anything Goes

Hi and welcome to the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps.
This week our challenge is -

ANYTHING GOES

Wow where to begin? It's always tricky when you're on the DT to come up with inspiration for the AG challenge but so much easier if you are a participant!
Anyway I like to use a couple of challenges to get the juices flowing and this time it was the sketch challenge at Less is More and the theme and colour from The Card Concept that had my little grey cells whirring! Here is my card.


I chose the lovely flowers from Dee's Blooming Buds released through the STAMPlorations label who happen to be our sponsor this week.


Shery is offering a $10 voucher for the store to the winner.

I stamped and embossed the blooms in white EF before using weathered wood and squeezed lemonade DIs to w/c the panel. The green is just the weathered wood over squeezed lemonade!
The sentiment was stamped using grey flannel Memento ink and the rectangular panels were cut using MFT pierced rectangle stack dies.
OK, now it's over to you. Check out the rest of the fab DT have made for your inspiration and say hi to the new girls!

GRAB OUR BADGE!
I'm joining in the fun at -


              

                                                 Clean and Simple or clean and layered?

Party Girl

Welcome back to day 2 of our birthday celebrations over at STAMPlorations. Hope you were suitably impressed by all the party inspired projects by the girls, I was.
Today I'm using the Party Girl set of stamps by Shirley for my card.





We are off to a friends daughter's 21st at the end of July so I needed a card so that was the inspiration for this. I wanted something elegant for the occasion and to lengthen the dress in the set, then I noticed my Christmas Tree stencil on the desk and thought it could make a classy looking skirt.So that's what I did. I inked Versamark through the dotty tree of the stencil then embossed with silver pearl EP before adding the shoulders and head from the set to the dress. I thought the dress needed a little more definition, so added a few lines with a fine marker and shadow with  some Copic markers. I die cut 21 from some scraps of holographic card and added party girl from the Party Time set on the die cut circle. I used b/w DP as a background to the image, job done!

Check out what the rest of the team made! Today our guest designer is ANNI LERCHE.
You'll find links to all birthday blog hop projects here.
As usual the very generous Shery is offering prizes.

Leave a comment on this post and on the other girl's blogs and why not link up your own celebration- or party-themed cards using the inspiration mood board at STAMPlorations to win one of several prizes. Commenting and linking close on Monday, July 6. Winners are announced on Tuesday, July 7. 


Prizes for commenting on the STAMPlorations blog, STAMPlorations designers blogs, and guest designers blogs:
  • 1 winner of $25 gift certificate
  • 5 winners of $10 gift certificate
Prizes for linking up a party/celebration/birthday project:
  • 3 winners of the party stamp sets (1 winner of Party Mates, 1 winner of Party Time, 1 winner of PartyGirl)
  • 1 winner of $25 gift certificate (if STAMPlorations stamps/stencils are used) or $15 gift certificate (if non-STAMPlorations stamps/stencils are used)

***winners are randomly drawn

I'm joining the fun over at -

       
                                                            Seize the Birthday - Nothing but Neutrals
                                                          missed it again! :(
Thanks for coming to visit and for leaving such positive comments.



Boats, blue and boys!

Good morning all.
As it's Tuesday it must mean it's time for a new challenge at Cardz4Guyz.
This week we would like to see your projects linked to the theme of -

THE LETTER B

So lots of scope for masculine projects here. For my DT inspiration I went with B for boy, boats and blue and this is my card.


I went with a dark blue base card with blue wave DP from NitWits over a white diecut frame. I embossed the central panel with a Xcut EF that looks a bit like waves! The layout was based on the new challenge at Sketch Saturday and the image is one of my faves from LOTV, Sailing Boat, coloured in matching blues with Copics then fussy cut. The twine is from Marianne. I didn't put a number on this card because I'm not sure when my Grandson will need a card for his hectic social whirl of parties!
Pop over to the main blog for more fantastic inspiration and if you feel like a turn as a Guest Designer why not add GD after your name, we love for our followers to join us.

I'm joining in the fun at -

   Grab button for Uniko Studio Challenge
                                                         Anything Goes - twist of a masculine card
                                                   This time with the twist!
Allsorts - Blue as the Ocean
Stamping Sensations - Dies or Punches

Monday 29 June 2015

Happy 2nd Birthday STAMPlorations

Hi and welcome to the STAMPlorations 2nd birthday blog hop. As it is a birthday celebration we are celebrating with party themed cards, here's mine using some of the recently released  party themed stamps to celebrate the occasion.



We have fabulous guest designers with us all week as well as fab inspiration from all us STAMPloration girls. Today our guest designer is-

AMY TSURUTA

I used just one element from the Party Mates set, the champagne glass stamped in a variety of bright DIs to make a panel. The greeting from the Party Time set was inked with the same inks to give the rainbow effect. Simples.
Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all birthday blog hop projects here.
As usual the very generous Shery is offering prizes.
Leave a comment on this post and on the other girl's blogs and why not link up your own celebration- or party-themed cards using the inspiration mood board at STAMPlorations to win one of several prizes. Commenting and linking close on Monday, July 6. Winners are announced on Tuesday, July 7.


Prizes for commenting on the STAMPlorations blog, STAMPlorations designers blogs, and guest designers blogs:
  • 1 winner of $25 gift certificate
  • 5 winners of $10 gift certificate
Prizes for linking up a party/celebration/birthday project:
  • 3 winners of the party stamp sets (1 winner of Party Mates, 1 winner of Party Time, 1 winner of PartyGirl)
  • 1 winner of $25 gift certificate (if STAMPlorations stamps/stencils are used) or $15 gift certificate (if non-STAMPlorations stamps/stencils are used)
***winners are randomly drawn

I'm joining in the fun at -

Creative Inspirations - Your Favourite  .....
This card is in my favourite style, CAS using one of my fave layouts.
A splash of colour and perhaps a splash or two of something alcoholic in the glasses?



Tuesday 23 June 2015

Dies and Punches

Good morning and welcome.
If you are looking for my Cards und More post please scroll down.
It's Tuesday, it's 9 o'clock and it's time for a new challenge at Cardz4Guyz, where we aim to show that making masculine cards is easier than you think.
Now to our latest challenge of -

Use A Die or A Punch

Well that was right down my alley and it allows me to show a card I made awhile ago for my Grandson who was going to a school friend's Creepy Crawly themed party. 


I used quite a few dies and punches to make this box card but its basically circles and ovals with a bit of punched and die cut foliage.
Here are a few close ups of the bugs I made.

    


The dragonfly is just the caterpillar with white wings! I used lots of bits from the bits box in this and hi lighted some of the features with white gel pen. Even the paper on the flaps was left over from another project. The antennae and  legs were circles with thin strips cut away with a circle punch.

OK, now it's your turn. It doesn't have to be as complicated as this so long as you use dies and/or punches on your project, of course we'd love it if you focused on them.

I'm joining in at -

Stamping Sensations - Dies and Punches
Creative Inspirations - Male Creations
Love Rubber Stamps - Use a Die Cut



Thanks for stopping by, come back soon. :)

Dots

Morning all. An early morning post to announce the new challenge over at Cards und More
There have been a few changes over there, Elisa and Beate have taken over the running from Dunja who is stepping back and as life has got in the way for a few of our DTrecently,  we are on the lookout for a few new members to lighten the load. Pop over to the main blog and check out what is involved if you fancy joining us.
Anyway the new challenge we have for you is-

DOTS

Simples, just include them in your design! Here is my card for your inspiration.


I used the theme over at The Paper Players and the sketch over at Sparkle and Shine along with some NitWits DP, a swiss dot EF from Cuttlebug and an ice cream sundae stamp and greeting from STAMPlorations. The sundae was coloured using Copics then the icecream was covered in chunky white ep and the cherry with glossy accents.
I said it was simple!

Anyway please check out the rest of the DTs inspiration and join in.

I'm joining in the fun over at -




Thanks for popping by, come back in an hour for the latest challenge at Cardz4Guyz.


Saturday 20 June 2015

My favourite colour

Good morning crafters.
Just slipping a post in to share the latest challenge at Fantasy Stampers with you before my Grandson arrives with his Mum and Dad. This time we would like to see your projects based around the theme of -

YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR

Mmm, tricky but I went with magenta as it reflects my colour scheme in the house, plus a little lime green! So here is my card for your inspiration.


Looking at the photo the gerberas look a little redder than in real life, perhaps its the kraft playing funny tricks!
This card uses one of my new stamps from Uniko which I got by winning their May challenge with this card here. I'd had my eye on them for awhile but couldn't in all honesty justify the purchase, so when I had the chance of a £20 voucher I jumped in and added them to my stash, along with a few more goodies!
I used the sketch from ShowCASe your style and the fab picture of gerberas at Fusion reminded me of this very stamp and the colour. As it's a Uniko stamp it would be churlish not to enter this months challenge(sorry no twist for me this time) and the colour scheme was further dictated by the challenge at CASual Fridays to use white, kraft and one bright colour. For this card I used Copics to colour and added some pearls coloured to match and a couple of strips of kraft embossed with a Sizzix ef.

OK, now it's over to you but please read the rules.
It is really sad when a fantastic card doesn't get any recognition 'cos it uses a digi or there is no stamping at all.

I'm joining in at -

                 
                                                            just the pic for me this time
           Grab button for Uniko Studio Challenge
                                                          Anything Goes with the optional twist 
                                                           of a masculine card



Tuesday 16 June 2015

CAS @ATSM

Welcome.
Today is the start of a new challenge over at ATSM where we are also celebrating our 3rd birthday!
This week we would like to see projects that are -

CAS

This is my card to celebrate our 3rd birthday using STAMPlorations Dee's Arty Impressions - Party Mates.


I stamped and masked elements from the party set before colouring the images with Copics and die cutting the Avery Elle 'HAPPY' die from the panel. I cut a few more from scrap card before reassembling. The birthday is from Uniko and the trimmed down A6 panel was then adhered to a bright blue base card.
This is a closeup of the stacked die cut element.


This week we have FOUR fabulous sponsors.

Prize $12 gift certificate

Feel Free to Grab My Badge for Your Blog!

Prize $12 gift certificate

Prize is 7 digis
Prize is 3 digis
Wow, lot's of goodies on offer so no excuses not to join us this week! Pop over and check out what the rest of the fabulous DT have been upto and then join in.

I'm joining the fun at -

         
                                                            :( forgot to link up in time !
Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you back again soon. :)

PS: STAMPlorations are celebrating their 2nd Birthday soon, so keep your eyes peeled for more news of the blog hop.

Birthday Blog Hop Alert!

Father's Day Take Two

Good morning bloggers and welcome.
As it's Tuesday it must be time for a new challenge over at Cardz4Guyz.
Thanks for all the fabulous entries for out texture challenge, I think we are starting to get the message across that making cards for the men in your life isn't as difficult as you think.
This week our theme is-

FATHER'S DAY

Sadly my Dad is no longer with us but I made this card and my Grandson may be able to send it to his Dad!


I used the latest sketch over at Sketch Saturday using some DP that was in the stash from NitWits.
The cheeky little chap was from a sheet of images I kept from a mag years ago, so not sure of the name, which I enlarged and printed off on a piece of white card. He looks a characterful little chap! As usual I coloured him with Copics before double mounting him onto the DP. I fussy cut the overlapping parts before I die cut the MFT rectangle.

OK, now it's over to you. For more inspiration pop over to the main blog and check out the rest of the fab DT inspiration.
I'm joining in the fun at-

          

                                                  Father's Day
Loves Rubberstamps - Masculine Theme
Thanks for stopping by. :)

Saturday 13 June 2015

Masculine Wedding Card?

Good evening folks.
The weather has not been as bad as the weathermen would have had us believe yesterday, in fact it was positively balmy this morning. Still there is a little drizzle in the air now but definitely not the thunderstorms that were predicted!
My son is off to a wedding of one of his Leeds Uni friends next weekend, so I've made him a card as requested. I was struggling to find a male friendly card but also keep it suitable of the happy couple.
Then I remembered a new die I got the other week in anticipation of 30th birthday cards and it has a suitable greeting. So here it is.


Apologies for the reflection on the embossed frame, the sun wasn't even out!
The die is from MFT - Road Trip and I cut it out in a glossy white card stock, assembled the parts, adding the greeting to match UK registration plates and added some tin cans to the bumper. They are actually the wing mirrors attached with linen thread! I made the window panel into a shaker card to give it a fun twist, adding die cut hearts and a few sequins and beads.
I've left it at that as it is a card from a guy to the happy couple, so no frilly touches.

I'm joining in the fun at -

Time Out Challenges - Happy is the bride the sun shines on.
Well I hope the sun does shine on the Peak District next Saturday for the wedding!

Moving along with the Times - To the Happy Couple

Thanks for calling around, see you back soon. :)

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Sunset Butterfly Thanks

Good morning, good morning, good morning.
The sun is still shining, perhaps summer is finally here!
Just a quick post to share a card I made for the latest challenge over at Less is More and a couple of others got in there as well!


This card reminds me so much of my bloggy friend Loll. I love her work and think I must have absorbed her style and it just burst out with this card. I started by inking up a square panel that was floating around my bits box. I inked it up using the 'Sunset' colours for the challenge and blended them into an ombre effect and then just for the hell of it I spritz it with a fine mist of  corporation wine, plain water to you. As the wonderful Darnell would say 'Hammy just whispered in my ear'. 
Now what? The intensity of the colours meant I had to use a white background but it looked a little plain, so I got out my trusty ef box and had a furtle about. I picked out a couple of folders including this Cuttlebug one which I finally went with. I can't remember when I last used it. It was too small for my panel, as they always are, so had to faff around extending it, hope you can't see the join.
Now the question was what to put with it? I thought of a card by Loll I saw recently and thought of this MB butterfly duo and it just had to be in gold mirry and I just had a little bit of vellum on the desk that did the solid section, you can still just about see the panel through it.
When I made the CASE of Virginia's card I didn't think I had any gold thread but I had a rummage through my sewing threads and found some, so that was added into the pot, followed by a Marianne tag greeting and voila!

I'm joining in the fun at -

"Less is More"  
Sunset Colours                                                  
                                          

Thanks for stopping by. :)

Tuesday 9 June 2015

Texture

Welcome fellow crafters.
It's Tuesday so it must mean a new challenge at Cardz4Guyz, where we aim to show you that making masculine cards isn't that difficult!
This week our theme is -

TEXTURE

So anything goes really so long as we can see texture, be it embossing, fabric in fact anyway you can think of to add it.
Here is my inspiration card.


My son is thirty this year, my hasn't the time flow by, so his friends are that age too and I thought I would make a card for future use.
I started by cutting out the 30 using some MFT dies from a white card panel which I then embossed with a Cuttlebug ef. I stamped the the 'th' in black and then added the die cut ring of red.
I wanted a bit more interest for the inside of the numbers so I covered some white card with washi tape and added it on the red card under the numbers before putting on the embossed panel on foam pads and mounted the red flat on the base card.
A very simple card to make once I had come up with the idea!
For more inspiration pop over to the main blog for more masculine inspiration from the DT and our two GDs.

I'm joining in at -

                

Our Blog Badge
# 87 Masculine

Thanks for calling around, come back soon. :)



Monday 8 June 2015

Ombre 50th

Evening folks.
The sun is blazing down this aft but there is a stiff breeze so you can't really sit out in it but it makes for a great washing day!
My Son got back earlier from a weekend at a music concert and a difficult journey home due to a closure on the M62. It's been shut since late morning so everywhere around Oldham is a car park!

Anyway when he finally made it back he remembered he needed a card for a neighbour's 50th. Simon is his old childminder's husband and his best friend's Dad and he has been a surrogate member of the family for over 20 years! So it was a plea to Mum to please at short notice could I...., well you know the rest!

So here it is.


I'd seen a similar card over at the MFT web site and it stuck in my mind as a useful sketch for a masculine birthday. I also had a couple of challenges in mind when I made it as well, so it didn't really take long for it to come together.
The stars were inked with a variety of blue DIs through a Tim Holtz stencil and a circle die cut from the bit box mounted on the inked panel. The 50 was die cut twice using a MFT die, one set was inked in mid blue DI, faded jeans I think. The th and birthday was stamped in black and the STAMPlorations 'happy' was embossed in white on black and mounted on pads. I stuck the blue 50 slightly to one side of the white set and then added them to the circle of white. The whole panel was trimmed and mounted flat onto a dark blue base card.

I shall join in at -

        


Thanks for stopping by, see you back soon. :)




Sunday 7 June 2015

Vintage?

Good morning and what a bright one it was early on when the dawn chorus woke me at 5!
We left the skylight in our bedroom open last night because it had been so warm and sunny yesterday so I can't really complain and I did drop off back to sleep soon after.
Anyway I'm sharing a card I made yesterday when I came in to have a rest from smashing up old  roof slates.


Now I'd been looking at the latest challenge over at CASology which is vintage but wasn't really inspired then the new challenge at ATCAS came up as well as the photo inspiration at Inkspirational. I had a root through my stamps and came up with a couple of Kaisercraft stamps I picked up on a trip to meet my team mate from STAMPlorations, Monika. I was also inspired by the sketch over at CAS(e) this Sketch, just flipped it across the diagonal. After playing around on a piece of scrap I ended up with this, which happens to look quite vintagey, I think!
I added some DIs in a w/c wash around the foliage and flowers and left the butterflies as stamped. The greeting is from a set I won from Uniko last week. After the panel was dry I cut a rectangle using my MFT die and inked around the edge of the central panel and frame before reassembling and gluing flat onto a base card.

Anyway that's it for card making. There is still a lot of old slate to be smashed. We are using it to finish off our long awaited patio. We have been converting our barn for nearly 10 years and have accumulated a lot of demolition rubble that we would like to reuse. The broken bricks are used in driveways and paths as hardcore, decent bricks are reused as were the good slates but there is a huge pile of broken and smashed slate so why not recycle and remove the tip at the same time!
Here are a couple of photos to explain.



  We are about halfway now, so the pile of waste is smaller but plenty to use up yet, in fact when moving some yesterday we found another pile at the back of some bricks!

I'm joining in at:-

   

     

Thanks for stopping by. :)