Muse #69

Evening folks.

Been a frustrating day in the craft room as I tried to take inspiration from Cornelia's colourful MUSE card. She really has posed a tricky one this week!

I started off trying to CASE her idea of using acrylic paints. The only ones I had were not in her colour palette but I went ahead and tried, 4 wasted attempts later I gave up!!!!! It's not as easy as she makes it look. I then thought about a Stampin Up set I got free last year. There was a chevron stamp in the Petal Parade set, so I rummaged around in my ink box and found the requisite colours and had a go.

Voila!

I repeat stamped the chevron in various inks to get this effect and then stamped part of a sentiment from a Personnel Impressions set and then added a die cut thank you from Spellbinders that I borrowed from Di a few weeks back. Not having any black glossy embellishments I covered the most of the ink splats with Glossy Accents. 

This is Cornelia's original, I hope I have got to the heart of it by using the chevrons, bright inks, bold die cut sentiment and glossy black splatter.

Cornelia is one of my new followers so I just had to CASe her card.

Thanks for popping around, come back soon. x

Recipe at Cards4Guyz

Good morning folks, I hope you had a good extended weekend and the weather wasn't too wet.
It's Tuesday so it's another challenge over at Cardz4Guyz. This week Kim was in charge of the theme and she went for a recipe.

1, 2, 3 

That means that we need you to tell us what you have included on your card that matches the numbers.
In my DT card I used
1 - image
2 - DPs
3 - types of cardstock

 The DPs were from the stash and the matt silver card stock is also from the stash, I've had it  for nigh on ten years! 

I used a Marianne star die for the star and cut the silver one down to leave a peek of brown showing. The greeting is by Molly Bloom and it was stamped using brown Versafine.

The layout of the card is based on the latest sketch over at Sketch Saturday.

Well that's about it, so why don't you pop over to the other DT have for you and then have a go!

I shall also enter at:-

(PIN)sirational Challenge - photo

Lots of Flowers

Morning all.
It's double post Tuesday as it's time for another challenge over at Cards und More. This time the theme is :-

LOTS OF FLOWERS

We've had no flowers so it's now time to get those blooms out and big up your project with them.
We made a hanger at my craft class the other week so I was inspired to make another. Here it is-

The sentiment is from my Dandelion Wishes set and is just the fit for this challenge. The flowers were cut from white card using a Sizzix set and inked with DIs in various colours. I used a woodgrain stamp to make the panels of the frame and straw board cut into 1/2 inch strips to make it 3D. The background panel was inked with Broken China DI using a cloud stencil and Shabby Shutters DI for the foreground.

Why don't you pop over to the site and see what the other DTs have done for your inspiration.
I'll be back later with the new challenge over at Cardz4Guyz.

CAS(E) this baby card

Good afternoon folks. 

Hope the sun is shining this Spring Bank Holiday(UK) , Memorial Day (US).

I was hoping to cut the grass after a dreadful weekend for weather but it is still a tad too wet, so here I am blogging. We had a full house at the weekend with both children down plus Grandson and SiL, shame we couldn't get out much 'cos of the rain. Even when it wasn't raining the grass was wet through. Still Ben played with Dadgwan with his bubbles in the yard and the 'boys' played with big boy toys in the evening.

There have been nothing but baby boy's arriving this year and the only baby card I have is a girly one! However that gives me the perfect excuse to craft! Anyway here is the latest card from the craftroom, a baby card for a work collegue of my husband's and former neighbour's second child. Hopefully Al will remember to give it to Gary, I hope Gary doesn't see it here first! 

I made this with reference to two challenges -

Less is More - Diecuts

CAS(E) the sketch

The base is a piece of Bazzil card folded to make an A6 card. The white top layer was die cut in 3 places with Spellbinder circles and the other circles were made with  pattered paper die cuts, a button, sequin and dew drop from the stash. The greeting stamped in Broken China DI is from LOTV as is the round sentiment and little bear. The bear is one of a set of 3 which I coloured using Copics then fussy cut and popped on pads to peek out of one die cut hole. The circular sentiment was glued flat inside the largest aperture, the check paper at the top was glued underneath the opening and then the white topper was popped up on pads.

That's a wrap then, I better go and see if the grass is dry enough to cut!

Thanks for stopping by, call again.

Wedding Bells

Well this is the third post of the morning, it's been a busy week!

Over at Fantasy Stampers it's time for a new challenge which this week is - 

Wedding Bells

I have to say that there are a few weddings around this year for us so I went with something a little different, no image just a stamped sentiment.

This is a smaller wedding card, just A6, but I think small is beautiful in this case. The idea came to me while looking through the inspiration at LOTV. The Doily is from a Joy die, the sentiments from LOTV and papers from NitWit's  Cotton Candy Wishes. I chose these papers because of the colours, I love pink and green together and in this case I've used a more muted palette. The flowers were simply made by cutting out circles which I then cut in a spiral and folded up. Assorted leaves cut from green card, lace and pearls from the stash. The edges of the papers were distressed then inked with Tattered Rose DI.

Think I'll go and lie down in a darkened room now before my Grandson arrives after all this blogging.

I shall enter it in the following challenges :-

As you like it challenge - Fave colour duo
Alphabet Challenge - H for handmade embellishments

Crazy for CAS

Good morning peeps.

This is my first post as a Guest Designer at Crazy for CAS. I was thrilled when I was asked to contribute to their latest challenge:-

BALLOON/S

It came as a result of my Easter card 'Hoppy Easter' which was chosen in their top 3.

Here is my card.

This little character is George from a free set from Molly Bloom which I coloured using Copics as follows:-

Blues - B12,14,18,93,95,97

Red - R32,35,37,39

Yellow - Y11,15,17

Grass - YG11,13,17

Grey - C0,3,5

The sentiment is from the same set and I completed the frame by drawing a border free hand with a fine liner.

I shall enter him the following challenges:-

Creative Inspirations - Happy Birthday

Allsorts - Happy Birthday

So why don't you pop over to Crazy for CAS and see what the main DT have made for your inspiration

Don't forget the ACTION/MOVEMENT challenge is still open at Cardz4Guyz why don't you have a go?

Inkspirational GD

A very early post as I show you my cards for my GD over at Inkspirational.

I was so suprised when I was asked to be their GD for their latest challenge:-

BLOOM

I wasn't expecting to be contacted so I was really pleased to be able to contribute to their challenge with not one but two cards. I couldn't decide which way to go so made a soft flowery w/c and another in a more graphic style.

                                       

The w/c card was made using my fabulous Glorious Gardenia from Memory Box with a few dew drops and sequins from the stash. The sentiment is from LOTV and stamped in Momento black.

The more graphic card is made using a Stampendous set 'Buzzin Blooms'. I used the 3 tall flowers  from the set as is, but masked off 3 of the smaller blooms on the 5 group before stamping the 2 smaller ones next to the 3 tall ones. Flowers were coloured using Copics. The sentiment was from the same set and I drew the frame freehand using a fine liner. 

Well that's about it, why not pop over to see what the rest of the DT have made to inspire you and join in.

I shall enter them in the following challenges:-
CAS-ology - Flower
ATSM - Anything goes
Love Rubberstamps - Fun with your name
                                  J - Jewels - sequins n dew drops
                                                                U -Underneath ( the flower is underneath the die cut)
                                            L - Lots of water to work the ink pens
    I - Ink pens
                                               E - Embellishments, sequins n dew drops

Muse #68

Evening all. 

Not a very good day weather wise, a bit damp and drab. So grey that we resorted to firing up the range cooker this afternoon. Tomorrow looks worse so we may light it again. So much for Spring Bank Holiday!

This week the muse at Muse is Marion Vagg with this delightful card.

I love the clean and simple layout of her card and had lots of ideas on how to go with my take and in the end I went with my Poinsettia die from Le Crea. That meant it was a Christmas card but hey you've got to start sometime.

I added some gold/yellow crystals to the center of the flower and some extra foliage with my Sizzix die from Stampin Up. The chevrons were cut from some matt silver textured card and pieced where the same white ones were cut from the main 5 x 7 card. The greeting is from a Woodware collection, not sure of the name.Must look out for some larger greetings in time for this Christmas.

Well that's it for today, come back tomorrow for some more DT and GD inspiration.

I would also like to join in at :-

Merry Monday Christmas Challenge - Use  a flower/s

Action at Cardz4Guyz

Good morning all, I hope I find you all fit and well.

This week it's my choice at Cardz4Guyz and I chose:-

ACTION / MOVEMENT

This week we want to see moving parts on your men's cards. It doesn't matter what sort, it could be a split pin, penny slider, waterfall, magic slider or as I did just a plain slider.

 I am including a quick step by step instruction for making the mechanism as I couldn't find one on You Tube!

Here is my card.

It's one of my favourite styles and is really easy to adapt just alter the backing paper and/or the image on the slider. The image is from a sheet of decoupage, think it was La Pasche. If you want to know how to put it together, just click the link at the to of the page - Techniques
I made one for my Daughters FiL that had the atlas page for where he lived and a motor bike of which he is fond of riding!
This is another showing the slider on the other side. This time it's a retirement card.

If you have never had a go, why don't you try. Check out the rest of the DT to see what inspiration they came up with.

I shall also enter this in the following challenge:-
The Male Room - A moving part

Cheers and keep crafting.

Prim Poppy

As I said in an earlier post, I finally got my hands on Prim Poppy from Memory Box, so I just had to play!

This is what I came up with, bearing in mind the challenges at CAS on Sunday - sketch and CASual Friday 3 in a third.

I first cut the poppies in white and inked the green sections then cut away the petal parts. I cut the petals in red and mounted then under the green base and used pads to lift them off the background. The greeting is from Stampin Up.
I might as well enter it at Less is More in their Flower challenge as well!
Oops also Simon Says Wednesday - Die cuts

Flowers

Good morning peeps.

What a glorious morning it is and not as breezy as yesterday. Al has resumed his battle with the weeds before it gets too hot. This place is a real sun trap with a south facing slope. 

A fellow DT member in France wanted some of the heat over there, well according to the forecast we wont have it tomorrow, so the washing is in and more lined up!

As it's the weekend there is a new challenge over at Less is More - Flowers. Well that fit perfectly with a couple of my recent purchases. I bought Prim Poppy and Glorious Gerbera Daisies from Memory Box when I went to Samuel Taylors in Brighouse after Di's appointment at the hospital for her damaged knee. (She is due to have keyhole next Wednesday then should be back on her feet soon after)

I had a play with the daisy die to see what I could do, but it is not as amenable as the gardenia one I bought a while ago. Anyhow this is what I made in the end.

This one is made by die cutting then saving all the bits, there are a lot, then after painting with w/c put it back together(very fiddly). I then mounted it on an A6 white base which I coloured with the same w/c to create a contrast border. Not sure if I should colour the flower centers but I may try that another time.

Thanks for dropping by and thanks for your comments.

Splash

Good afternoon, I should be in the garden but believe it or not it's too hot!!!

Al has gone to do battle with nettles in the field, so I have been on my tod with the dog and my crafting goodies. It's far too warm for housework, LOL.

The challenges at CASology always give me trouble, they make you think outside the box.

This week the theme is SPLASH.

Mmm, what to do? I then remembered the Tatty Teddy stamp I picked up in the bargain bucket with Di a couple of weeks ago, voila!

This little teddy is splashing tea into a cup and nothing cheers better than a cuppa, hence the sentiment!

The image is coloured with Copics and then mounted on pink to show a slither of colour before placing on an A5 top fold white card.

Can I take this opportunity to say thank you to all the people who have clicked follow this blog recently.

It's great that you want to see what I'm upto, I really appreciate it.

Sailing By

Good morning all.

Tuesdays are busy for posts for the moment, this time it's a new challenge over at Cardz4Guyz. This week Helen is in charge of the new theme which is:-

NAUTICAL

We want to see your boats and sailing related creations, cards, pictures etc..

Box cards are all the rage at the moment so why buck the trend, here is my inspiration for the theme using Woodware's - Sailing By.

The papers are from NitWits Coastal collection and I used Copics to colour the images.

I cut the boats out and mounted them on strips which I cut freehand to look like waves and then inked with Faded Jeans DI. 

OK, so now it's your turn to dazzle us with your creations. Pop across to see what the rest of the wonderful DT have produced.

I shall enter it in the following challenges:-

Allsorts - Fancy Folds

Creative Inspirations - Beside the Seaside

The Pink Elephant - Nautical

Don't forget there is still time to join the challenge over at Fantasy Stampers - Numbered Birthday

Bye for now.

Spring at Cards und More

Good morning, it's time for another challenge over at Cards und More. 

This time the theme is -

Spring

The bluebells are well and truly out around here at the moment, the air is redolent with their smell when you drive past. I love the gorgeous blue carpet that they create under the fresh spring green of the bursting foliage of the trees. 

So this image of bluebells and primroses was just the ticket for my take on Spring.

The background foliage paper is from NitWits and as it's quite busy I just used a panel and mounted it onto a contrasting blue scalloped panel. The large scalloped oval was cut out of canvas effect paper, the sentiment from Molly Bloom  I used Copics to colour the image as follows:-

Primroses - Y11,15,17,24

Bluebells - B12,23,24,28

Forget- me-nots - B00.02,23

Foliage - YG 11,13,17,61,63,67

Shadow and jar - W0,2,5

So now it's your turn, visit the website to check out the other DT inspiration, then have a go.

I shall enter it in the following challenge:-

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Spring Flowers

LIM -Thanks

Afternoon all.

The sun has just come out, yeah. It's been a foul day but I managed to take Max out between the showers. It's also given me more chance to craft 'cos I can't play outside in the garden. Well if I can't be in the garden why not bring the garden inside. 

Now don't say you haven't done it, bought a stamp you liked then not had a clue what to do with it. Well I bought a Woodware stamp 'Fushia Spray ages ago'. I got it 'cos I love to see fushias, they look great in the summer, flowing out of a hanging basket, all blousey and bright but in retrospect it is a bit OTT when used as a whole. Then with the latest LIM one layer challenge and Addicted to CAS -Over the edge I at last had a reason to use it!

The same stamp but 2 different colourways stamped off the page. The greeting on the right hand card is from the same set the left is from LOTV. I like the layout of the right better but as the cue for LIM this week is Thank You, this is the best greeting stamp I have. The image was coloured with Copics as follows:-

Red - R32,35,37,39

White - C0,3,5, blender

Pink - RV000,02,04,06 V01,C1

Lilac - V01,04,05,06

Green - YG61,63,67,G28

I shall enter the following challenges:-

Less is More - One layer Thank you

Addicted to CAS - Off the Edge

Crafty Little Fairies - In the Garden

ATSM - CAS

Thanks for popping by, come back soon.

Musing on a Sunday Afternoon

Afternoon folks.

It's been pretty poor weather wise up to now, now the sun is trying to show it's face, hope the rain has stopped now.

Over at Muse this week we are inspired by this wonderful card by Vicki Dutcher.

I love the layout of this card and the contrast between the colours she has used. I have been playing around with my new memory Box Gardenia die, I love it but I was not sure what to do with it. You know how it is when you see something and fall for it then stare at it trying to think what to do!

I have tried various techniques but I have neglected my W/C pens for too long so was playing around with them and thought I could use them in a card based on Vicki's layout. I was going to make a retirement card for my daughter's friend and she doesn't do pink so lilac it was. However after doing all the w/c I hadn't got a suitable sentiment so it ended up as a birthday card.

I will make another if she likes this one! I thought I had some baker's twine in purple but I couldn't find it so used ribbon to match. I die cut the white outline then used the negative left as a stencil to cut the solid shape to watercolour, then placed the white outline on top. The DP panel is from my stash of free magazine papers, it doesn't show up but the butterflies are shaded lilac. The greeting is from Stampin Up dew drops and sequins from the stash.

I shall enter it in the following challenges as well :-

Crazy for CAS - ribbon or twine

Without Words - Purple or pink and green

Keep it simple - Watercolour

OK, that's a wrap for today, come back soon.

Numbered Birthday

Good morning everyone, the weekend is here again so it's time for crafting with us at Fantasy Stampers .

This week the lovely Jan has chosen the theme of -

 Numbered Birthday

We are always need a card like that, young or old, male or female. My inspiration for the DT is this pretty girlie card.

I  put a 60 on the card, however you could put any number you want. Wouldn't it be great to make a card with a personal touch and use the actual age of the recipient. Don't do what I did to my SiL though and made her a year older than she was! The sketch is also great for a guy's card just change the DP to a more masculine pallette and match your image colouring to the papers you choose.
I used some off cuts of my favourite Nit Wits Perfect Pear set from an other project as this sketch layout is great for using up odd bits n bobs. The trick is to bring the colours together in your image. The squares were punched out using a Woodware punch but you could just cut them using a paper trimmer. They were then placed on a matching piece of card leaving an even gap between the DP squares and mounted on a 6 x 6 white base card. I've kept it clean and simple without too many added extras.
This image is LOTV's New Hat stamp coloured with Copics as follows-
Pink - RV10,13,15
Green - YG11,13,17
Hat n Hair - YR21, E30,31,33,35,37
Skin - E000,00,11,R20

Right now it's your turn, pop over to Fantasy Stampers to check out what the other DT members have prepared for your inspiration and join in.
I shall enter this in the following challenges -

Sweet Stampin' - Hats,heels and handbags
Clear it out - Your style (Clean n Simple) Your stash ( Nitwits papers)
The ABC challenge - Keep it Simple
Without Words - Pink and or Purple and Green

Metal

Afternoon peeps.

 I shall have to wait to mow the grass until it's dried a bit as there was a sharp shower 30 minutes ago, the sun is shining at the mo and it is very windy, so it should be dry enough soon. So I thought while I wait I would catch up with my blog.

Over at CAS-ology the cue word this week is METAL.

Didn't know what to do with this theme but then remembered seeing a butterfly made with pleated paper and wire, so decided to have a go. This is the end result -

The paper was from the stash, the sentiment from a Stampendous set, Buzzin Blooms.

I linked the sentiment to the butterfly with a freehand line using a black fineliner.

I shall also enter it in the following challenges:-

ATSM - CAS

Thanks for popping by, see you again.

Bingo for Guyz

Good morning folks, hope you had a good Bank Holiday and you weren't stuck in horrendous traffic jams.

Another week over and it's time for a new challenge at Cardz4Guyz. This week we would like to see your creations based on this bingo board.

TWINE	BRADS	EMBOSSING
DISTRESSING	IMAGE	SENTIMENT
DIE CUT	BLUE	BUTTON/S

I chose the line Brads/ Image/ Blue for my card.

The image is one I have used before, Jippie Yeah, from Nellie Snellen's Young Rebels collection, coloured as usual with Copics as follows:-

Brown - E30,31,33,35,37,39

Blue - B12,14,18,000,00,02

Grey - C0,3,5,7,10

Skin - E000,00,11,R20

The DP is from NitWits, Candles and Cake collection, card and brads from the stash. The blue strip across the bottom of the card  was made using a MS edge punch.

I shall also enter it in the challenge at Sieze the Sketch -  #19

Love Rubberstamps - Anything goes

Thanks for popping over see you back soon.

LIM three shades and/or colour

Evening all, here is a little something I finished yesterday but did not get around to posting.

Over at Less is More they are asking for creations that include three colours or three shades of the same colour. For me that is far too much freedom, I work better when I am more constricted. However, I did put my mind to it while playing around with a new stamp, from Paula Pascal set I got a couple of weeks ago.

At first I was disappointed by the size of the stamps but having had a play they worked fine.

I used three different colours to stamp the tag, Worn Lipstick DI and 2 Colour Palette greens. The greeting was stamped in, Memento London Fog.

I shall also enter it in the Inkspirational Challenge - Pink and Green

I suggested that Di had a go too so here is her 1st blog card.

She inked 3 shades of red through plaster board tape then overstamped a Marion Emberson seed head then added some liquid pearls to some of the heads.

Better get back to my guest now, I don't want to appear rude!

I'm Late

In the words of the White Rabbit. 'I'm late I'm late'.

I have been meaning to enter a card in this week's Muse but as I have my friend Di over I haven't had as much time to blog as Di brought some of her stash with her and I've been playing!

By the way I must thank all those fellow Muse members who voted my entry last week into the top 3, it means more when fellow crafters vote for your efforts. This week the muse is Gillian Ross with this delicate baby card.

and this is my take-

Di brought down a set of Spellbinders sentiments to try so I used this one and combined it with a LOTV sentiment stamp. I blinged it up by replacing the dot over the i with a tiny crystal heart.

I shall also enter it in the CAS on Sunday - Glitter and sparkle challenge

Electric at CAS-ology

Afternoon all.

Just got back from a jaunt  to do a little retail craft therapy with Di. What a good excuse it is to take a good friend with you shopping. We got what we went for and lots of goodies as well!

I made this card the other day but didn't have chance to blog yesterday as I was mowing the grass with the new mower, I'm getting better but I can't quite maneuver it into the corners!

The challenge at CAS- ology is the cue word ELECTRIC.

The image was stamped then embossed with white detail powder on black. The rays of light were made using a small Versacolour ink in yellow.

Another quick post as Di is still here and we have some more crafting time to fit in.

Grunge

Evening folks.

Late posting today as my friend Di is down for a few days for a change of scene. Since she injured her knee skiing at half term she hasn't been able to drive or go shopping so we had a bit of retail therapy and picked up a few bargains along the way. So not much crafting but I do have a card I made earlier in the week, inspired by the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS. Their cue word is Grunge.

This card uses a couple of recent purchases, my Tim Holtz grunge stencil and my Memory Box die 'Birthday'.

I used a silver grey base card with stripe of grunge diagonally across the bottom half of the card. I made the panel by inking through the stencil using, Weathered Wood, Frayed Burlap and Pumice Stone DI and then edged with faux stitching. The die cut birthday word was stuck along the top edge of the strip with a stamped WISHES on the bottom edge.

OK better not leave my guest on her own much longer so that's it for today.