I've Been Busy!

It's half term this week, and since I've still got loads of Christmas cards to make, I decided to get stuck in! I've had several sessions of cardmaking, using different techniques.

 For this card, I've used a couple of Chocolate Baroque stamps from a set I bought recently. I stamped the main image in black ink on white card. I then stamped the bauble image on black card using an embossing pad and embossed in white before cutting it out. The background was embossed using a Sizzix folder, and the card finished with some ribbon and a bow.

Similar techniques here - and this time, I've used a different Chocolate Baroque stamp - one of the big, bold backgrounds. I stamped the image in embossing ink on white card, then embossed in clear. Then, I shaded the background using Distress Ink. The background to the sentiment was cut using a Go Kreate die, and the Happy Christmas used a Britannia die. The bauble used two Memory box dies.

And, exactly as above, but with the bauble colours the other way around.

For the next four, I used a set of images and papers from a CDRom from Digital Crafting Essentials magazine. The images I've used are all from the Crafter's Companion Paintbox Poppets range.

I've used the same basic design each time, cutting the front of the card in half, and covering the inside and front with layers of card, mirror board and paper before attaching the matted image to the front and then embellishing. They're really lovely images, and the papers are pretty too.

And finally, a card using an image from the Enchanted Dreams CDRom

I think I've still got another twenty or so to make!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 103

This time, our challenge at Crafty Cardmakers has been set by Fiona, who wants monochrome purple creations. She will allow skin or hair colours to be more natural, but other than that, it's purple all the way!

Our sponsors this time are

See the challenge blog for more details.

Well, a friend asked me to make an anniversary card for her parents, and since her mother's favourite colour is apparently purple, it seemed like a good match.

I've gone rather overboard with my Big Shot Pro to make this card! First, I cut a six inch square card using a Britannia Lattice Edge die. I've been disappointed with this die because it takes a lot of shimming and several passes to cut well, and the detailing on the die over-embosses and seems to take some silver colour from the die by the time you've succeeded. You also get a strong embossed mark from the edge of the die that I haven't been able to get rid of. But that's what embellishment is for!

I embossed a piece of pearlescent white card using an embossing folder, and cut it to match the general shape of the card front. I made the sentiment in Photoshop Elements, and cut and matted the result using Spellbinders dies. For the flowers, I used Susan's Garden dies, Promarkers, Pastels, Distress Ink and Stickles.

I decorated the inside of the card so that you could see the purple showing through the lattice.

But, when I tried to stand the card up, I realised that the lattice makes the bottom of the front of the card too floppy, so I had to reinforce it, and used some more of the purple for that.

I hope you can join us this time.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Hands where anything goes,
Sister Act where anything goes,
Craftin' Boutique where anything goes,
Rhedd and Rosie where anything goes,
Challenges 4 Everybody where anything goes,
Lacy Sunshine where anything goes,
My Creative Moments where anything goes.

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 187

This week at One Stitch at a Time, our challenge is Boo! So, either something with a Hallowe'en theme, or colours associated with Hallowe'en. We're sponsored this time by

 who're going to give three Promarkers to the lucky winner!

Now, if you're like me, you can't imagine sending a Hallowe'en card to anyone. It's just not an occasion for cards, despite the fact that, as a Scot, it's always been a notable date on the calendar. (Although, I must admit since the whole 'Trick or Treat' thing crossed the Atlantic, I now give do my best to ignore it.) So, I went for Hallowe'en colours. They seem to be black and orange (although again, I assume the orange is a US import along with the idea of pumpkins. We used to use turnips (or swedes if you're not a Scot) and dug those out to make lanterns. (Much harder work, I assure you ...)

Anyway, that's a long explanation of why I chose Cootsy Creations' image and papers called Tiger.

I shrank one of the papers as a background to the tiger image before printing, then coloured the image with Promarkers. The background is another paper from the set, and I finished with some black card for matting, some black ribbon and a silver sun which I warmed a bit using a Pumpkin Promarker.

 I hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash where they want orange and black,
Creative Romance where they've got a 'metal mania' theme,
Crafty Hands where anything goes,
Digi Haven where they want 'orange and black',
Kitty Bee where they want black, white plus one,
QKR where they're seeing orange,
Sister Act where anything goes,
Craftin' Boutique where anything goes,
Rhedd and Rosie where anything goes,

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 186

This week, at One Stitch at a Time, we've got another 'Anything Goes' challenge, so show us what you've been up to! We're sponsored by

For details, see the challenge blog.

This week, the image I used was chosen by my team mate, Hazel, and it's called Birthday Girl from Stitchy Bear herself.

I added the wording and border in Photoshop Elements, then coloured our Birthday Girl using Promarkers and some very bright, girly colours. The backing paper shows the spoils of a recent trip to the BSSBS at Alexandra Palace. I used a set of stamps from Inky Doodles. They're a great idea - three different patterns that you can use together or in any combination. They're repeatable, and between them there are so many effects you can get. I used all three for this paper, stamping using Distress Ink, then added some more ink to the background with some Ink Dusters. To finish, I've used some organza ribbon, a couple of buttons and a clock charm, because, if birthdays aren't about time passing, I don't know what else they could be about!

I hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Bearly Mine where anything goes,
Ladybird Crafts where anything goes,
Crafty Ribbons where anything goes with a ribbon,
Addicted to Stamps and More where they want us to 'make our mark',
Lady Anne where they want us to stamp,
Doodle Pantry where anything goes with a digi,
A Creative Romance where the theme is 'pink',
Sister Act where anything goes.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 102

This time, our challenge at Crafty Cardmakers was set by Betty, and she's chosen Shabby Chic. Our sponsors are:

See the challenge blog for details.

Now, when I started this, I had no idea what shabby chic meant. (I'm not sure I get it now, either, but I've tried to follow suggestions from my team mates.) I see people using the description about their own creations, and I can't say I've seen a common thread. Some are very heavily embellished and feminine, others much plainer and obviously distressed in some way. But, I decided to set off on a journey of discovery.

My first attempt had me looking through my stamp collection, and I finally came up with this:

I stamped an Inkylicious image with a Big and Juicy Mountain Meadow stamp pad, arranging it so the leaves towards the bottom were green, while the flowers above shaded from blue, through purple to red. I used some cut and dry foam and Ink Dusters to edge and distress the background using the same ink pad. Again using the Mountain Meadow pad, I created a background paper using Ink Dusters and some Tapestry stamps I've had for years but rarely use. I added a couple of lengths of wide lace and put a finished with a punched border top and bottom with added glitter glue.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Happy Campers where they want us to 'show our flowers',
Addicted to Stamps and More where anything goes,
Lady Anne where anything goes,
Brown Sugar where anything goes,




My second attempt uses an image from our sponsor, Milk Coffee.

I coloured the image with Promarkers before cutting it out. The background paper is from my all-time favourite digital set. I've had it for a couple of years now. It's from Panda Bear Designs via the Stitchy Bear shop, and I just love the rainbow shades over beautifully fluffy clouds in this one. I lightly sanded the paper, giving it a slightly scuffed appearance. (I'm not mad about things that look really 'shabby' or 'distressed', so it's fairly subtle.) I gave the image a little shaping before attaching it using glue gel. I created a frame using some lace, and finished with some punched flowers centred with glitter glue.

I hope you can join us this time.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Artistic Impressions where they want us to 'make it girly',
4 Krafty Girlz where anything goes,
My Heart Pieces where anything goes,
Sister Act where anything goes.

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 185

This week at One Stitch at a Time, our theme is Winter Wonderland, and we're sponsored by

See the challenge blog for prize details.

This week I used an image by Gingerloft called Christmas Gate, which is available from the Stitchy Bear shop.

I coloured the image with Promarkers, adding a bit of sparkle with a Sakura Stardust pen. The paper is one I've had for ages, and I finished with a couple of die cuts from Memory Box.

I hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly where they want us to use two of something (two border die cuts)
Passion for Promarkers where the theme is 'Snow is Falling',
Creative Craft Challenges where anything goes
4 Krafty Girlz where anything goes,
My Heart Pieces where anything goes with a digi,
Brown Sugar where anything goes,
Craftitude where anything goes with a letter 's' - for snow,
Sister Act where anything goes,
Stamping for the Weekend where anything goes.

A Little Bit of Pride and Prejudice

I was lucky enough to win on the Lady Anne's challenge blog, and my prize was four digis from Sassy Studios. Now, I've never looked through the selection there before, but I found several lovely stamps. One, I just couldn't wait to colour up, and this is the result.

The image is called Elizabeth Laura Bennett, and I thought she was quite lovely. I've coloured her with Promakers, and die cut the image before matting. I've used two papers from Paper Pizzazz and finished with some lace which was originally cream in colour, but which I coloured with Promarkers to match the theme of the card.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Artistic Impressions where they want us to 'make it girly',
Lawnscaping where they want us to use patterned paper,
Creative Craft Challenges where anything goes,
4 Krafty Girlz where anything goes,
My Heart Pieces where anything goes,

Addicted to Stamps and More where anything goes,

Lady Anne where anything goes,

A Creative Romance where the theme is 'pink',

Brown Sugar where anything goes,

Cut it Up where they want us to 'think pink',

One Stitch at a Time Challenge 184

This week at One Stitch at a Time, our challenge is to use a digi. Other than that, anything you like!


Our sponsors this week are:

This week, my image was chosen by my team mate Shell, and it's Window from My Heart Pieces.

I coloured with Promarkers before matting. The paper is from the Papermania Persimmon collection - a really unusual combination of blues browns, golds and oranges. I edged that paper, and some coppery pearlescent paper with a Martha Stewart border punch, and that's it! Another fairly simple design.

I hope you can join us this week.

I'd like to wneter this card into the following challenges:

Creative Craft Challenges where anything goes,
Crafting by Designs where anything goes,
Divas by Design where they want CAS,
Moving Along with the Times where anything goes,
Crafty Catz where anything goes,
Sister Act where anything goes,
Catch the Bug where anything goes,
Paper Creators where  they want dies and punches.