Fastest fingers first...

Hey everyone,

Sorry again for the delays in postings. Well, the bride-to-be has picked out the design she likes best, for the wedding invitations, and so - with the help of my very kind and patient friend Ana - we've made a good dent in the cards! And the bride-to-be came over the other day and was taught how to emboss; she loved it! And in this case, many hands really DO make light work!

So we're getting there - I'll post a picture once the invites go out.

Well... today my friend Alessia came over to make some cards and she made - wait for it - eleven cards in 2.5hours.
Yes. ELEVEN.

So I thought, if she can do it, so can I!!!

It took me 10 minutes to make this; here's what I came up with:

Really clean and simple with just a few elements - it takes just a few minutes and still looks rather nice :)

The thing that took the longest was tying that piece of string! I tried (in vain) to tie a bow, but the string just WOULD NOT listen (which is annoying, because I'd just made the same card with a bow for Alessia!). So I tied a knot instead.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Linen (The Papermill); Patterned (K&Co's Mega-stack)

Greeting: From a Hero Arts sayings collection (lost the packaging!), Aged Mahogony distress ink

Tools: String; Martha Stewart Royal Butterfly punch; Fiskar's scallopped edge punch

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Caardvarks: Monochromatic
2. CardPatterns: Sketch 94

Welcome Home!

Hi everyone,

I know I'm pretty much a once-a-week blogger but I saw this gorgeous digi-stamp from 'DigiSparkle.com' and just HAD to make something with it!
And this stamp is FREE for the month of December!

Let me just tell you little bit about DigiSparkle before I continue - they are a lovely digi-stamp company that sell SETS of digi-stamps for just £0.99 (around $1.49).
There are some really cute stamps, and they have a wonderful points-reward scheme, where you can redeem the points you earn on your purchases, on even more stamps!
And the stamps are great value - as I said, you receive a whole set for £0.99.
Each month there are new releases, and there is also a free stamp every month. And I received a voucher a couple of months ago as a 'thank you' for being a valued customer, which I spent on some more pretty stamps!!! ;-D

One last thing - you get a lovely personalised service, and Heather, who owns the site and whose illustrations make up the stamps, is very nice too!

So go check out the site (check out their blinkie on the right-hand-side of my page).

Okay, so... back to my card. Here it is:

And may I just say how LOOOOOOOOOONG it took me to make this card! Looks clean and simple, right? Well a LOT of thought and effort goes into that look!!!
I was sat there staring at the image and a blank white card-blank for about half an hour.
Yup. Half and hour.

Oh well, got there in the end! And I just LOVE the lace stamp from Hero Arts.

After colouring the image in my Crayolas (and blending some of the colours using a white watercolour pencil, which has a softer lead - that front door is supposed to be a muted grey-colour, you know, like from the Georgian period?), I stamped the sentiment and distressed the bottom part with Antique Linen distress ink.
I tried a spritzing-technique on the bottom of the image, but it didn't quite work as the cardstock I'm using is a linen-texture, and it absorbed the water rather than resisting it. But it looks okay, anyway.

Stamped the Lace stamp in Antique Linen again, and then distressed the outer edges in the same colour - I love the way it reinforces the colour of the stamped image.

I thought this card would be especially great for someone coming out of hospital, but it'd also work as a moving-card.

Well, enjoy!


I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. DigiSparkle - DigiSparkle projects
2. ACLP - Anything Goes
3. Mark's Finest Papers - Bows
4. EBTKS - Textures

New Techniques

Hey everyone,

First of all I'd like to say a big 'thank you' to everyone who reads through my site, though they don't comment. I really appreciate your letting me know - at least I know I'm not talking to myself most of the time ;-)

Okay, so this card was a bit of an experiment. I knew I wanted to make a 'thank you' card for a lovely couple of friends who took us and 5 other friends out for dinner last weekend; what a kind and generous thing to do!

A couple of weeks ago I bought the Tim Holtz Mini-Mister by Ranger, and also some Perfect Pearls powder. I was toying with the idea of adding a tag, and I received the GORGEOUS lace stamp from Hero Arts last week, and wanted to use that too.

Here's what I came up with:

I stamped the HA Lace stamp in Versamark ink, and used a paintbrush to brush the Perfect Pearls over the image. Then I spritzed it with the Mini-Mister to set the powder.
I also used the HA 'Friend Definition' stamp, also stamped in Versamark ink.

The tag was distressed using Tim Holtz Broken China distress ink, and then embossed.

The colouring was done using my old favourites - Crayola colouring pencils (I know some of you have to cover your eyes at this point ;-D ); I'm still trying to find a cost-effective alternative!

And I mustn't forget to mention where the little mixing-bowl and utensils came from - the 'What's Cooking?' stamp set, also from Hero Arts.

These must be my 3 favourite stamps/sets EVER!

A close-up of the sentiment (I apologise for the blurring) - I cut the tag out using my Silhouette machine, and threaded it through the 5mm ribbon (I think that's about 1/4inch).

Hope you like it, and thanks for looking!

Have a lovely day!


(If anyone would like a list of supplies, please post a comment and I will edit this post - I'm not next to my crafting table at the moment.)

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

1. Paper Pretties: Clean and Simple
2. Sentimental Sundays: Thanks

Gorgeous Doilies

Hi everyone,

Here's my card for this week. Now, I can't take credit for this one really; I saw one very similar on Brit Swiderski's BEAUTIFUL blog, which you can see here, and wondered whether I could make something similar on my Silhouette machine.

So I dug out my ballpoint pen-attachment, and look at the results! I think they're pretty cool:

I admit that the 'biro' look isn't amazing; I'll have to try a felt tip or brush pen next time. But for a first attempt and to try something new, it turned out okay!

Again, I took a picture to try and show the layers, but I just can't get my camera to focus! So sorry about that.

As you can see this card is pretty simple; just 'draw', cut and stick with the doilies, and I couldn't miss out my much-loved faux stitching!

For the sentiment strip, I used the same blue cardstock as the background, and inked it up with distress inks; it's such a gorgeous effect! I know I'm going to have loads of fun with these, now that I've bought my very own ink-blending tool! Yay!

Have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by!

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock: White Linen card from the Papermill; Kraft, Blue - both from my stash

Ink: Vintage Photo Distress ink; Chesnut Roan Colorbox chalk ink

Stamp:  Sentiment from Fiskars 'Latte Love' set

Tools/Misc: Silhouette machine; Ink blending tool from Ranger; White gel pen; a trusty Bic biro!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Dutch Dare Card Challenges: Clean and Simple

Lovebirds

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry it's so long between posts at the moment; I keep wanting to craft and blog but life keeps getting in the way :)

Well, two of my friends are getting married (to each other!) - they got engaged a couple of weekends ago. So I made them this card:

I cut out the card template, birds, trees and hearts using my new digital cutter. I adhered the card on to vellum, cut the insert from vellum, and then glued it to the front. I used my white gel pen for the faux-stitching that outlines the elegant shape.


You can see the velum better in this side-view:

The lettering was also cut using the die-cutter; it was painstakingly difficult adhering those to the vellum, but it was worth it; my friends loved it so much they asked me to do their WEDDING INVITATIONS!!!


EEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I am freaking out very slightly... I have a couple of ideas, but not sure at all whether the bride-to-be will like them...
So if anyone has any ideas for wedding-invites, or knows of any sketches that could be of use, I'd love for you to post a comment and let me know!

Thank you!

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock: Blue; White; Brown; Turquoise - all from my stash. Pink cardstock from the huge K&Co stack. Vellum

Stamping: Hero Arts Dots cling stamp; Versamark ink

Extras: Pink satin ribbon; 3D foam adhesive squares; White gel pen

Silhouette dies: "2 Love Birds" (Lori Whitlock); 6-card kit Elegant (Lori Whitlock); LD Blankie font

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. EBTKS - Challenge #26, Colour challenge

2. Wee Memories - Challenge #29, Anything Goes
3. Cute Card Thursday - So Transparent!

I'm back, with a 'Hello'!

Hi everyone,

I'm back in blog-land, finally. It's almost been a whole month since my last post - life has been absolutely crazy, including colds and work, not to mention trips to the hospital to see my poor aunty...

Anyway, here is my offering for today:

So I saw that beautiful piece of cardstock and thought, "I know what colours to put with this!!!"... but once I'd sorted the colours, I just couldn't work out how to put it together!

It took 2 days just to work out what to do!!! But once I figured it out, it didn't take long to assemble. I love those little birdies at the bottom by Hero Arts - aren't they cute?!
And don't ask me what that little 'ornament' is on the left; I don't really know what I was doing there, but I think it looks okay!
Very 'autumn'-y! Yay for autumn colours!

Oh and I wanted to create a little window, which I managed. It was hard to know what to put in it, once I'd had the idea... so I stamped the sentiment and went over it with some turquoise glue-stickles.

Hope you like it!

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock: Teal cardstock from the Papermill; Generic white; Strips of Kraft; Birdies from the DCWV's 'The Green Stack'

Stamps: from 'Anyone Can Stamp' Hero Arts Birds and Branches set

Tools: Fiskars scalloped border punch; Scissors; Paper trimmer, 1" hole punch, Dimentional adhesive stickers

Extra bits: Teal ribbon; White gel pen; Ranger's turquoise Glue Stickles; a green button from my stash

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

1. Everything But the Kitchen Sink - Bag inspiration challenge

You're Sweet! Plus a step-by-step guide

Hi guys,

It's been another hectic week; lots and lots going on, so not much time for crafting!

Well, this is my latest card:

And a close-up of the sentiment...

I tried to take a photo to show you the number of layers, but it didn't quite work. And also, sorry for taking the photo against carpet; my lamp has come away from my desk, and the lighting is really poor so this was the brightest I could get for now...

This is such a great stamp set - I bought it months and months ago, coloured the images, and then haven't known how to use them!

Well - I finally found a layout  I liked, and I think it works quite well! Told you I would be using vellum again!

I did some embossing with the sentiment, and some faux-stitching, but other than that it was a very simple card to make.

I'm going to try something new today, and give you a step-by-step guide on how to make the card.

I really appreciated these when I was starting out making cards, and so if it will help anyone out there, then I'll be glad!

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock: Kraft; Paper from DCWV "The Green Stack" collection; Frosted vellum; White cardstock; Chocolate brown cardstock

Stamps: "Sweet Kawaii" by Holly Brooke Jones

Ink: "Chestnut Roan" Colorbox chalk ink; Versamark Ink

Pens and Pencils: Crayola colouring pencils; Signo white gel pen

Tools/misc: Scissors; Dimentional stickers; Double-sided tape; Making Memories corner-chomper; Fiskars Scalloped border punch; Embossing heat tool; White embossing powder

DIRECTIONS:

1. Stamp the images onto the white cardstock, and colour with the pencils.

2. Cut the images out, leaving an edge around the outside of the stamped lines

3. Cut a piece of kraft cardstock down to a standard A6 card (14.9cm x 10.5cm), which

    opens upwards.

4. Cut the piece of patterned paper to 14.9cm x 7.1cm

5. Cut the piece of vellum down to 10.7cm x 5.1cm

6. Adhere the images to the vellum using the dimentional stickers, and then add some faux-stitching with the 

    white gel pen, around the edge.

7. Stamp the sentiment using the Versamark ink, on the chocolate cardstock, cover with embossing powder,

    and emboss using the heat tool.

8. Punch the upper edge of the chocolate cardstock, cut down to 6cm x 1.9cm (from the peak of a scallop -

    you'll see what I mean when you come to cut it), and adhere to the bottom of the strip of patterned paper,

    using the tape runner.

9. Adhere the patterned paper to the centre of the kraft cardstock using the tape runner, and then adhere the

    vellum to the patterned paper using dimentional squares.

10. Add some faux-stitching detail to the kraft cardstock, on either side of the patterned paper.

11. Finally, round both bottom corners using the corner-chomper.

... And that's it! Hope that this could be of use to someone out there - if it was, please let me know by leaving a comment! I love the messages from everyone!

Thanks for looking! x

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Wee Memories - S.O.S

2. Creative Card Crew - Autumn or Fall

3. A Spoon Full of Sugar - Fall into Autumn

3 Little Russian Dolls

Hi everyone,

Last weekend I thought I'd use a stamp set that I've had for a few months, and really love, but haven't really worked out how to colour or use!

I got my inspiration from Craftie Charlie's blog. I wanted to use all 3 dolls, but I had pre-coloured these images, and didn't have the others in the colours to match the set. So next time...

Anyway, here it is:

This one was REALLY simple to make, and probably took about 5 minutes to assemble (I don't count colouring the dolls - they were longer!). It's the first time I've used vellum, and I absolutely love it! It has such a lovely effect - I'll probably be making much more use of it now!

Oh, and in the background on the right, you'll see my stack of new 6x6 paper, which I cut down from 12x12s - that's only half the stack! Organising the patterns comes next... that's going to take a while!

Anyway, hope you like the card! TTFN x

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock: White; K&Co stripey paper from my oversized paper stack; vellum (I'll add it here)

Stamps: Russian Dolls by Hero Arts (I have the wooden set, but you can get clear stamps too)

Accents/other: White gel pen; Dimentional stickers; Silver-grey ribbon from my stash

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Colour Throwdown: #109
2. Digital Tuesday Challenge: Dots and Stripes
3. 365 Cards: Tools & Techniques

I won, I won, I won... I WON!!!

Hey everyone,

I just thought I'd share some exciting news with you: I won at 'Donna's Den of crafts' blog!!!

It's so exciting; I've never really won anything before (cue tiny violin)!

Anyway... it was my 'Beautiful Day' card that won - I knew I loved that one for a reason :-)

I've just been to Donna's shop - http://www.donnasdenofcrafts.co.uk/ . Sadly, she is closing down on 30th September. It's very sad because she has some really pretty and useful stuff.
She is giving everyone an automatic 30% discount on their basket, so head over there and check it out - I have been and want to buy loads!

I'm inspired now - hope I'll get some time to make at least 1 card, soon! My DH is buying me a proper quality paper-trimmer tonight (isn't he lovely), so later on I'm going to be cutting a stack of my 12x12 sheets down to 6x6's.
Should be boring but I actually quite enjoy it...!

I think I'm rambling now so I'd better quit while the going's good.

The weather's quite lovely over here - blue skies peeping through thin clourds, and we have trees surrounding where we live, so it's a pretty scene (if all the cars weren't in the way!) - I think it's gone to my head!

Ministry this morning - eek I'd better go!

Take care and come back soon!!! xXx

Arigato Thank You

Hello everyone,

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a while, I've had a lot on this week... but here's my card for you:

Again, I used a sketch by Valerie Salmon on 'Got Sketch?'. It was a scrapbook-page sketch, but I thought it worked well as a card.
It's not like me to leave an area blank and undecorated on a card... so not sure if I'm liking the top right hand corner all that much... but I also didn't want it to be too cluttered!

I absolutely love this ribbon I got while I was in America - it's from 'Joanne's. I haven't used ribbon that you can shape, before! It just stays where you curl it; love it!

And I also love this digi-stamp from 'Stretch n' Bubbles' - again, the Japanese theme is one that is close to my heart (I went there for 2 months a few years ago, and seriously wanted to live there). Although next time I think I'll have to paper-piece the kimono; they're just never that plain and simple!

Hope you like it!

SUPPLIES: (A detailed one today)

Cardstock: Generic white; Kraft; Blue; K&Co patterned pale green

Stamps: 'Tooling' by Stretch n' Bubbles; frame from Basic Grey's 'Tea and Crumpets' set; Sentiment from Fiskars' 'Thank you' set

Ink: Chestnut Roan Colorbox chalk ink
Tools: Martha Stewart Circle-cutter; small circle-punch (probably 1/4 inch); Makin' Memories Corner chomper; Fiskars scalloped edge border punch; Paper trimmer; Sharp scissors!

Embellishments: Stripey ribbon; Diamonte bling; Diamond-stickles

Pens: Copics

Beautiful Day

Hi everyone,

Today's card is one of my absolute favourites! It has a lot of little elements in it, and a lot of work has gone into it, but I think the effect is just gorgous.

I got my inspiration from Kristina Werner and Kathy Martin (whose digi-stamp I used). Next time I'll probably add a bit more colour below like Kristina did, but I think it looks really nice as is, too:

And a close-up of the sentiment:

So again I have indulged my little passion for clouds.
With the sentiment, I stamped it, and then went over the 'beautiful' (as you can probably already tell!) with my white gel pen a couple of times, which gives it a nice effect.

Hope you liked it!

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock: White, blue, K&Co pieces in the bunting

Stamps: Kathy Martin's "Party Banner" (link above); Holly Brooke Jones' "Winter Love Notes" cloud.

Pen: White Signo gel pen

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Simon Says Stamp - Paper piecing

2. Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes

3. Cute Card Thursday - Dieing for a Punch!

4. Mark's Finest Papers - Friendship cards

5. Donnas Den of Crafts - Lots of Layers

6. Bee Crafty - Anything Goes

Just a little note...

Good morning and hello again!

So here is another card I made yesterday afternoon/evening, when I had my 'crafting hat' on!:

I really like the simplicity and elegance of this card - I don't make many elegant ones, I don't think!

I was inspired by a scrapbook-sketch by Valerie Salmon on "Got Sketch?" It's meant to have photos/images across the top and on the right, but I think that, for a card, this layout works pretty well. It's very uncluttered and pretty - I like it (did you get that?!).

Oh! And I thought I'd do what Dorcas does, and show you my craft-desk while my work is in progress. And this is with tidying it after each card. It's maaaaadness!!!

Yep - a real mess!

INGREDIENTS:

Cardstock: K&Co (background from massive paperstack, flutterbies from Amy Butler Lotus collection), Kraft, white

Punches: 1" Circle (generic); Martha Stewart Royal Butterfly

Label: Valerie Salmon "Got Craft?" freebie - Designer labels

Pen:  White gel pen (Signo)

Ink: Tim Holtz Tea dye distress ink (for the distressing!)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays: Use the colour kraft!

2. Stamping Vacation: No! No! Challenge

3. Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog: Pink and Green

4. Scrapmaster's Paradise: Colour Combo #62 ("saffron" in the roses, "Blushing bride" in the roses/detail in butterflies, "baja breeze" in the cardstock)

The Silver Lining

Hey everyone,

Well, I've had a creative evening!

This card was inspired by my earlier comment, that being ill meant I had more time to craft, and that 'every cloud has a silver lining'. And then I thought, that's a great idea for a card!

I'm really into clouds at the moment - they're so cute and give added dimension to cards.

And here is a close-up of the top part of the sentiment:

You can't really see it here, but the 'Every' banner actually pops out of the card, and then is stuck down at the sides.
I can't work out where to take photos of my cards - I don't really have anywhere with natural light that's readily available! So everything is in shadow all the time - sorry about that!

Hope you like it!



SUPPLIES:

- Digi stamps: Pollycraft "Sweet Dreams" sun (can't link due to technical problems on the Pollycraft site);
                      Holly Brooke Jones "Winter Love Notes" cloud
- Cardstock: blue, dark grey, light grey, white
- Ink: Ink it up! Silver; black; blue
- Fiskars scalloped border punch
- Dimentional stickers
- White gel pen


I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

- Totally Gorjuss: Star! (The sun's a star, right?!)
- Sentimental Sundays: Words to Inspire

Cherry on Top Award

Heyeveryone,

My friend Dorcas very kindly gave me one of these!:

I love it! (And I'd also like to apologise for not posting earlier - have had a mad week as usual and have some time off today because I'm ill! Every cloud has a silver lining, I guess...)

Okay, so to earn the award I have to do the following:

1.  Thank the person who sent it to you:
     - Thank you, Dorcas!

2. Post it on your blog:
    - Done!

3. List 3 things you love about yourself:
    - 1. I think I make friends quite easily
      2. I like that I'm creative
      3. I'm a good cook (or so my husband tells me!)

4. Post a picture you love:

This one is of me and my (not so little any more) sister. It's a few years old, but I just love it, and it reminds me of a really great summer!
It was taken in Kenwood on a summer evening, with a group of friends... pretty idyllic! Although Bob wasn't there so it wasn't perfect! :-)


5. Send this to 5 blog buddies:


- 1. Lynn

- 2. Vicky Hayes

- 3. Stacy G

- 4. Valerie

- 5. Dorcas (okay, i'm breaking the rules, too!)


Thanks again Dorcas - it's a lovely award!

Matryoshka Thank You

Here is another card we made yesterday - I've never made a card using just one colour (two if you count the white cardstock, I guess) before, so this was a new for me!

It was a bit of a challenge to make the card interesting, but we managed it - I just love Nestabilities and distressing; they add interest to just about anything.

Enjoy!

SUPPLIES:-

- Ink: Versacolor "Rose Red"
- Stamp: Hero Arts Matryoshka Dolls (largest doll)
- Sentiment: Fiskars "Thank You" sentiment set
- Button bought from pack off eBay
- White cardstock
- Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies
- Dimentional adhesive squares
- Crop-a-Dile corner chomper by Making Memories

Congratulations Kisses

Hello everyone, sorry I haven't posted for a while - I haven't been able to craft at all last week.

But my sister came over yesterday, and needed help with making some cards, so here they are!

The first one is using that lovely digi-stamp from Bee Crafty (Whimsical - The Kiss). A couple of my sister's friend are getting married in September so this card is for them.

I've combined a few of the techniques I've been using over the last couple of weeks, to see if they'd work well together. I quite like the end result - what do you think?


SUPPLIES:-

- Cardstock - Generic blue; Generic white; K&Co
- Copics
- Hero Arts Butterflies & Flowers design block
- Red button off eBay
- Digi-stamp - 'Love Tree', part of a mini-set from Pollycraft

Kimono Congratulations Cutie

Hello again,

This card has taken me AGES today, but it is FINALLY finished! And after agonising over it and hating it for a while... I've actually grown to quite like it!

I absolutely LOVE the digi-stamp from Stretch N' Bubbles' "Zen" collection, especially with my love of Japan!

Here it is:

I used a sketch from a magazine I bought, and I was determined to use this image - that was the difficult part, because I'd printed it a little larger than what would be ideal for a card of this size.
But still, I think with the faux-stitching and use of Kraft cardstock in a couple of places, it's helped tie all the colours together.

I made it for my boss who has just had a baby - hope she likes it!


SUPPLIES:

- 'A Blessing' digi-stamp from 'Stretch n' Bubbles'
- White linen cardstock from the Papermill
- Kraft cardstock (Bazzil)
- Some red ribbon I've had lying around for absolutely ages
- Some turquoise cardstock that I got in a pack from Costco - sorry not sure what it's called
- Copices
- Nestabilities dies
- A random button I got on eBay
- Sentiment from Hero Arts
- And the flowers are some that I cut from some K&Co paper, and then curled up the petals!


I would like to enter this into:

Sentimental Sundays - Anything goes

Nestabilities Storage

I was introduced to Nestabilities dies by my good friend and fellow crafter, Dorcas, of Dorcas Designs. But the really tricky thing with Nestabilities is the storage!

I used to keep all my different dies in their packaging, in an A4 storage file from Ikea. But this kind of stopped me from using them because it was such a hassle getting them out every time, and then I'd keep them out because it was such a hassle putting them back, and then they would clutter my craft table...

But then Dorcas posted  a great Nestabilities storage idea on her blog. She very kindly sent me these rings, and here's how I used them:

The hooks are the tiny 'cup hooks', which I got from Homebase - they're really cheap, and you don't need to drill any holes, so they won't split the wood you're attaching them to.
I had to use these because it was most convenient to add hooks to my craft shelf - Dorcas hangs hers in other places; go have a look if you like, it's really useful!

Hope this helps!

Happy Day

Here's my second post for the day - I've had a much-longed-for day off, so got crafting!

Here is my next card:

And a close-up of the sentiment (and the 3D effect):

I thought I would try and incorporate the design of my last card into this one, because I personally like to see variations on a certain style.

I did some more distressing, with the pale blue - I love how it brings out the blue in the centre of the card.

I tried a blue button, and then a red one, with the sentiment, but settled on white - it keeps it simple but finishes it off nicely. I haven't used buttons in a while!


SUPPLIES:

- Nestabilities circle, and scalloped circle die (largest of both)
- Martha Stewart Royal Butterfly punch
- K&Co Amy Butler Lotus designer mat pad
- White square cardstock (Anita's Card Blanks)
- Dimentional adhesive squares, and glue dots
- Sponge douber
- That blue Japanese ink again
- Versamark ink (and heat tool)
- Hero Arts design block - "Butterflies and Flowers"
- Sentiment from the Inkadinkado 'Lots 'o pots' stamp set
- Button - just a little white one I got in a bag from eBay


Hope you like it - please let me know what you think!


I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Little red wagon - Circles, Circles, Circles!

Hello Flower

Hello again,

I've had the idea for this card for quite a while, and yesterday thought I should just get on and do it! So here it is:

There's quite a bit of detail in this card, so I thought I'd make it quite large so you can see it.

The flower petals are actually lots of little punched circles, adhered to the back of the blue cardstock, and that in turn is adhered to the circular card.


It's a bit tricky to explain, so here is the back of the card:

It would have been easier to stand the card up from the bottom, it's true, but I was doing some damage-control on a bit of smudged ink, so it had to be stood on its side!

And I'd just like to apologise for the mess on my craft desk - it's a desk that my husband and I share, but I must admit most of the mess is mine. I'll tidy it, and then after making just one tiny card it's messy again - you know what it's like!


INGREDIENTS:

- Martha Stewart circle cutter
- Circle punch (random punch I bought in a brad-making kit)
- Heat tool
- White cardstock
- Blue cardstock (Dovecraft)
- Kraft cardstock
- Blue ink (the Japanese one I don't know the colour of)
- A sponger (for distressing)
- 3D adhesive squares
- Chesnut Roan chalk ink
- Hero Arts "Anyone Can Stamp" Birds and branches set little bird stamp
- Hero Arts Design Block - Butterflies and flowers
- Versamark ink
- Diamondstickles by Ranger
- Some little purple gems I picked up on eBay
- Signo white gel pen
- Good old crayola colouring pencils (for the birdie - yes it's got about 4 different layers of colour on it but I got the end result I wanted!)

Phew! That's a long list!
Like I said - a lot going on! But it was good fun to make - hope you like it!


I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

1. Sentimental Sundays - Switch It Up!

Home Sweet Home

Hi everyone,

I had a lot of fun making my card this week, and I was just so surprised at how little time it took!
I had been making a couple of cards using the same sketch, so I didn't have to plan for very long - the most difficult part was working out which colours to use.

In the end I went for nice bold colours; purple and teal are my favourite! And I added the white digis to take away some of the colour.

Hope you like it!

Sorry, the lighting just wasn't good enough without the flash, so in the photo above you can't see the colours properly. But this one is to show a close-up view of the card.

So here is another one to show the colours!

SUPPLIES:

- Digi-stamp: "Home Sweet Home" by Kathy Martin, available from Two Peas In a Bucket

- Purple Bazzil cardstock

- Teal cardstock from The Papermill

- Stickles by Ranger, in Turquoise

- Fiskars scalloped border punch

- Crop-a-Dile corner chomper



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

1. Sir Stampalot - Bring On the Bling
2. Papertake Weekly - White and Bright
3. Fab 'n' Funky - Spotty, Dotty and Stretchy Stripes
4. Bee-Crafty  - All About the Image

Two little aprons

Hi everyone,

Last night I was just itching to get crafting! I need to be more organised and do some sketches first - I had no idea what I was going to come up with!

The first was just an experiment with colours, really:

I wanted to try layering different papers, so I went for a summery theme with this lovely fresh paper from K&Co (bottom third).
I also sponged a very light blue shadow onto the pale green card as it wasn't as deep a green as on the patterned cardstock.


SUPPLIES

- Hero Arts "What's Cooking?" stamp set
- K&Co cardstock (for background and also for stamped images)
- Dovecraft cardstock (pale green - they don't specify a colour!)
- White cardstock (Papermill)
- Fiskars scalloped-edge border punch
- Copics (to colour hearts/frills/pockets on apron)
- White gel pen for stitching detail
- Chesnut Roan chalk ink for stamped images
- Blue ink (the colour name is in Japanese so not sure about that!) for sponging


My next card was, again, unplanned, but I had a more subtle palette of colours for it so it was a bit easier!:

SUPPLIES

Same as above, except, of course, that I used different cardstock, but they are still by K&Co, and Dovecraft.


Well, I'm off now - I'm having my hair done for the first time in ages! It's got SO long, so am going to cut a bit off - can't wait!!!

Hope you liked the cards, TTFN!

Inspiration...

I was watching 'Make a Card Monday' on Kristina Werner's blog (http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/?p=3702), and decided I'd have a go at making a couple of variations of this card.

I have to admit that her cards were what made me start crafting in the first place; I just love them! She has such great ideas and I love her simple, uncluttered approach to crafting.

Hope you enjoy these!

 And in pink...

Ingredients: (sorry, forgot to add these in my original post!)

- White linen cardstock (Papermill)

- 'What's Cooking?' stamp set from Hero Arts

- Copics

- Kraft cardstock

- K&Co cardstock

Congratulations!

Well here's my next card, and yes it's using the same stamp!

I love this stamp because it's so versatile - I actually made this card for a couple of friends who got married over the weekend.

Hope you like it!

Our Anniversary

Well, here is my first proper post! This is the card I made for my husband to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary! I can't believe how time has gone by so quickly!

I didn't think I was going to get a chance to post it so soon, but then my little sister came round and very kindly lent me her camera charger... et voila!

I'm entering this card into 'Bee Crafty Challenge 33 - 3D'

Ingredients:

- 'The Kiss', a digi-stamp in the 'Whimsical' collection by Bee Crafty
- K&Co paper
- Teal and grey cardstock
- Petrol blue satin ribbon
- Copics
- Tea Dye distress ink

Hope you like it!

Dead camera...

Hey everyone,
I'm sorry I still haven't posted anything on here yet; I've lost the charger for my camera, and need to get my hands on one before I can take any pics of new cards and things!

I tried using the camera on my mobile, but the image comes out really grainy...

Sorry about that, but I'm working on it!