Summer Hummer

 Whatever happened to summer?  We went away at the weekend and there was heavy rain and hail!  To compensate I've been making some summery cards, here's the first.  I've used some bright Basic Grey DP teamed with a pre-coloured Humming Bird image from Fred She Said, these are lovely to colour but the the pre-coloured make very quick cards.  I printed it twice and cut out and popped the bird and flower centre up on Pinflair Glue, to give lots of dimension.  Sentiment is an Elusive Images stamp, the offeset panel is embossed and inked.
My card is for the following challenges:
 Simon Says - let's play bingo(3 down flowers, brads, sentiment)
Charisma Cards - pink and green
Papercrafting Journey - our feathered friends
Creative Inspiration Paint - bright colours
One Stitch at a Time - things with wings
Sweet Stampin' - things with wings
Delicious Doodles - things that flutter
Polka Doodles - all of a flutter
Simply Create - fly with us
Stamp Something - with pretty papers

Air Mail

This is a true one layer card; I needed a postcard to send and couldn't find any in the drawer that I liked.  So I cut some cardstock and brushed Distress Inks over it, then stamped a very old Clarity Stamp and an Elusive Images sentiment onto it.  I brushed a bit more blue ink onto the balloons and used it to edge that postcard.  That's it, finished!

I'm entering my (post)card for the following challenges:
Charisma Cardz - something that flies
Shopping our Stash - oldies but goodies, oldest stamp or digi.  I don't think I even have my oldest stamp but this is certainly one of the very very earliest I bought...
Digi Design House - One layer wonder
Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight - try something new - I've nver made a postcard before but now I plan to make lots!

Smooth sea never made a skilled mariner...

This is one of my favourite sentiments, it's from Elusive Images (sadly now defunct) and sums up life, doesn't it!  This is a fairly c&s masculine card, using my Hobby Art Scene-It stamps and coloured with Aquamarkers.  The blue map DP is from Joanna Sheen's Thomas Kincade CD and the others are My Minds Eye.  There are no embellies at all, I have some boat charms but they make it less of a masculine card to me.

My card is for the following challenges:
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - sketch
Creative Card Crew - for men
Let's Ink it Up - anything goes (no digi)
C.R.A.F.T. - martial arts/sport (yachting)
One Stop Craft - card for a male
Paper Sundaes - birthday celebration favourite theme - I always love Make A Scene challenges

Another "Just because" card

Here's another "just because" card.  The stamped image has been lying on my desk for ages waiting to be made into a card.  It's a Hero Arts cling stamp that was inked with 3 Distress Inks and then spritzed with water.   The flower was made with a Marianne Creatables die set (I can't tell you how hard that stamen was to extract from the die!) that was then inked with Distress Inks.  The blue tape is from stash.  The sentiment is Elusive Images and the check background was printed from Joanna Sheen Times Gone By CD for yesterday's card.  Oh, there area few tiny gems on the image.
This card will fit the following challenges:
CD Sunday - check it out
Aly's Sunday Sketch - anything goes
Craft Your Days Away - punches or die cuts
Fab'n'Funky - quick and easy does it - the card was quick and easy to make - as long as you don't count the time lag between stamping the image and assembling the card LOL!

A tree is known by its fruit;

Last week I got a new CD of printable papers that I've been looking forward to for ages.  It's a Artylicious CD called Essence of Nature, that is based on some of my favourite Elusive Images stamps.  I wasn't disappointed, the papers on the CDs are just so beautiful and my main problem with them is that I don't want to cover up the papers with images and extras LOL!  I had an idea for Cute Card Thursday's theme featuring text so I made a card featuring text and trees from Elusive Images stamps, simply stamped out in black .

 Glenda Waterworth, the designer, has challenged all who have bought the CDs to print something off and create with it, instead of just stroking the papers:).  I printed off an approximation of 4 seasons with my first four sheets and chose this stunning and subtle wintry scene to play with first.  I was aiming for a stark and simple card with black and silver mirri card matting.  When I tried this it looked really, really stark - downright funereal - and not at all how I'd intended it.  So I added some Stickles to the trees, added a scarlet layer of matting card and used some metallic red thread to attach a tree charm.  That's better!

I think you might be seeing a lot more of these delicious papers in the near future:)

Summertime and the living is easy

Earlier this week I got an email from Little Claire stamps about their sale; I was lucky enough to get this Martha Stewart Grass punch for a very good price.  As I had new stash it seemed a good idea to enter this week's Sketch and Stash Challenge.   I was a bit stumped by the sketch, until I decided to use my design twice, cutting out as two circles, one smaller than the other and popped up on silicon glue. 

I used a flower design from Isabella's Sketchbook.  Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge this week is get punchy and I've used my new punch as well as a leaf punch on my card.  DP is Basic Grey Green at Heart, image is coloured with Copics and a bit of Stickles.  I've added Stickles to my flower and the sentiment is from Elusive Images.  I'm also entering my card for the Summer Days Challenge at the Allsorts Challenge Blog and the Summer Holidays theme at Secret Crafter Challenge.  

DT - Corrosive Challenge #72 - Sketch Time

This week at Corrosive Challenges we have a simple sketch to follow.  I've made a card using DP called So Sophie, by My Minds Eye in rich purples and golds - looks better in real life than in the picture - sorry.  I've stamped Elusive Images Wild Meadow flowers onto the notepad background DP and gold embossed some highlights, using an embossing pen to match the embossed sentiment, which is Papermania.


I've used lots of layers and matting for my card, so I'm entering it for Paper Sundae's layering challenge.

We got home from holiday late last night after a wonderful, relaxing week.  But why is that that, after seven hours of driving on French roads, where the speed limit is adhered to, the traffic keeps in the RH lane unless it's overtaking, the M25 STILL has bottlenecks and jams even at nearly 11pm... welcome back to Blighty LOL!  I'll bore you with some photos when I get the chance...

DT - Corrosive Challenge #70- flowers galore

I'm late with my DT posting for Corrosive Challenges, been fighting with an eye infection for the last few days:(. The Challenge this week is to use lots of flowers on your project. I've been playing with my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die, I love that it cuts fabric and I simply layered up 4 different fabrics and cut. Voila! I based my card on the CPS sketch for this week, which worked well with my flowers and also my gorgeous Iris stamp that was part of my blog candy from Elusive Images. The colouring on it wasn't perfect thanks to my eye infection, but lots of lovely Distress Ink round the edges covers a multitude of sins:). I edged the image with Brilliance reinker silver ink on a sponge, but I was a bit heavy handed and it hadn't dried overnight! I now have silver ink on all kinds of surfaces... The sentiment is also from Elusive Images, another theme plate this time. The DP is My Mind's Eye. The scale between the big flowers and the delicate iris isn't quite right, but hey, it's summertime:)

Smooth Sea Never Made a Skilled Mariner

This was my card for my Dad for Father's Day, it was also his birthday yesterday so he needed multiple cards making! I'm entering this for the One Stop Craft Challenge of One for the Boys. This card is based on a great sketch at Truly Scrumptious by Beth and is heavily influenced by Beatrice Neumeister who I saw demonstrating at the Craft Barn. I've used an Elusive Images stamp and sentiment, gold embossed. I overlaid a Nellie Snellen frame and a Nestie to come up with a fairly round shape, the main image is mounted onto silicon glue to give it dimension. Both frames are sponged with Distress Inks and then edged using Brilliance gold reinker on a sponge. The bottom DP is Basic Grey and the swirly wave one says it's from Flair Designs. Candy is from Craftwork Cards and plain navy ribbon from stash. I really enjoyed making this one, will post the birthday card tomorrow:)

Bearded Iris

I was lucky enough to win one of the new themeplates from Elusive Images as blog candy this week. It's always fun to win candy, but when it's something you really, really want, well that's just an amazing bonus! I had wanted to order this themeplate but a shopping trip to Craft Barn as well as a phonecall from the bank warning me that my credit card had been "compromised" - no he didn't mean too much craft shopping LOL - so I had to wait for a new card meant that I'd delayed in buying this.

I'm pretty busy doing last minute Father's Day and birthday cards for my Dad (the two days co-incide) but I took a few minutes away from ships and seashore scenes to come up with this card. It follows a lovely sketch from the Paper Sundaes Challenge blog. I've coloured my image with Copics, used Artylicious DP, a Craftwork Cards sentiment and some lace and ribbons from stash. Watch this space, I have plans for the gorgeous, larger images on the themeplate:).

Thank you so much to Glenda and the Graphicus ladies, including Judith who sent my prize at lightning speed, it was a lovely surprise in a fairly bad week:).

Today is about...

The weather has been just gorgeous today, far too nice to spend time in my craft room:). Took a picture of the wisteria this afternoon, how often do you see a sky this blue in England in May?
We went plant shopping with a voucher that we got at Christmas (and a bit of help from Visa) so instead of inky fingers I have earth stained fingers.The card that I have to show you came from a lovely crafty day with my friend Val. We had lots of creative plans but again we were slightly scuppered by the weather, we kept escaping outside to enjoy the sun:). I bought some journalling sentiments from Elusive Images, although I don't have a journal:). Don't know why, but they called my name...

This card isn't a million miles from something that Glenda Waterworth (Elsuive Images) blogged when she released the stamps. I put as many sentiments as I could onto a large arylic block in a very loose, sort-of order and stamped it in Dusty Concrd Distress Ink. I sponged Distress Inks onto the background and used a glue pen and Glamour Dust to highlight some of the words. Matted it onto dark purple card and made a flower from a Woodware punch with a bit more Glamour Dust and a silver brad. I made this for Quixotic Challenge's "How Sentimental" and it's also entered for Secret Crafter's Challenge which is No Patterned Paper

Bank Holiday Monday - and a quick postcard

Bank Holiday Monday has been cold and blowy but not too wet. We went for a walk to see the bluebell woods and a field FULL of cowslips, climbed the track above the village first. We dodged a couple of rain showers and some hail but managed to stay dry.
In the middle of nowhere, where 4 tracks meet in the woods, is the Gingerbread Cottage. I'm sure it has a real name and these days it looks lived in and loved, but just imagine living here!
Just past it is the field of cowslipsand on the right are the bluebell woods.I don't know what this pink flower is that was growing between the wood anemones and the celandines...

There's always someone who lets the side down... It's really boring when the humans stop and get excited about boring flowers, so much more fun to find some fox poo and roll in it. But it all ends in tears or at least a quick bath!
And just to add in some crafting, here's a postcard that was made by sponging Distress Inks onto card and overstamping with an Elusive Images tree stamp.

ABC Challenge Guest DT - T is for Thank You

This is my second card as Guest Designer for the ABC Challenge, this week they are up to the letter T - is for Thank You. I've combined all sorts of images and sentiments here and had a lot of fun:). I've based my card on the Sketch Saturday Challenge and decided I was in a cupcake frame of mind:). I'm entering my card for A Spoonful of Sugar's Challenge to 3D something, and also to Pile It On, who have the theme "Make It Sweet" - think I've got that one covered:).

You can see the 3D layers here:The main image is It's All Yours, a fun digi from Phindy's Place, I've also used little cupcake stamps from Elusive Images, popped up on silicon glue. "Thanks" is a clear stamp for Dovecraft and "You Make Life Sweet" comes from Impression Obsession, I've combined them on an acrylic block to make my own sentiment. The papers are of course Nook & Pantry from Basic Grey on Bazzill Bling. I've coloured my images with Copics and Glossy Accents, there are 3 layers to my main image and the punch used on the bottom of the image is Martha Stewart.

DT - Corrosive Challenges #60 - Paper Piercing

This week's Corrosive Challenge to to use Paper Piercing on your project - which is not something I've tried before. I looked at a few designs that are sold with it on and decided to do it myself - with the help of my sewing machine. I set it to a long stitch and used it with no thread in to get perfectly even holes. Then I used my poky tool to enlarge the holes as they were barely visible. As this is a new technique to me I'm entering my card for the Crafty Cardmaker's Challenging Challenge. The Creative Card Crew Challenge is to make a Happy Birthday card, Quixotic Challenge's theme is Heavy Metal (I've used HUGE gold brads that are too large scale for much of my work) Cute Card Thursday's challenge is Touchy Feely (lots of textures and interest here) and Totally Papercrafts has a Spring theme that fits these lovely big flowers to perfection.

The flower and the sentiment are both Elusive Images, sentiment is gold embossed and flower is coloured with Copics, Glossy Accents and Stickles. DP is K&K, it set the colourscheme for the card, ribbon from stash, ferns cut with a punch.

Corrosive Challenge # 58 - sketchtime

This week's Corrosive Challenge is a lovely, simple sketch for you to follow. I've inked up the fab cupcake stamps that I bought at the NEC from Graphicus a week or so ago. Now, like many of us, I have plenty of cupcake stamps, maybe not as many as my tree stamps, but an awful lot:). But this set NEEDED to come home with me. There's a selection of wrappers, including this lovely lacy one, icing and swirls all to be added. Delicious and calorie free LOL!

My card is fairly straightforward, image is coloured with Copics and Glossy Accents, it's paper pieced onto Basic Grey Sugar Rush papers, the wrapper is popped up on silicon glue and I drew a small border round the background. The border uses a Martha Stewart doily punch and the card candy is from Craftwork Cards. Hope you like my Easter cupcake, there are a few more cupcake cards in the pipeline:).

Wings of Hope

Whimsy Stamps have recently launched a stunning set of stamps of carousel horses that I coveted. However, even better, they have produced a one-off digital carousel horse that is available almost instantly and, of course, costs less. All of this sounds like a good reason to buy the stamp, but the most important one of all is that the stamp is a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Red Cross Haiti Relief. You can buy the image here.

I've followed Jeanette's sketch from this week's Friday Sketcher's Challenge, which is a great one for a large image like this. I'm entering this week's Cupcake Craft Challenge, which is four-legged and furry and also Basic Grey's Animals Challenge.

My carousel horse is coloured with Copics as well as lots of Diamond and Gold Stickles, the edges of the image are sponged with Dusty Concord Distress Ink. The gorgeous background papers are Basic Grey Wisteria, a pad I got for my birthday and haven't broken into until today. I used the first Martha Stewart punch I ever bought on the border, which is called Flourish and the gold embossed sentiment is from Elusive Images.

Mojo Monday meets Lili of the Valley

This is a card made with a neglected stamp set, I refuse to beat myself up about my huge craft stash as a January ritual, but I *do* intend to use and enjoy what I have :). I've used a stamp from Tall Trees, an Elusive Images that called my name but then sat mute in its box for some time...

I've used the Mojo Monday sketch; the image and the sentiment (also Elusive Images) are stamped in black Versafine onto glossy card with Kaleidoscope ink brayered onto it. I have re-done both the sentiment and the image as I was surprised to find that my Aleen's tacky clear glue had some kind of weird bleaching effect onto the ink... There were a few blobs on the image that looked bad, but just look at the sentiment!
I don't use DS tape very much now as I found it isn't very long lasting, but the brayered glossy definitely needs something other than the glue. It might be an interesting effect for another project though...

This is also an entry for the Lili of the Vallege Challenge this week - a Thank You card

DP is Basic Grey Indian Summer, I've used a Cuttlebug folder with leaves, highlighted with a bit of chalk ink, as well as a Martha Stewart punch. The paper is 6x6" and not big enough for the card; I was able to cut it and hide the join under the central border.

Wintry Holly

Here's a quick blogging of a card made for a Challenge at Papercraft Planet on Michelle Perkett's group. The image is Holly, the Christmas friendship fairy, from Michelle's Etsy shop. Jana provided a fun sketch to use and I chose wintry colours for my card. Both DPs are from Artylicious CDs, they are edged with a silver pen. The pen blotched all over the place when I was edging the large piece; I decided it was a great effect and left it alone :). The sentiment is from Elusive Images, silver embossed onto vellum. Fairy is coloured with Copics and has Flowersoft "fur" edging her robe. The background uses the palest shade of purple in Copic.

Last Minute Gift

You know those clever people who make "one card, ten challenges"? This is the opposite - ten cards for a last minute gift, which fits Secret Crafter's Challenge for the next fortnight. All the images are by Elusive Images, the sentiments are Elusive Images, Hero Arts and Papermania.

I made a circle mask and sponged Distress Inks in the circle for all the cards. The first 3 images are all from the Retro Vases themeplate, left sentiment is Hero Arts, other two are Papermania.

More Retro Vases...











Then there are a few bird images from the Let Your Heart Sing themeplate.










The cards are for a friend who always give home made chocolates for Christmas and who enjoys receiving home made presents. I've made her quite a few bags and this year is time for a change.

The last couple of cards are from Retro Vases again; the last one with the teazles on the soft yellow background is my favourite. All 10 cards took just over an hour... sometimes simple is good.

Happy 18th Birthday Will!

Happy Birthday Will! All of a sudden my baby boy has grown up! All the way up to 6'3" or is it 6'4"? Anyway, while stuck for a card idea I had the mad idea of stamping 18 champagne bottles. Now these would have been ideal as a digi so I could re-size them but I don't have a digi and I do have a very good champagne bottle stamp from Elusive Images, so I cut out 18 of them, coloured them, stamped some on the card, glued some down and popped some up on 3d foam pads. The green bottles are coloured with H20 paint and the red and gold are Promarkers. With a few foam pads under corks and the number stamps from Dimension Fourth the card was finished.

I had an idea there were lots of challenges around at the moment for birthday cards but I could only find Charisma Cards anything but Christmas challenge :)