Friday 31 October 2008

CPS #88

I just managed to get this card made using the template from CPS before they do a new one tomorrow. One day I will shock you all and get it done on the same day as it's launched but I wouldn't hold your breath if I were you, Lol!



I've used my Penny Black Critter Party stamps again for this card.


When I brought them I was worried that I wouldn't use them very much because they are quite small but I really love them and think I may get some of the other sets that they make.

Card – Craft Creations Kaskad
Patterned Papers – Crate Paper Birdie Collection
Inks – Tsukineko, Black Staz-On. Ranger Distress Ink
Rubber Stamps – Penny Black Critter Party (Image & Greeting)
Pencils – Prisma Color Pencils
Pen – Uniball Signo Metallic Gel Pen
Die Cuts – Crate Paper Brackets

Other Bits
Brads
Dunelm Blooms

Dust Off Those Broomsticks!

Well, it’s the last day of October (surly it can’t be already!) and we all know what that means don’t we?

It’s Halloween!


I don’t usually make any themed cards for this but Rachel has set a dare for us Daring Cardmakers this week with Halloween in mind so it’s a good reason to break a habit of a lifetime.

Scaredy Pants!!


We couldn't really choose any other theme could we!!!!!So what we would like to challenge you with today is producing something with a Halloween theme - it can be a card or something else (well not everyone sends Hallowe'en cards do they!) so bags, boxes, lanterns or whatever!!!

I must admit that I love the Oranges and Brown colours that seen to be associated the All Hallows Eve and it’s given me the opportunity to use up some papers that I’ve had laying around for ages.




The Pumpkin and Cobwebs have been stamped directly onto some of the patterned papers, then cut them out and mounted onto the card.


Card – Craft Creations Creative Cover (Brown)
Patterned Papers – DCWV Earth Mat Stack
Inks – Tsukineko, Black Staz-On.
Rubber Stamps –Tanda, Mini Halloween Set 2

Other BitsBrads
Fibres
Button

Thursday 30 October 2008

Sketch Saturday #22

I know I’ve said this before but it’s away a great help to have a template to work from when you need to make several cards in quick succession. I’ve gone with the template from Sketch Saturday

Instead of a square I decided to go with a standard A6 card but I still think the template works well. It was also a good opportunity to use up some of my older papers and Prima Flowers that I don’t use so often now.




Card – Craft Creations, Creative Cover, DCWV Textured Mat Stack
Patterned Papers – K&Co Brenda Walton Scrapbook Designer Paper Pad
Inks – Tsukineko, Black Staz-On, ColorBox Fluid Chalk
Pencils – Prisma Color
Rubber Stamps – Rhonna Farrer Flower Stems, Whispers Words Happy Birthday
Glitter Glue – Stickles
Paint – Pébéo 3D Gloss Touch

Other Bits
Brads
Prima Flowers

Tuesday 28 October 2008

Yah.........the front is finished!!

I’m pleased to report that my front garden is completely finished at long last.

The plants in the border went in a couple of weekends ago and I went straight out and brought some lovely Plum coloured slate to put down and help suppress the weeds. The trouble was I misjudged the amount I would need and had to go back for another three bags which I finally did yesterday.

As the sun is shining this morning I thought it would be a good opportunity to get out and finish it all off.

This is the mess it was in before the work was done


And this is how it looks now.




Monday 27 October 2008

My second post today and this time it’s with this weeks template from Di Hickman’s Blog.


I love Di’s templates and have done quite a few of them in the past but because I don’t always managed to do them for the week of the challenge I don’t always post them on my blog.

The good news is that I’ve actually succeeded in doing this one on time so I thought I would pop it on here for a change.

I decided to turn the template around on its side to do my card and yet again I’ve one of my new Penny Black stamps from the Critter Party set because they are so cute.

Card – Craft Creations, Creative Cover.
Patterned Papers – Blonde Moments, Sugar Dumpling
Inks – Tsukineko, Black Staz-On.
Pencils – Prisma Color
Rubber Stamps – Penny Black Critter Party (image and sentiment)
Glitter Glue - Stickles

Other BitsBrads
Fibres
Ribbon
Button

Sketch This, Cards #72

I’ve been working on a couple of orders today and used a couple of the template challenges to help me along my way.

This is the template from Sketch This

And here’s my card.
I’ve used a couple more of the new stamps that I brought when I was at the Ally Pally Stamp & Scrapbooking show a few weeks back and thought I'd have a go at colouring them in using Distress Inks. I was fairly pleased with my first attempt because the colours come out quite intense.
I think I need to practise thought because if you look too close you'll see it's a little patchy.........still we all have to have a first go and I'm hopeful that the next attempt will look better!

Card – Craft Creations, Creative Cover.
Patterned Papers – Crate Paper, Taylor Collection
Inks – Tsukineko, Black Staz-On. Ranger Distress Ink in Faded Jeans, Tattered Rose, Antique Linen & Peeled Paint
Pen – Staedtler Triplus Fineliner in Black
Rubber Stamps – Stamps Away, Dude & Happy Birthday

Other Bits
Brads
Fibres
Ribbon

Friday 24 October 2008

DCM - Forever Autumn

Does this ring a bell with anyone?
The summer sun is fading as the year grows old,
and darker days are drawing near,
the winter winds will be much colder,
now you're not here.
I watch the birds fly south across the autumn sky
and one by one they disappear
I wish that I was flying with them,
now you're not here

It’s the words to the Justin Haywood song Forever Autumn, from the War of the Worlds.

Not a song you hear very often I grant you but I was working in my craft room the other day and it came on the radio. I just couldn’t get the song out of my mind after that so I decided that I would make Forever Autumn the theme for the dare over at the Daring Cardmakers blog this week, seeing as it is my turn to set the challenge.

Forever Autumn.

I decided on this one after hearing the Justin Haywood song of the same name playing on the radio. I couldn’t get it out of my mind and kept singing it as I was working.

So now I’m daring you to make a card that depicts Autumn.
It can be an Autumn scene or it can be something completely different but using a palette of Autumn colours……the choice is yours!

I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if a few of you are singing along by the time you’ve finished either, I know some of the DT were!



I thought I would make this a double dare and use the template that Kathy gave us for the Little Extra on Tuesday seeing as I hadn't had a go at it this week.
Card – Craft Creations Embossed Linen.
Patterned Papers – My Mind’s Eye, Signature Suite.
Inks – Tsukineko, Black Staz-On. Ranger Distress Ink in Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Dried Marigold & Work Lipstick.
Pen – Staedtler Triplus Fineliner in Brown

Pigments - Ranger Perfect Pearls in Forever Green & Forever Red. Blonde Monents Pearl Pigments in Festive Gold
Rubber Stamps – Penny Black Critter Party clear stamps. Blonde Moments, Sweet Celebrations
Punches- Personal Impressions Oak Leaf. Larger Leaf unknown

Other BitsBrads
Fibres

Sunday 19 October 2008

I bet you all must have been thinking that I’ve left home.......................Well I’m sorry to disappoint you…no such luck. Lol!

As it happens I’ve been ill again and came down with that horrible virus that seems to be doing the rounds at the moment. It really knocked me for six and I've been in no fit state to craft. Even now, a week later, I’m still suffering from some of the symptoms but at least I feel ready to bring out my paints and have a go at this week dare from the Daring Cardmakers.

I hate not having something ready for the Friday launch and especially this week as we celebrate our 2nd birthday.

I’ve not been on the team from the start but I can remember as clearly as if it were yesterday the day the first ever card making challenge blog hit the World Wide Web. Little did I realize then that I would be asked to join the design team and be a part of this great challenge blog that's gone from strength to strength over the last two years. I love looking at everyones creations each week and I always try and leave as many comments as I can so that you know I/we appreciate your efforts…..after all, without all of you we wouldn’t be celebrating 2 great years, would we!

Anyway, on to this weeks dare. As I said my card wasn’t ready for the Friday launch so I’ve had to slip it in under the radar and it’s on the DCM blog now.

It was Rhi’s turn to set the dare for us.

Paint the Town........

red, green, sky blue pink with yellow dots on, or any colour you fancy, with acrylics, H2Os or watercolours, with brushes, sponges or splatters. We don't mind, as long as you use paint on your cards. So have some fun with the DCM and get Painty this week.
I decided to have a bit of play with some Twinkling H2O’s

and started by making my own background paper.
I pained three different shades onto some cling film and then scrunched it all together to mix the colours up a bit. I then flattened it out again and laid my paper over the top and pressed down firmly, spreading the paint across the paper. I love the different effects it creates.

My Fuchsia image is also stamped with Twinkling H2O’s

Card – Bazzill & Craft Creations
Inks – Twinkling H2O’s
Rubber Stamps – Penny Black Brush Fuchsia
Other Bits
Stickles Glitter Glue
Ribbon
Brad

While I was messy and covered in more paint than was on the card I decided to do another, this time in shades of Blue.
I stamped two images with my new Vine Flourish stamp from Scrappy Cat and painted them with the H2O’s and then cut one of the images into small squares. I then chalked all around the edges before arranging then on the card and added some doodling.

Friday 10 October 2008

DCM – Gotta Wear Shades

There’s not much that puts the wind up me but I have to say that Lythan’s dare for the Daring Cardmakers this week is very, very scary indeed.

This week your challenge is to be
Bright!Clashy is good, hot colours are good, anything super duper bright is good too.
If you want to double dare then why not use the sketch that Vanessa made for her marvellous mid week dare?

I brought my papers a couple of week back, knowing what Lythan had in store for us but although Lavender and Turquoise happen to be my favorite colours, the patterns on the papers are way, way out of my comfort zone. Still, not to be beaten I’ve given it my best shot and this is that I’ve come up with.

In your face, or what?

I started by covering the base card with one of the papers and adding some doodling to the lines in the pattern to make them stand out. Then I got a bit carried away and added some small circles and dots as well.

The flowers were cut from another of the papers in the collection and I’ve stamped and glittered parts of them before attaching them to the card with 3D foam.

Papers – Pink Martine Designs ‘Flirtini’ collection
Inks – Ranger Distress Ink ‘Dusty Concord’, ColorBox Fluid Chalk
Rubber Stamps – Rubber Stamp Tapestry Pegs
Cutting Dies – Sizzix ‘Skittle Dee Do’ Alphabet,
Other BitsStickles Glitter Glue
Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pen


Saturday 4 October 2008

Tanda Teaser - Just For You

I’ve just been sitting here in my craft room and watching as the builders put the finishing touches to my front garden. At the start of the week I really thought they would be hindered by bad weather as the forecast was for wind and rain but we’ve been so lucky and the garden is almost finished. Mind you, I’ve not been idly gazing out of my window….no….I’ve been busy making a card for this weeks Tanda Teaser

It also gave me the chance to have a little play with my barging PSX stamp that I brought on eBay last week. It’s a beautiful little Camellia which I’ve stamped onto Vellum and dry embossed from the back after colouring the image.



Papers – Crate Paper (Twirl)
Inks & Pencil – Color Box Fluid Chalks, Whispers Dye Based, Prisma Color Pencils
Stamps –Camellia- PSX, Border & Flowers - Rubber Stamp Tapestry, Just For You - Unknown
Embossing Powder –Fine Detail Gold

Other bits
Ribbon
Eyelets

DCM - What a Lot of Scallops!

I’ve had a couple of really hectic days one way or another and completely forgot that it was DCM day yesterday. It’s a good job that my card was ready to go and one of the girls (thanks Keryn) popped it on the Daring Cardmakers blog for me.

I say they were hectic days….it was more a case of a lot of running about really.
Thursday was the usual food shop with my dad and then in the afternoon I was at the hospital about my knee.
You may remember me mentioning back in July that I had done something to it and that I’ve been hobbling about on it ever since. Well an appointment to see the specialist eventually came through and it appears that I may have damaged the cartilage somehow. If that’s the case it will most likely mean an op but he can’t be sure until I have an MRI scan so it’s now back to the waiting game for the scan appointment to come through.

Then yesterday it was back to the same hospital, but this time for my dad.
He’s managed to break his hearing aid and a piece keeps falling off……not a big problem in itself you might think but because he has very little sight he can’t find the bit when he drops it. They are going to repair it for him and have also decided he will benefit if he has another hearing aid for his other ear so this is now being sorted out and we have to wait for yet another appointment to come through.

Yesterday afternoon was fun though….I was a lady that lunches!


Anyway, more to the point………my DCM card for this week.

It was Keryn’s turn to set the dare and here’s what she said:-

I'm just loving all the new scallop punches that are out at the moment, circles, ovals, squares, edges etc, etc and then there's the corner rounder and slit punches that can be used to scallop edges as well.Use your imagination, your scallop punches, your corner rounders, your cricuts and cuttlebugs to create any card to fit any style as long as it shows scallops.

I guess I could have used my Craft Robo to cut the scallops for my card but I was being lazy and couldn’t be bothered to set it up so I just decided to cut them by hand, following the pattern on the paper.

I’ve used Cream Hammer card stock for the base of my card, run a speckled brayer over it twice using two different colours and then added the larger stamped spots. The stamps I used for the spots are actually meant to be flower centers but I think they work well for this sort of thing…..very versatile me thinks!
Papers - Tres Jollie ‘Tres Bien’
Inks & Pens – Color Palette Pigment Ink (Celadon & Cinnamon) - Ranger Distress Ink (Vintage Photo) Staedtler Fineliner (Brown)
Stamps - Blonde Moments ‘Just Plain Dotty’- Fiskars Speckled Brayer Roller
Cutting Dies – Sizzix Hunky Dory Alphabet - Sizzlets Owl
Embossing Folder – Cuttlebug Number Collage

Other bits
Ribbon
Large Brads

Wednesday 1 October 2008

Sketch This - Cards #69

Yet another challenge card from me today but it’s not been easy working in my craft room with the builders working right outside my window………I’m in the process of having my front block paved.

Some years ago when I started getting problems with my hip I had it crazy paved to save a lot of gardening. Then there was a problem with parking on our shared drive and I was forced to park on the front but the trouble with that was it was never reinforced to take the weight of the car. In time it all started to break up and the weeds took over. ….it looked a right mess.


I finally decided to get it sorted out as the longer it was left the worse it was getting.
They started on Monday when the weather was still quite fine here, so they made a good start.

Yesterday wasn’t so good because they were dodging the showers and the garden looked like this when they left.
We’re now into day three and it’s beginning to take shape.
Hopefully, weather permitting; they will start laying the blocks tomorrow.
Anyway, while they’ve been crashing and banging about outside my window, I’ve been very industrious and made a few cards but I can only show you the one I’ve made with the new template from Sketch This at the moment.
I’m trying hard to use up some of my old papers and dragged out the remains of the Rhapsody collection from 3 Bugs in a Rug.
StampsHappy Birthday Round – Stamps Away
Light the Night – Penny Black
Tiny Flowers – Tapestry Stamps

Other bits and bobs
Ribbon
Stickles Glitter Glue
Ribbon Slide