A Big THANK YOU and Sketch This – Cards #76

The first thing I want to do today is say a great big Thank You to all you wonderful crafters out there who have visited my blog this week and left some really lovely messages for me. Your comments are always much appreciated and I will try and get around to everyone to thank them personally but for now please except a public Thank You for the time being.

My card today was made using the template from Sketch This and my wonderful new set of Basic Grey ‘Boxer’ papers and embellishments.

And here’s my card.


I really love adding texture to my cards lately so I’ve run the Red patterned paper through my Cuttlebug in an embossing folder and then gave it rub over with Distress Ink.
The Oval panel was also embossed in the same folder but this time I used Gold Metallic Rub On to highlight the pattern. But I still wasn’t content with the amount of texture I had, so I went even further and added some folded work across the centre of the card.
Card – Craft Creations
Patterned Papers – Basic Grey (Boxer)
Inks – ColorBox Fluid Chalk (Blue Iris), Ranger Distress Ink in Faded Jeans
Rubber Stamps – Whisper Words (Birthday Wishes) Flower Unknown
Pencils – Prisma Color Pencils
Embossing Folder – Cuttlebug (Textile Texture)
Chipboard Flower & Fibres – Basic Grey (Boxer)

Other BitsMetallic Wax Rub-On’s (Colonial)
Sticky backed Gems
Paper Flowers
Gem Brad

Papertake #7

Well, I think you’re only going to get one card from me today.
This is partly because Thursday is food shop day with dad but the main reason is that I think my paper trimmer has been on the Cider. It seems that no matter what I do I can’t seem to get a straight cut from it.

I wouldn’t mind, I didn’t make things any easier for myself either when I decided to have a go at the template from Papertake and decided to make mine a gatefold card.
Oh well, we live and learn!

This is the template.


It struck me straight away that the template would work well as a gatefold card so here’s my card in all it’s glory….mind you it’s lucky to ever have been finished, given the afore mentioned roblem.
When I stamped and embossed the flower image directly onto the patterned paper my intension was to just leave it Black but unfortunately it didn’t stand out quite as much I had hoped it would. I ended up calling my Twinkling H2O’s into play which I think did the trick. I’ve also used them on the Grey panel down the side to make the embossing stand out but you can only just about see it in the photo because it’s hidden under the ribbon now.

Card Blank– Craft Creations
Papers – Basic Grey Scarlet’s Letter
Rubber Stamp – Basic Grey Boxer Insignia (Flowers) Heidi Swapp (Happy Birthday)
Inks – Tsukineko Versa Fine (Onyx Black) Ranger Distress Ink (Peeled Paint)
Embossing Powder – Fun Stamps (Clear)
Embossing Folder – Cuttlebug (Floral Fantasy)
Paints – Twinkling H2O’s (Moss Green & Scarab Beetle)
Gems – Anita’s Tiny Gem Wheel

Other BitsRibbon
Eyelets

Tanda Teaser – Handbags At Dawn!

Here’s my second card challenge for today, this time it’s for the Tanda Teaser where the brief was handbags.

I was pleased about the theme because I have a little background stamp with nine tiny bags on that came in the bargain lot of Hampton Arts stamps that I got from eBay a little while back.

I stamped the bags onto white card, cut them all out individually and coloured them with my Prisma Pencils. It was as I started to mat all the bags and squares I realized I’d made a fundamental mistake……….. I had cut and embossed all the squares in White card but the patterned paper had Cream in it not White. I thought I might get away with it but when I put them together it really didn’t look right at all so I thought to my self, no problem, I’ll chalk them.
Only problem with that was that there’s not a Cream coloured chalk in my box, but all was not lost................... I remembered a big box of cheap eye shadows that I brought in Superdrug’s a few years back and sure enough I found just the right colour in there.

Here’s the card:-



Papers – Basic Grey (Boxer)
Stamps – Hampton Arts (bags and sentiment)
Inks – Tsukineko, Staz-On (Black) Ranger, Distress Ink (Faded Jeans)
Pencils – Prisma Color Pencils
Punches – Woodware (Heart)
Dies – Spellbinder (Nestabilities)
Gems – Anita’s (Gemstone Wheel)

Other bits
Ribbon
Eye Shadow

2 Sketches 4 You - Sketch #18 & Cuttlebug Challenge

I don’t know what it’s been like where you are but it’s not stopped raining here today.
It’s been so miserable but not that bad because it gave me a good excuse to stay inside in the warm and craft…. after the ironing was finished of course.

The first thing I did was hop over to 2 Sketches 4 You and pick up the sketch for this week.

Seeing as I’ve not had my Tapestry Stamps out for a while I decided to work with them for a change and I also wanted to give my new gismo a trial run.

For a while now I’ve been looking in awe at the way people distress the edges of their paper to make it curl up and it was only on Monday when I visited Imagine That that I found out there was actually a little gadget for doing it. Needless to say, before I left the shop one just happened to find its way into my basket!
I’m not sure if I’ve done it right or if it really needs ‘more’ distressing but it was my first attempt so it can only get better…..hopefully. I’m quite pleased with the results but what I really want to be able to do is make those gorgeous round flowers that I keep seeing everywhere. Lots of practice first I think but you never know, you may just see some here pretty soon!

Anyway here’s the card and the good thing is that it fits in with the Cuttlebug Challenge too.


Card – Craft Creations
Patterned Papers – Basic Grey, Perhaps
Inks –Color Box Fluid Chalk (Amber Clay, Cadmium, Rose Coral & Rouge) Ranger Distress Ink (Worn Lipstick)
Stamps – Rubberstamp Tapestry (Full Mum Border)
Chalks – Readicut – Decorating Chalks
Dies – Spellbinder (Nestabilities) Cuttlebug (Vintage Corners)
Embossing – Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots)

Other BitsRibbon
Eyelets
Greeting produced using Photoshop

Sketch Saturday #35……again!

Ok, better luck this time....Lol!

A friend of mine asked me to make a birthday card for her mum so this time I’ve got it right and I HAVE USED template #35 from Sketch Saturday


Here’s the card


Card – Craft Creations
Patterned Papers – Basic Grey, Lillykate
Inks –Ranger Distress Ink (Peeled Paint & Dusty Concord)
Dies – Nestabilities, Small Circle
Paper Punch – Fiskars, Elegance Border Punch.

Other StuffSticky backed Pearls
Ribbon
Computer Printed Greeting

CPS -#100

Well I took this sketch to Lythan’s with me yesterday too and I’m pleased to say that this one was the correct one. Lol!

It’s the sketch from CPS.


Again I’ve used the same range of Daisy Bucket papers.

Here’s my card:


Card – Craft Creation
Papers – Daisy Bucket, Perfect Harmony
Inks – Ranger Distress Ink (Worn Lipstick) ColorBox Fluid Chalk (Warm Red)
Rubber Stamp – Personal Impressions (Best Wished)
Flower Punches – Woodware & Xcuts
Dies – Nestabilities
Embossing – Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (Swiss Dots & Spots & Dots)

Other Bits
Velvet Brad
Ribbon

Chipboard Flower

Sketch Saturday #35

Oh my did I have a fun day yesterday when me and my craft bag headed off to ‘play’ at Lythan's house!

We spent the day chatting, looking at new stash that both of us had acquired and doing a little bit of crafting, naturally, and then after lunch we went to visit Imagine That, the craft shop in Upminster.


The craft shop visit was a must because I only needed a couple of stamps to fill up my loyalty card and then I would have a whole £20 to spend on something special. I picked up a few things that I needed and then I found the perfect item to treat myself to……….What do think of this little baby?



I’ve been agonising over how best to store all by Cuttlebug Embossing folders for ages and now I agonise no longer because I have this purpose made bag to keep them all neat and tidy in, isn’t it wonderful!

Well as I said, we did do a little bit of crafting while I was there.

Lythan was concentrating on the beautiful summer holiday album she’s making and I set about making a card for this weeks Sketch Saturday
template.

The only problem was.......I took the wrong template with me and made another card using last weeks template.......what an idiot!

Oh well, here's the card anyway and I'll have another shot a this week one later on.



Card – Craft Creations,
Patterned Papers – Daisy Bucket, Perfect Harmony
Inks –Ranger Distress Ink (Dried Marigold), ColorBox Fluid Chalk (French Blue)
Dies – Nestabilities, Sizzix 12 border (Love, with Hearts)
Paper Punch – Fiskars, Threading Water Border Punch.

Other StuffAnita’s Tiny Gems
Ribbon

Di Hickman- #3 (21st Jan)

On a roll today with my second challenge of the day.
This time it’s the sketch from Di Hickman’s blog

You may have noticed that I’m using a lot of Basic Grey papers just recently.
Well the reason is that I picked up some bargain sheets in the sales, just odd sheets but from collections that I’ve not used before. I’m on a big learning curve though because some of them seem rather difficult to use. Still, I shall persevere!

Luckily these one’s were ok but a little on the bright side!

Card Blank – Craft Creations
Papers – Basic Grey – Oh Baby! Girl!
Inks – Distress Ink (Dusty Concord)
Embossing Folders – Cuttlebug (Bloom Dots & Swiss Dots)

Other Bits
Brads
Silk Flowers
Computer Printed Greeting

Two for the price of one!

It’s not often that I make a card that covers more than one challenge at a time, but the card that I made from the 2 Sketches 4 You template this week also covers the brief to use three different shape on a card from Papertake.

This is the template from 2S4U.

you’ll notice that I’ve turned it round. and there are Circles, Squares and Rectangles on it for the Papertake challenge.


I was finishing up some old scraps of Crate Papers, so alas, my ‘Kate’ Collection is no more! There was just one largish piece and a few smaller pieces of the same paper but fortunately it was double sided. Iwas able to stamp the dart board and darts onto it using VersaMark ink and then dust it with chalks to create two more patterned papers to go with the one I already had.


Card – Craft Creations (Cream Hammer & Green)
Patterned Paper – Crate Paper, Kate Collection
Inks –Tsukineko, Staz-On (Timber Brown), VersaMark & Ranger Distress Ink (Vintage Photo)
Stamps – Stamps Away (Dartboard & Darts) Studio G (Alphabet)

Other BitsChipboard Numbers
Ribbon
Brads
Diamond Glaze

DCM - Give It Some Heart

Well, Friday’s here again and my intension to do lots of challenges fell by the wayside this week.



The will was there but I simply run out of time because I got side tracked a little bit when I had a contact through Genes Reunited about a link to my family tree.
This is the first time that I’ve found a true connection with a total stranger and having access to their tree has given lots more info, so I want to thank Margaret Eastwood (if you read this) and just say Thank You for giving me access to your tree and I hope we can continue sharing information about our families.

So, it’s on with the day and the main reason for my post this morning.

It’s Friday………it’s 10 o’clock (ish!) and it’s Dare Time with the Daring Cardmakers!

This week Keryn wants us to..........

Give it Some Heart

My dare for this one is the predictable, someone had to do it, theme of Valentines. Although I don't want you to feel you just have to make Valentines Day cards, feel free to make a card fitting any theme you like as long as it has a heart somewhere on it. Stamped hearts, punched hearts, diecut hearts, heart embellishments, cut from patterned paper, whatever, whenever as long as it has the right shape.

I’ve managed five hearts, spread over two cards……….it would have been six over three cards but the last one isn’t quite finished so I’ll have to update when it’s done.

Since perfecting my Cuttlebug Embossing Technique, all my cards seem to feature it in one way or another and no mater how much I try not to do it, I can’t help myself. Now everything seems to look so flat and unfinished if I leave it off so I think you can expect a lot more from me in future weeks.



Both cards were made by cutting, embossing and mounting squares on 3D foam and then the edges inked with Distress Ink.

I used a Paper Punch to cut the Hearts and run them through my Cuttlebug in an Embossing Folder. These were then mounted on top of the Squares and finished off with a covering of Lustre Wax Rub-ons.


Card Blank – Craft Creations
Patterned Papers – Basic Grey Perhaps, Phoebe & Sweet Pea Alyssa Collection
Inks – Ranger Distress Ink (Worn Lipstick)
Dies – Spellbinder Nestabilities, Sizzix Skittle Dee Do Alphabet

Other Bits
Ribbon
Luster Wax Rub-On’s (Amber)

Sketch Saturday #34

I’ve been a good girl and been very industrious this morning.

I’ve managed to make a few valentines cards to take into the shop, I’ve made my card ready for the Daring Cardmakers dare on Friday and I’ve also done a card from the sketch over at Sketch Saturday.
I know this one is a bit late but better late than never I always say. (Just as well because I always seem to be late!)
I really liked working with this sketch and have a feeling that it’s going to used quite a lot in future weeks.

I’ve tried to keep my card uncluttered but added texture with some embossing, using both a Cuttlebug folder and my Nestabilities. I then gave the embossing a quick rub with some Luster Wax Rub-Ons to further enhance it.
There are also some 3D elements on there too.

Card – Craft Creations,
Patterned Paper – Basic Grey, Sugared
Die Cuts – Basic Grey, Sugared
Inks –Ranger Distress Ink (Peeled Paint)
Dies – Nestabilities, Sizzix 12 border (Love, with Hearts)
Paper Punch – Woodware, Small Folk Heart (Green)

Other StuffEyelets
Luster Wax Rub-On’s ( Amber)

CPS – Pick Your Favourite Sketch

Yesterday I had fun playing with the sketch challenge from CPS.

They didn’t give us new one to work from this week, instead we had to choose a favourite past sketch, so I went for number 27.


I decided to carry on using the Daisy Bucket papers that I used for the previous challenge but this time I’ve used a collection called In The Meadow.
I love these papers, not only because of the gorgeous colours, Turquoise, Brown and Green in this case, but because the papers have a wonderful textured finish to them.

Here’s my card:


Aww, but I didn’t stop there……..

As the remains of the papers were out on my desk I thought I would have a go at doing the same as Lythan did and see how many cards I could get out of the three sheets of double sided paper.

I've used stick on gems in place of the pearls that she had but I didn’t have any rub-on’s, so instead I gave myself the luxury of a few extra bits and bobs in the way of ribbon, brads and glitter glue.
I ended up making a total of thirteen, including the CPS card and to my amazement only a couple looked anything like the cards that Lythan made.
I would recommend having at go at this at sometime.
Apart from being fun, it's it’s a great way to stock up on some cards to fall back on when you need one in a hurry.

Card – Craft Creation
Papers – Daisy Bucket In the Meadow
Inks – Ranger Distress Ink (Peeled Paint & Vintage Photo)
Glitter Glue – Stickles
Dies - Nestabilities

Other Bits
Brads
Ribbon
Computer Printed Greetings

Di Hickman #2 (Jan)

Only one card from me today because I’m feeling a little tied after a late night last night.

It was nothing very exciting, just a curry with some friends that I’ve not seen in a while but I have the longest distance to travel and by the time I got home it was well past midnight. What made it worse was that I had to be up early this morning, so no lay in for me either.
Still, it was worth it to catch up with old friends!

I’ve used this template from Di Hickman’s blog



and some of the lovely Daisy Bucket papers that I fell in love with after Lythan used them for a sponsored Daring Cardmaker's dare a little while back.


I coloured the stamped image with Distress Inks and I’m pleased to report that after some very helpful instruction from Eveline I think I’ve mastered embossing my Nestabilities in my Cuttlebug at last, so thanks Eveline!

Card Blank – Craft Creations
Papers/Card – Daisy Bucket Perfect Harmony, DCWV Textured Mat Stack
Rubber Stamps – Penny Black Critter Party
Inks – Tsukineko, Staz-On (Black) Ranger, Distress Ink (Dried Marigold, Worn Lipstick, Dusty Concord, Broken China & Peeled Paint)
Paper Punch – Fiskars (Threading Water Punch)
Dies – Nestabilities, Sizzix Take It Easy Alphabet
Gems – Anita’s (Gemstone Wheel)
Other Bits
Ribbon

DCM - Get Someone Eles To Make It!

Over at the Daring Cardmakers this morning we have a dare with a bit of a difference and the give away is all in the title…

'Get someone else to make it!

This week starts nice and easy...

Any card, any theme and any colour scheme of your choosing - but the catch... some one else must actually make and assemble the card for you... (with your supervision)!

Friends, relatives, or if there is no one close to hand, why not send instructions via email.

I have to admit, I panicked slightly when I saw what Jo had in store for us this week.

There was no one close to hand to help me out other that BoJangles (the cat) and after his close encounter with the Blue Highlighter a few months back (see here if you missed it) he wasn’t having any of it.


But there was no getting out of it…….Kathy came up with the idea of sending some instructions to someone else on the DT so that they could make my card for me, which is exacactly what I did in the end.
Take note…..there’s absolutely no excuse for not joining in apparently!
I made a prototype card while I was writing out the instructions and then enlisted Lythan to do the honors.
I email her the details and also sent her a little pack containing all she needed to make my card and here’s what she did.

The good thing is that my instructions must have been ok because her card is almost the same as the one that I did and it was fun waiting to see the end results.
Here's mine

As I said, Lythan also sent me some instruction and a pack of components so I could make up her card and here’s the end result.
The papers were very bright and definitely way out of my comfort zone but she has such an eye for colours and if I say so myself, the card looked great.

I never thought I'd be able to turn out a card in ‘Lythan stylie’ but it appears I just have...Yah!


For my Prototype & card made by Lythan with my instructions

Card Blank – Self Addressed Kit
Patterned Papers – Basic Grey Two Scoops
Rubber Stamps – Penny Black Critter Party (Happy Birthday) Butterfly Unknown
Inks – Color Box Fluid Chalks, Ranger Distress Ink
Embossing Powder – Fun Stamps (Clear)
Dies – Spellbinder Nestabilities

Other BitsRibbon
Gems
Vellum Tag

Tanda Teaser - Wake Up and Smell The Coffee

I’ll just finished my card for the Tanda Teaser this week and the smell of strong coffee that’s wafting around my craft room is sure to keep me awake all night. I think it will keep the person the card is for awake when they get it too because the smell is so strong I feel sure it will linger.

The idea behind the teaser was to make a background using coffee or tea to stain the paper.

After a couple of failed attempts and stained Brown fingers I eventually reached for my Cuttlebug embossing folders.



I ‘painted’ the coffee solution onto the folder and then placed my White paper into it and run it through my machine. I then run my iron over it to dry it out quickly so I get on with it……I always was impatient!

Next I used the clear Papermania stamps ‘Spring Burst’ to stamp the flower and layered it together with round Nestabilities on 3D foam.


Papers – Basic Grey (Sugared)
Stamps – Papermania (Spring Burst) Whispers Words, (Birthday Wishes)
Inks – Tsukineko, Staz-On (Timber Brown) Ranger, Distress Ink (Vintage Photo & Worn Lipstick)
Punches – Fiskars (Threading Water Punch) Woodware (2inch Circle)
Dies – Nestabilities (Small Scalloped Circle)
Gems – Anita’s (Gemstone Wheel)

Other bits
Ribbon

2 Sketches 4 You - Sketch #17

Well, this is my first go at a template from the 2 Sketches 4 You blog and I’m pleased to say that it was quite a straight forward one to follow.

Uncomplicated is good, right!



I’ve used the Happy Birthday and Birthday Cake dies that I brought from the Ellison’s sale, and also my square Nestabilities.
I’ve been having a go at embossing with the Nesties but at the moment I don’t seem to be having a lot of luck. It is leaving an impression but not a very sharp one, so I don’t think I have the sandwich quite right for my Cuttlebug.
If anyone has any advice on this it’ll be gratefully received I can tell you, because it’s getting very frustrating.

Anyway, here’s my card.


Card – Craft Creations
Patterned Papers – K & Co, Studio K
Inks – Ranger Distress Ink (Faded Jeans)
Dies – Sizzlets (Birthday Cake & Happy Birthday), Spellbinder (Nestabilities)
Pens- Staedtler Triplus Fineliner (Black)

Other BitsTiny Star Gem
Diamond Glaze

Peel-Off's

Papertake - Sketch #6

This morning I’ve had a go at Monday’s template on the Papertake blog.
It wasn’t until I came to upload my card, I realised that I’m still seeing spots from last weeks challenge but at least I’ve managed to do these ones a different colour. Lol!

This is the template.




My card has a nautical theme and while I was looking through some of my old paper collections I came across some Basic Grey that reminded me a little of port holes, which was perfect.

Here’s my effort.


Card Blank– Craft Creations
Papers – Basic Grey Hampton Collection
Rubber Stamp – Inkadinkado
Inks – Ranger Distress Ink (Vintage Photo), Tsukineko StazOn (Timber Brown)
Pencils – Prisma Color
Pens- Staedtler Triplus Fineliner (Brown)
Dies – Nestabilities, Sizzix Alphabet (Hunky Dory)

Other Bits
Large Brad
Charm

CPS #99

I decided to try something a bit different when I made this card, following the template from CPS


I wanted to have a go at a postage stamp effect, using the little Cuttlebug die that I’ve had for a while, (but never used) and I must admit that it took me a couple of goes to get it right but I’m quite pleased with the over all effect.
It was the positioning of the pieces that was causing me the problems but once I had it sussed it the stamping and chalking was a breeze.
The template is in there by the way………it’s just not easy to see because of the colour of the papers that I’ve used.

Card – Craft Creation
Papers – Basic Grey, Hang 10 & Memory Stor (Costco Kit)
Inks – Tsukineko, Staz-On (Timber Brown) & VersaMark, Ranger Distress Ink (Faded Jeans)
Stamps – Tanda Safari Set 1(Lion & Trees) Whispers Words (Happy Birthday)
Chalks – Redicut decorating Chalks

Other Bits
Eyelets
Fibres

Sketch Saturday #33

A friend of mine has asked me if I would make a card for her mum’s 70th birthday next week end. The only thing that she specified was flowers so it's given me the opportunity to use my most favourite stamp in the world, Rubber Stampede’s Hydrangea.

I think this is a beautiful stamp and it doesn't seem to matter what medium you use to colour it, it always looks special.

On this occasion I've dusted off my Twinkling H2o’s, which I’ve not used for a while and had a go at the new template from Sketch Saturday.

Card – Craft Creations,
Patterned Paper – Basic Grey, Sugared
Rubber Stamp – Rubber Stampede, Hydrangea
Inks –VersaFine (Black) Ranger Distress Ink (Peeled Paint)
Paint – LuminArte – Twinkling H2O’s (Fuzzy Peach, Poppy Red & Moss Green) Cosmic Shimmer (Golden Mint)
Dies - Nestabilities

Other Stuff
Brads
Gold Edged Ribbon
Silk Hydrangea Flowers
Computer Generated Greeting