Hearts and Flowers

I don't normally make cards this sweet, but recently on one very wet afternoon, I decided to throw as much onto this card as I possibly could, so I could do justice to the challenge of Hearts and Flowers at  Fantasy Stamping. You can't see the lace which goes across the card, but it's there. A cut out heart is under the main image, a small doiley, flowers, punched out leaves, rolled flowers from my Marianne Dies,  a piece of purple net tied in a bow with a huge purple flower at the centre. The sentiment is from the Grungy Sentiments by LOTV. The main image also from LOTV is Love Balloon, coloured with Promarkers. I have to admit I really enjoyed playing away, it filled in a very wet afternoon,  but this won't become a regular style, not for me. Looking forward to visiting you over the next two weeks, have fun and happy crafting.

O for Ombre - at Alphabet Challenges

We are now looking for the letter O at Alphabet Challenges, the challenge being for Ombre - shaded or graded in one colour, please pop over to the blog to check out the rules, guidlines and of course the inspiration from the Design Team. For my DT card I started with Lemonade using different yellow shades of TH Distress Inks, ending with Wild Honey, which is subdued by adding the vellum across the card. Agapanthus stamp used is from Stampendous. The Butterfly stamp from Lyndsay Mason Tattered Butterflies was stamped onto Vellum, the sentiment is from my stash. I love challenges which involve colour so I especially looking forward to visiting you over the next two weeks. Hope you enjoy the challenge.

Steampunk at C4G

Oh! I love Steampunk, I suppose it's like Marmite isn't it? You either get it or you don't. Well I am hoping there are many who do like it for it is the challenge this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.  Please pop over to see the amazing talent of the DT, I am sure you will be inspired to have a go. For in Steampunk, anything goes. I used the following materials.
 Black and white card stock, a Cogs mask from Splodgeaway, various TH Distress inks. Promarkers.  Stamps from Tim Holtz and Personal Impressions. The sentiment is computer generated. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations for the Steampunk challenge.

Get Well

I am hoping you will enjoy this challenge at CD Sunday Challenges, for there are sadly times in our lives when we do need to send out Get Well wishes to our friends or family. My thanks to Sue b who has chosen this challenge for us. I used a backing sheet from Lizzy Lu Inspirations CD by Debbie Moore. I added a glittered butterfly stamped with a Dovecraft butterfly stamp. Added a few paper roses and coloured gems. The greeting is a favourite of mine from Hobby Art stamps. I am hoping the weather improves soon, again we find ourselves asking how much more? I'm even starting to feel colder, it's too soon. Well, to all our followers, the Design Team and participants at CD Sunday Challenges, best wishes for better weather ahead. Have fun, I look forward to visiting you.

Food or Drink

At My Time To Craft for this next week we are challenging you to create any project with the theme of either Food or Drink or maybe even both. What a huge choice this has left for you. Please pop over to the blog to check it our and to see the amazing inspiration from the Design Team. Yummee!! What could be better than swinging in a hammock on a summer's day, drinking your favourite soft drink and enjoying your favourite pizza?  This is exactly the case on my card, thanks to 'The Best of La Pashe' 2012. I have added extra layers of toning blue papers from my stash. I used red card for the contrast to make the card brighter.
Thanks if you took the time to pop in to see my card, I do appreciate everyone who gives that support. I will be looking in to leave my comments on your entries, have fun and I do hope you enjoy the challenge.

#86 Back to School

For the next two weeks at Ruby's Rainbow we know it will shortly be time to go 'Back to School', so your challenge is to produce a project with this in mind. Please pop over to the main blog to see the wonderful inspirational projects from the Design Team. For my card, I have used various papers from my stash to create the background, all matted onto Kraft card.  I added some blue buttons and a LOTV sentiment. The main image is 'Back to School - Boy' from LOTV, coloured with Promarkers. I am looking forward to visiting you to see your projects. Have fun and happy crafting.

Stepper Card

At Cardz 4 Guyz over the next week the challenge is to make a Stepper Card. There are many different forms of stepper card, so you do have a wide choice. There are lots of tutorials and suggestions on You Tube and Pinterest, simply add Stepper card and you will be spoilt for choice. The style I have chosen is simple, with only a couple of cuts and few folds. The background is silver mirri board to give a bright contrast to the dark sky and leaves. The stamps are all from Sheena Douglass - A Little Bit Magical - The Quest. I have used TH Distress inks to colour the background sky. The leaves and the owl  have been coloured with various  Promarkers. The sentiment is from my stash. I thought this would make a suitable card for a male person who has been awarded either a degree or a certificate, to congratulate them on their success. If you have never made a stepper card, please do give it a try and share with us on the the challenge, maybe it is a STEP out of your comfort zone, go on have a go.  The DT have again provided us with some wonderful creative inspiration, please do pop over to see their projects.

#181 Sketch at TSOAT

#181

I am thrilled to have been invited to join a sketch and stamp challenge blog called 

Try Stamping on a Tuesday, this is my first challenge so I am looking forward to being part of a marvellous team of very talented crafters. Please do pop over to the blog to see the wonderful inspiration from the Design Team. For my card, following the sketch, for the background I used paper from LOTV - Father Knows Best paper pad. The main image stamp is  Sunflowers from LOTV, coloured with Promarkers. The butterfly was a freebie with The Craft Stamper magazine. I am so looking forward to joining you all as I visit to comment on your creations. Have fun and happy crafting. 

By the Sea

At Fantasy Stampers for the next two weeks our challenge is By The Sea. There are so many ways we can enjoy a visit to be By the Sea. The main requirement is you must use an inked stamp, digis are not accepted. For my card, I have chosen to use Hobby Art stamps from the Coastal Scene It set, I do love these stamps. I am not an artist, I beleive I am a crafter, but when I use these Hobby Art stamps with a water colour brush in my hand, I feel how an artist must feel. There was a lot of masking involved to complete this card, it took a few tries to ensure the houses weren't floating in the sky, but I had a lot of enjoyment in the final result. I am looking forward to visiting you to see your creations 'By The Sea'. Have fun everyone. 

Back to School

Here we are into another month at Sparkles Forum, for the next month, our challenge will be Back to School. For this is the time when education kicks off for another term, when the summer will be over. How did that happen so fast? So Back to School, the DT have produced some wonderful inspiration please pop over to check them out. For my card, I am so loving these folded stepper cards, they add a little extra I think, fashions and favourites they come and go, and this is my current favourite. I used red card for the base, matted with a sheet from a paper pad in my stash. Die cut the image with a Go Kreate die. The wonderful little girl is from LOTV - Back to School -Girl. Coloured with Promarkers. I am looking forward to visiting you to see your creations. Have fun.

Our thanks once again to our generous sponsor

The winner will win either 2 dies or 1 die and 1 stamp

N is for Natural

For the letter N at Alphabet Challenges Sheena has challenged us to use something which is Natural, a piece of wood, shells, dried flowers, raffia, sand etc. anything which you think is suitable for your project. For my card the background paper is from LOTV 'Father Knows Best' paper pad,  I stamped a few grasses from My Paper World stamps, inked the edges with TH Vintage Photo. The image is Song Thrush from Inkylicious, brushed with Brushed Corduroy and Faded Jeans, matted onto a piece of Kraft card edged with Vintage Photo. The sentiment in the top left corner is from Creative Expressions - Birds stamp set. To complete the requirement of natural additions, there is hessian, a twig from my garden and a piece of broken shell. Please do pop over to the challenge, the Design Team have created wonderful inspiration for you to enjoy and be inspired by for the next two weeks. Have fun and happy crafting.

Cameras/Photos

The challenge for the next week at Cardz 4 Guyz is Cameras or Photos, combination of both, basically anything to do with photography. I recently made this 5 x 5 inches concertina album for my card class. As the challenge is open for all aspects of papercrafating, then small books, scrapbook pages are ideal entries. The booklet holds some snaps of some of the events of 2014, the reverse side has been kept for later in the year events, in total it will hold ten pictures of two of my grandsons, brothers Matthew and James. These small albums are perfect to keep. I imagine handing, half of a pile over to each of them when they reach the age of 18. 

Quilted Fun

For the next two weeks  CD Sunday Challenges  are challenging you to create some Quilted Fun. Please pop over to the blog to check out the guidelines and few rules we have. We would like to see something quilted, as long as you have used a CD to provide part or all of your project. For my DT inspirational card, I have printed the background sheet of pink dotty paper from the Dreamees Rain or Shine CD, I find this an invaluable recource for beautiful coloured background papers. The main image is from Halycon Days by Crafter's Companions. I decoupaged the cakes , added some bunting. I drew a sewn effect where the main image joined the backing paper to provide an extra quilted layer. Have fun everyone with this real fun challenge, I am so looking forward to seeing what you all create.

For The Birds

For the next two weeks at Ruby's Rainbow our challenge is 'For the Birds'.  I am sure this will be a popular chocie for their are many sources with birds available. Please do pop over to the blog to see the wonderful collection of so many different birds. I have had this stamp for ages and this is only the second time I have used it, note to self, must use more often.
Background created by blending TH Distress Inks - Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Shabby Sutters, Peeled Paint. Spritzed with water. Stamped with leaves from Sheena Douglas Leaves set, using the same colours I blended with plus a few with Mowed Lawn.
Embellished with stamped, cut out leaves from the same stamp set. Two pretty fancy buttons and lace from stash.
The main image is from Inkylicious - Birdcage 1 - background blened with Scattered Straw.
Birds coloured with watercolour pencils. Cage higlighted with a gold gel pen.
Sentiment from Kaisercraft. I am looking forward to visiting your blogs to view your birds, have fun and happy crafting.

Song Title

For the next week at Cardz 4 Guyz we are challenging you to make a project with the theme of a Song Title.  Please pop over to see the wonerful inspirational samples from the Design Team.  

The song of my choice is 'Sailing' by Rod Stewart. 

Stamps I used were:-

Background, globe, compass from  Creative Expressions - Sam Poole Nautical Journey

The ship image by Crafty Individuals -Discovery -  CI 295

live Life to the Full - Kaiser craft

Tim Holtz DI Ranger - Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Faded Jeans, Broken Glass

Quickie Glue Pen - Glamour Dust - Crystal on part of the moon and sails. 

Buttons and Bows

At Fantasty Stampers for the next two weeks we are stepping out in style with our challenge being Buttons and Bows. Please pop over to the blog to see the wonderful inspirational samples from the Design Team. 

For my card, I decided upon pastel colours which is out of my norm, I must admit. I like to challenge myself now and again. The background card has been embossed.  All of the flowers were stamped with 3 different size flowers from Sheena Douglas - Always Floral Stamp set, using scraps of paper from a Daydream First Edition Designer Pad. The stems are strips of twine. The  bow was made with the same papers. Buttons added to complete. I haven't added a sentiment, I'll put it into my box and wait and see. I look forward to visiting you over the next two weeks to see your entries with Buttons and Bows. Have fun and happy crafting. 

Snowflakes at Sparkles Christmas

Here we are in August, another month, which means another new challenge at  Sparkles Christmas Challenges. The theme for the month is Challenge # 43 Snowflakes. I know we are going to see some amazing projects, for this is truly a wonderful topic, there is so much glitter and sparkle associated with snowflakes. Please po over to the blog to check out the details and see the wonderful gallery from the Design Team.  I once saw a sentiment which said, 'Snowflakes are  Winter's Butterlies', which is so true.  I have subdued my snowflakes in the background,  but have 'blinged' up my large snowflake and snowman.
All snowflakes from Sheena Douglas - 'Ornate Snowflakes' - large snowflake embossed with deep blue EP, added with a Quickie Glue Pen Glamour Dust - Crystal.
The Snowman is very old, oh, yes, almost a grand father, I've had him so many years, from Inkadinkado, lots of Glamour Dust glitter added to him. Matted onto black and white card, the white card was coloured with Tumbled Glass DI as was the background snowflakes.Have fun playing with your snowflakes, I look forward to visiting you.

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offering a $10 voucher

Di's Digistamps

M is for Men Only

For the next two weeks at Alphabet Challenges we find ourselves already at the letter M which is to be 

Men Only.  Please do pop over to the blog to follow the directions and to see the amazing and wonderful inspirational projects from the Design Team.  I recently took advantage of a price reduction for some of the LOTV Men Stamps, this is one of them - 'In The Country'. I had great fun in creating this card, I started with a sketch, then kept adding another  LOTV -' Father Knows Best' paper layer to another layer,  or a piece in a corner, then even added some Martha Stewart punched leaves.  The image is coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment is also from LOTV - Everyday Grungy Messages.  Hope you have fun creating your card for Men Only, happy crafting.