Time Flies

For the next two weeks at Fantasy Stampers the theme is Time Flies - so many ways you can interpret this challenge. Why don't you pop over to the blog, to see how the design team have been inspired with the title of Time Flies. I have chosen some old stamps from my collection. Old but gold stamps. 

I created the bckground blending several shades of Distress Ink blues, including the gorgeous Peacock Feathers. The background clock stamp is from Creative Expressions - Time set. The main image is from Clocks 1 Paperartsy, along with the lower sentiment. The Time Flies sentiment is part of a Stampendous stamp. I used  Spellbinders dies to mat the image, the outer coloured with Faded Jeans and Peacock Feathers. I am looking forward to seeing your creations, have fun. 

Christmas In July

Hello again, my second posting today. This will be my 40th Christmas card ready for this year. For the next month we at Sparkles Monthly would like to see you create 'Christmas in July'.  For my card, I decided on a  Clean and Simple style. Main body of card, is a bought scalloped card.  First layer is mirri silver card.
Second layer is a sheet from a Papaermania pack of Chritmas papers. Third layer white card - Decorated - Inigigo Blu stamp - Frosted Baubles and Paperartsy greeting stamp from Egg and Nog #3 set - both stamped with Versamark, embossed with Silver Bells Wow Powder. A light dusting of Festive Berries DI from TH. Sakura Glaze pens to colour the baubles, leaves and berries. I am looking forward to visiting you during the 'Christmas in July' during the next month. We are again delighted to be sponsored  by Marianne Designs.

Prize to be either 2 Dies or 1 Die and 1 stamp.

Good Luck. 

Paper Piecing

Hi again, for the next two weeks at My Time To Craft (MTTC)  our challenge is to include Paper Piecing in your project. Please do pop over to the main blog to check out the wonderful inspiration from the Design Team. As long as the image you use has some definite lines, you can do paper piecing,  it is a wonderful way of using up all those little scraps we tend to keep. For my project, the owls and branch came from Paperartsy Flora and Fauna 3 stamp set, the sentiment is from Kaisercraft Life Sentiments, the leafy branch punch via a Martha Stewart punch.  All added to Kraft card. The background paper is from LOTV.  Card  Candi from Craftworks. Hope you like my whimsical card, I look forward to popping around to see your entries. Have fun and happy crafting. 

Ruby's Rainbow Challenge

Hi everyone, at Ruby's Rainbow for the next two weeks, Silvi has chosen for our challenge - 

 Twine, Buttons and Embossing

Some of my favourite items to play with. As it happened, I was lucky to be at a craft event yesterday and bought myself a few stencil/embossing mats,  among them was this one of leaves, that became my starter. I then reached for my owls. For this card this is what I used:-

Kraft, Black and a small piece of white card stock.

Cuttlebug to emboss

Stencil/embossing mat of leaves

Distress Ink - Brushed Corduroy

Promarkers

Owls - Paperartsy Flora and Fauna 3

Buttons and Twine from stash. 

Looking forward to popping over to see your creations for our challenge. have fun. 

Mid Week Motivation at MMM

Every week on a Wednesday the Design Team member of Make My Monday, who chose the challenge theme provides you with a Mid- Week Motivation project to hopefully guide, instruct or simply inspire you. I decided to make 3 bookmarks where I have used the same new stamp but in different ways, hoping to give that inspiration if you need it.

The Bookmark on the LEFT is a simple Monochrome approach, using a white piece of card, and a black ink pad for the stamp. I have also added further interest stamping a few leaves from another set of stamps. I dragged around the outer edge with the chisel nib of a black marker pen. Added fibres and ribbons.

The CENTRE example shows how my adding pretty papers to your bookmark, you don't need to add any further colouring to the background. I have only coloured the birds, made a small flower using a stamp and again added fibres and ribbon.

The final bookmark on the RIGHT is more of a Vintage style, I coloured the background with TH Distress inks Old Paper, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain. All the stamping was done using a black ink pad. I added a piece of lace and a fancy button, along with the fibres and ribbon to embellish it.

Stamps Used----

Left -Bird Cage with two birds from Inkylicious. My non - inked stamp.

Left - Leaves - Paperartsy - Flora and Fauna 3

Centre -The small flower - from Dreamees

Right Border top and bottom from La Blanche stamps.

Twinchies - Music and Lyrics

Hi , I have always enjoyed making small projects, so I am delighted to have found a special challenge blog for Twinchies ( a piece of art on a 2 inch square) I also love Inchies,  and now a new concept is Rinchies ( a circle 1 inch in diameter). This challenge group Twinchies Challenges is a monthly group which also has a Facebook page, if your interested. For their challenge in July #3 is Music and Lyrics. I coloured the background piece of mountboard with TH distress inks, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed and Stormy Sky, edged  with Iced Spruce. The image is part of a stamp from a Paperartsy set, H PI006

Inspirational Card for MMM - Green and Yellow

The piece of card immediately above is a sheet which I coloured using the Shaving Foam (Cream) technique. The stamped images on the right are from an Inkadinkado set of Inchie bird stamps. Those on the left are the ones I used on last week's  Make My Monday design card. As a crafter I don't like to waste anything, especially if I have toiled over it. I decided to use the right side to make some 4 inch square cards, with a twinchie (2 inch square) stamp and inchies (1 inch square) stamps. I may end up making a box too, to hold a number of cards and envelopes, to give as a present. Again, watch this space................

Colour challenge at MMM

Hello to all of my visitors, once again it is my time to choose the topic for Make My Monday, I am still going for a Colour challenge, this week it is Green and Yellow. These two colours so much represent spring for me, this past week or so it has actually felt like spring in the North East of England. 

I first decided to stamp onto a previously prepared backing sheet from the day I spent a while playing with Shaving Foam (Cream), making lots of colourful sheets of paper. More details can be found on You Tube, go on give it a try, it's great fun. I used stamps from a Paperartsy set - Flora and Fauna Set 3. Once cut out , some needed a little extra colour of Promarkers, green and yellow of course. I stamped directly onto the white card using the leaves stamp and DI Peeled Paint, which was coloured in with two shades of green. 

All pieces attached to the page, with a happy Anniversary greeting completed the card. Being a crafter, I don't like to waste even small pieces of card, especially if I have made them, so why don't you pop back on Wednesday for my Inspirational Card to see how I got the most from  the remains of one A5 piece of card. 

Fluer de Lys

Continuing our lovely month in France, at Make My Monday, this week our challenge is to use the Fleur de Lys - a French Lily, used throughout Europe but is known particularly for it's use by the French monarchy in history, continuing to be popular in use today. There were some wonderful entries last week and I again look forward to viewing your blogs and your entries for this week. Maybe these topics are a little more challenging but please do have a go, for learning and experimenting, pushing the boundaries can be fun.

I coloured the background of my card with several TH Distress inks and then stamped the Fleur de lys, from a Paperartsty set - Egg and Nog #.  The main image a Crafty Individuals stamp -CI 260 - was laid on several complimentary layers, tied with a ribbon, 3 black gems added.

Another Sketch

Looking around for a different challenge blog I found Addicted to Stamps, which describes me perfectly. this week for their challenge it is Sketch #2. Here is my interpretation.

The background and centre panel have been embossed with a Christmas Vine embossing folder. I used leaves from a Paperartsy set to form the background for the butterfly. the butterfly and sentiment are from Indigo Blu stamps. I wish this relatively new challenge blog lots of best wishes and shall be following their challenges and hopefully joining in a few as the weeks progress.
I am also entering this card into Crafty Cardmakers for their challenge Winged Things.

Time Gentlemen - Please!

This is the last week of my choices in the Man and Boy theme we have had for April. I have greatly enjoyed visiting you to see your wonderful creations. For our last week of Male cards at Make My Monday, we are challenging you to make a project with TIME as the topic. I have taken the theme and stepped a little into the world of Steampunk, just a gentle step. I used a combination of stamps from  Kanban's Jasper set, Tim Holtz - Steampunk and Paperartsy. All of the stamping and embellishments were fitted onto a side step card, the template taken from a Rob Adams CD Fabulous Folds. Don't forget whoever is the overall winner for the Male theme will win some fabulous dies from Marianne - lucky person. Have fun- I'll be popping around to see you. No hints - but I am greatly looking forward to next month's theme and choices, I'm sure you will all enjoy it.

I am also entering this card into the challenge 'For The Boys' over at Crafty Cardmaker's.

Another Moonlight Card

I have already submitted one card to the Moonlight challenge at Craft a Scene but I thought of another card I wanted to play with so here it is, my second entry. I love Lavinia Stamps, I don't have many but am trying to slowly build up my collection. I think you can make some wonderful scenic cards with them. I started by blending TH Distress Inks, Dusty Concorde, top and sides, Worn Lipstick more in the central area and Broken china at the lower end. The toadstools, bridge and all of above are from Lavinia, the foliage at the front is a mixture of various stamp makers, Elusive Images and Paperartsy. The moon has glitter on one side and the pixies are collecting moon dust to sprinkle around before the full light of day. thanks for looking and for your comments, which are always appreciated.

Monochrome at Fashionable Stamping

Wow! We had some fabulous cards for men, over the last two weeks at Fashionable Stamping Challenges, it's never easy choosing an overall winner and top 3 but this will be a very difficult choice to make for each of the Design Team. For the next two weeks we are asking you to make a project using Monochromatic plus one other colour.  Check out the instructions over on the blog to be sure of being in with a chance of winning.  Our sponsor, Cottage Crafts offers each winner a choice from her shop to the value of E7.

There is a lot of Love floating around during the early part of February, so here is my Monochrome card in red with a little black for contrast. The three hearts are from a free stamp with a Craft Stamper magazine.  I used  Fired Brick TH Distress ink all over the card including the background, which was then stamped with a small text stamp from Paperartsy. The negative Love stamp is a foam stamp from Papermania. I look forward to once again visiting you over the next two weeks. Have fun, there are some amazing samples on the blog by the marvellous Design team, please do take a look.

I am entering this card into a few challenge blogs with a theme connected to Valentine's Day.
Crafty Bloggers~ Love is in the Air
Creative Belli Blog Hearts/Valentine
Creative Inspirations - Inspired by Hearts
Rainbow Lady ~Have a Heart
Crafty Cardmaker - Monochromatic Card
Cards For Men   Valentine's Day/Love

The Big Guy

This week at Try it on Tuesdays it is card week, so you could win a £10.00 voucher from One Stop Card Crafts, please see their logo in my side bar. We know The Big Guy, throughout the world by so many names, I personally love the sound of Kris Kringle, from one of my all time favourite movies, Miracle on 42nd Street.
We know him as either Father Christmas or as Santa Claus. We are giving the centre stage to him this week. Everyone must have at least one stamp, there are those of us who are greedy and have more, I took a while to decide which one to use. I decided on A Visit from Santa by Paperartsy. I used a Brilliance ink pad, Meditteranean Blue for all the stamping, the snowflakes and the greeting.  I hope you like him in monochrome. I look forward to visiting your blogs to say hello to you and your Santas.
Greeting stamp by Tandastamps

Vintage Distressed

This week at Make My Monday, we continue the monthly theme of Vintage, the challenge is to produce either, Distressed or Shabby Chic. I love making a bit of a mess, with the hope my finished card will still be acceptable. All of the paper/card is from Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby, paper stash, except for the lady which is stamped onto white tissue paper. I distressed the edges by either tearing or using my craft knife to scrape the edges. I used Distress Ink Walnut Stain to add some contrast. It looks as though I was heavy handed with the Stain, I apologise most of the darker areas are shadows, the light wasn’t good when I took the pics.

Stamps used – Corset by Bravura stamps, Sentiment from Paperartsy, Lady from Across the Miles from Stampman. Once again I look forward to visiting your blogs to see your distressed Vintage cards, please remember to check the rules.

A few Quickies!

I haven't added anything to my blog since last Tuesday, but I've still been around, visiting and commenting on other bloggers and carrying out my visits and adding comments to the 4 design teams, to which I am also making cards for. I had a busy week making Quickie cards for my class for last Friday. The idea of the class was to show ways Quickie, yet effective cards could be made, which involved many samples. Here are a few.

                      The three below have been made with embossing folders with help of my bug.
Left - on white card but stamped around the edges, with Memento Bamboo Leaves after being embossed to cover all white areas. Brushed all over with a shaving brush and TH Distress ink Peeled Paint. Ribbon added and a small punched out circle with Just For You.
Centre - On dark coloured vellum a beautiful embossing folder of an owl. Lightly sandpapered the owl to show clearer. Stamped Just for You from a Paperartsy set Tops and Tails. I used four brads to attach the vellum to corugated card which I hope looks a little like bark.
Right - the same embossing folder as on the left side, but this time on vellum, lightly sandpapered to show more of a white contrast, ribbon tied around with a plaque Just for You, attached to white card with 4 blue brads.

 Below are three quickly made stamped cards.

Left, both stamps are from Paperartsy Tops and Tails, I stamped both with Memento Bamboo Leaves, used Sakura pens to colour the red and yellow flowers.

Top _ Get Well Soon Owl for Joanna Sheen, stamped onto white card, coloured with Walnut Stain TH ink,

leaves stamped for Inkylicious Trees set.

Bottom - Stamped three times a grasses stamp from Elusive Images, adhered to a grey card. Twine wrapped around a button attached.

 Left, an A5 sheet of pretty patterned card, folded in half, a stamped butterfly and sentiment from Personal Impressions Lydsay Mason, added for interest.
Centre - a very pretty and cheap Thank You stamp, coloured with Sakura pens, added to a matching tone piece of card to mat, then onto a white card.
Right - A white card, with a  red mat attached. A piece of pretty poppy paper cut from a Pad of paper, Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

10 days left for Come Fly with Me

10 days left for the St. Luke's Card  Challenge- Come Fly with me. Here is my third entry, keeping to my target of a card a week, 4th to be posted in 5 days. This is one of my favourite stamps,  from Paperartsy, it can be used in so many ways. I started with a cream card. I used a swirl stamp and clear E.P. to provide a resist scrolled background. Then the background was coloured with several TH Distress inks. I dried the ink with a heat gun, then used the same scroll stamp but embossed with black E.P. Wrapped a piece of torn vellum over the spine of the card, added some black ribbon, secured it to the card with a brad. The topper in the centre was the same card, coloured around the edges and the Dragonfly stamp was again embossed with black E.P, then matted onto a piece of black card. I enjoy watching the chanages with resist stamping, it's so interesting. Thanks to all who may look at this card, thanks to those who can leave comments, I do always appreciate you took the time for a few words.
I am also entering this card into Delicious Doodles for their challenge All that Flutters

In The Frame

The two girls over on Less Is More have again come up with a devilish plan, In the Frame. This is my fourth attempt, I have been thawted by simple stamping errors, I even made one on this, but was able to hide it with a flock of flying birds. Please Chrissie don't say I should have kept on trying for I think I'll cry. I nearly gave up, but not one to be beaten, especially by my own silly mistakes here is my completed effort.
I used TH Distress inks for the background, Tumbled Glass, Weaathered Wood, Mustard Seed and peeled Paint. I stamped the leaves with Whispers Green Leaf. The owls were coloured in with water colour pencils.
The leaves and owls are from Paperartsy, Flora and Fauna set, the flying birds are from Inkylicious. Off to see if I can find another challenge this will suit, after the time I have spent I need to spread the love. LOL
Also entered Crafts and Me - Stamp Something
Crafty Anne's Blog - use more than one image

Pick A Square

This week at Less Is More the challenge is to Pick A Square, from the sketch provided. At firt this threw my mind, but then I looked at some new stamps, and decided what to do. This card has got to be the simplest I have ever made, it has been a long road to get to such cleanliness and simplicity. I am also entering this into the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge No 136 Clean and Simple.
I used Paperartsy stamps from set Tops and Tails 3.
Stamped with Peeled Paint TH Distress ink Coloured with Sakura Gelly Roll Pens Yellow and Blue.



Anything Goes at Scrap and Stamp

At Scrap and Stamp this week, well, it's simply

Anything Goes , as long as some stamping is present. Let me introduce you to 'My Guy'.

The LO was all placed on a sheet of Kraft card, I randomly stamped a watch from a Paperartsy set. Added stips and blocks of colour. Stamped and distressed the masculine image in the bottom right corner. The centre section opens with the ribbon, to reveal photos of my guy at various stages in his life. I adore the stamped sentiment at the top of the first photograph, again from the Papertartsy set,

'Time can never take away our most precious memories.' Thanks girls for the opportuity to share this LO.

P.S. Delighted this project was chosen as the winner. Thanks again to the Scrap and Stamp blog.