Couples

2nd post today
It's been many a month since I joined in  the St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge , I guess it's about time I put that right. Their current challenge is COUPLES, it needn't be of the human kind, if you look at their site they have shown many varied examples. I have stuck to my original thought, of a human couple, simply because I had a stamp in mind I wanted to use. I recently purchased a pack of Papermania Capsule Collection papers, I'm not sure what these are called but it is all creams, beige and light browns, so suitable for vintage cards.

Couples stamp Wooden Inkadinkado, small flowers - Dreamees stamps - Happy Anniversary - stash. Coloured with Promarkers. 

Spring into Spring 2

No 2 card for Spring into Spring over at St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge. I love to add embellishments to cards, but really being sensible and thrifty, those cards which need to be posted with the ridiculous method of postage stamps nowadays, it is an important part of the design of a card, whether it is to be posted or maybe hand delivered. The forthcoming increases in April may even have a more devastating effect. I kept this card simple. I painted the background with watercolour  inks made with Mustard Seed and Peeled Paint TH Distress inks, when I mixed them with water, I threw in a touch of mica powder which gives it a pretty sheen.
the daffodil stamp was stamped with black ink direct onto the background.
Daffodil stamp~ Wooden from Creative Expressions.

Spring into Spring 1

Many challenge blogs over the next few weeks will be concentrating on the coming spring. I love to enter challenges but truthfully, the time I spend looking for what fits what challenge, I could have made a few more cards, which is why I tend to only join one or two blog challenges with a card. I congratulate the dedication, inspiration and hard work which the ladies apply to  St. Luke's Hospice for their St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge.  I will as usual try to send to them at the end of the month, a few cards for their charity. A few of them I will include in the current challenge Spring into Spring.
For this card I thought the first job when spring comes is to tidy the garden, so my first card is a lovely wheelbarrow from Flowersoft which I have coloured with watercolour pencils. The Spring stamp is from Inkylicious. Shading is Tumbled Glass TH Distress Inks. Thank you ladies.
PS If you click on the pic to enlarge, the first to spot the snail I will send you a very small prize.

A Victorian Romance

At Make My Monday we are continuing our monthly theme for February of Romance. This week we would like to see some Victorian Romance - whatever you see as being Victorian. We are thrilled for the whole month how Marianne Designs are sponsoring, please check the challenge blog for full details and see the lovely cards from the remainder of the Design Team and from our lovely Guest Designer Meggymay /Yvonne

I used a sheet from a pack for the background, the stamp of the loving couple is from Inkadinkado, a favourite of mine. I still love wooden stamps. I coloured it using TH Distress Inks as watercolours. I punched a few small butterflies and a Marianne Swirl Die to add more texture and interest. I will also be entering this card in other challenges :-

St. Luke's Charity Cards - Love and Lace
Crafty Blogger's Network ~Shabby Chic

Gift Tags Galore at try it on Tuesdays

This week is Tags week at Try it on Tuesdays , and of course being the time of the year it is we would like to see Gift Tags Galore. On my first one I stayed with the traditional green and reds and used a tree and reindeer stamp. On my second tag which I am also entering into Let It Snow at St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge  I used the snowman and snowflakes stamps. All the stamps are by Inkadinkado from various sets. All the inks are Ranger's Distress Inks. I do hope you will pop to both blogs and take a peek and even enter into the fun. I know we are all so busy, I'm late, but better near the end than missing it. have fun.

Let it Snow - St. Luke's

It's quite late for me to be entering my card into the St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge, but then it's a busy month for everyone isn't it?  This stamp is from Kanban, I first created the background with a watercolour wash, using DI Broken China. I coloured the trees with watercolour pencils and stamped the deer with Vintage Photo. The circular sentiment is of course a free stamp from Craft Stamper magazine.

Let It Snow Nos 4, 5, 6 for St. Luke's

I made several cards for samples for the Friday craft class today. The theme of the class was to create a snow scene. This was achieved by first tearing a piece of copy paper and securing this to form the horizon of where snow meets sky. To then create the sky using TH Distress inks, we used a selection of inks including, Tumbled Glass,  Broken China and Chipped Sapphire. To either spray or not to spray some water onto the blue sky to form snow. I then showed the group the samples and which stamps could be used to make more Christmas cards. I stamped the penquin onto the card, then added a decoupaged coloured in penquin to be able to get the colouring right. I have  6 samples to show you, so will add the remaing 3 tomorrow. This type of card really doesn't take very long, so I am going to send these first 3 off to the St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge for their Christmas Fayre which is on November 27th, I am sure they would be delighted to receive whatever cards you could spare, every penny helps them in this worthwhile cause.
Stamps used above- Fun Stamps Lyndsay Mason Skiing Penquin - Trees from Creative Expressions -Sheena Douglass, Merry Christmas from stash.

I will enter this card as my 4th entry to their monthly challenge for Christmas cards. Stamps used are as above designed by Sheena Douglass. 

Stamp used is the Santa's Sleigh from La Blanche.

No 3 for St. Luke's challenge

This is my 3rd card, for the Christmas month at St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge. I used a pearlised dark blue card, stamped the pine needles with Perfect Medium (or Versamark), used Silver Bells WOW! Embossing powder, what a fabulous holographic shine it gives. The stamp is from Creative Expressions designed by Sheena Douglass. I then stamped and embossed in the same way some bauble stamps which are from a new designer, who has some fabulous stamps at Chloe's Creative Cards. The sentiment is a Crafter's Companion one I think. I have a small parcel of Christmas cards ready to post to you ladies, probably Friday this week for your Christmas Fayre which to remind folk is on November 27th, I am sure they would appreciate any donations for their big fund raising event.

St. Luke's Challenge No 2 - Christmas

For my second Christmas card to send to St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge I decided to be traditional.  I used some Christmas colours backing sheet from my stash, a dark green card, stamped and embossed the holly onto white card, matted onto some old gold card. I edged the torn edges with a touch of Fired Brick red, used several green colours to add shading and colour to the holly. The holly stamp is from Inkadinkado, I love their wooden stamps.  I must remember to send my cards earlier than normal this month, they need them for their Christmas Fayre on November 27th. Every card they receive can make a difference.

St. Luke's - It's Christmas!

Here we go, Halloween is over. The first Christmas card challenge I have entered this time of the year, will probably be one of many to come. The first is an unusual size for me A6, but I have lots of envelopes this size so must get them used. I used navy card, silver holgram for matting and white card. the punched strip is with an X-cut punch, I know I used a peel off for the greeting, hands up I admit it,  for quick cards I do. The Christmas stocking is one of my many favourite Christmas stamps, it is from a set by Debbie Moore. I stamped it in Versamark and used ultra fine white embossing powder. I decoupaged the bow to give a little more dimension. I am entering this card into the St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge, I appeal to those who don't know about it to pop over, check them out, they will be having their Christmas Fayre at the end of November so any donations before then would be greatly acceptable. Your cards could make a big difference to their final total.

At the Races - St. Luke's No 4

I feel I'm on a race of time, this is my fourth card for the monthly St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge, I only have a few hours left to add another card for Let's Hear It For The Boys. Yesterday , I bought several Trinitage sheets to make a number of men's cards also for my next class, a little something different. Not everyone enjoys stamping every week. I'll probably be popping a few more over the next few weeks onto my blog. They are pop - up cards, which you can make as simple or more embellished , it's your choice.
I purchased them from Imag-e-nation which is fairly local to me, however they are available from their website at  http://www.imag-e-nation.com/ look for La Pashe designs .

St. Luke's Charity Card Buffet - No 4

Here is my fourth card for the St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge, the last for the month. This month the challenge is to add four items from a Card Buffet, no more and no less. Not, for me, an easy challenge. My card is one of the Fabulous Folds from the C.D by Rob Addams, which make really interesting shapes of cards. Covered in patterned paper (1), stamped with flowers  from Kanban, (2), gems added to the flowers, (3) plus ribbon along the lower section. (4). I will be posting, as usual, at least  2-3 of these cards to you at the end of the month. hope your all well ladies.

St. Luke's Card Buffett No 3

This is my second posting today, please check out my other postings, more to follow too.
To be sure to complete the challenge I made to myself and to St. Lukes's Charity Card Challenge, I need to enter two cards today for I have a busy week ahead. Now this month they have a Card Buffet, similar to Bingo, I have found this quite difficult for we have to have only four from the list, no less, no more. Four is a tough one, did you know tht girls, when you set this up?
I need to thank Gina K of Stamp TV   here  and here  for the inspiration of this card, which is for using up scraps. The way I built up the background is explained in the videoes. I added a piece of toning ribbon. The stamped image, from Dawn Bibby was embossed then I painted the flower with bleach, which lifted the colour from the card.
Elements used from the Craft Buffet - Patterned paper -( background,) Ribbon, Embossed  - Flower (4)

Card Buffet at St. Lukes's

2nd post today, Metal with Steampunk below
I'm a little behind on my pledge of one card per week to the fund raising blog St Luke's Charity Card Challenge. I have had a very busy month, plus catching a cold and a chest infection twice in a short period of time is not recommended. However, when you love your hobby it is easy to diversify your self pity, get on and make a card. I am enjoying the challenge once again from St. Lukes, which is a Card Buffett, also known as a Bingo challenge.
My card this week has the required four elements:-
Patterned Paper, Punch (Die-cut) with Embossing and Pearls.
The stamp used, Flying Stars by Penny Black is one of my forever favourites,  it can be different everytime I use it, this time I covered some areas with a Quickie glue pen, let it dry then covered it with copper foil, which I am hoping will show in the photo.  Technically, I don't think it is a flower, if it is , oops! It's not easy keeping to four, is it? Backing paper is from Artylicious, 'Just for you' is an old stamp from my stash.



Monochrome at TIOT

This week at Try It On Tuesdays, we are challenging you to make a Monochrome Card, I decided on making a pale blue card. I used a piece of blue parchment to mat a pieces from Tim Holtz's Shabby Chic stash pad, using dies I punched out the circle, butterfly and layers to make the flower, which is from the same paper.The fairy is a Lavinia stamp.  I added some sparkle to the fairy image and a few gems to the butterfly. Once again the card challenge is being sponspored by One Stop Card Crafts. Please pop over to TIOT  to see the wonderful selection of monochrome cards my fellow Design Team members have created. I look forward once again to visiting your blogs.
Other challenges I will enter this card into are----
St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge - Card Buffet - I have used four of the buffet ingredients,
  Patterned Paper, Flowers, Punches and Gems.
Blogger's Challenge    Monochromatic Blue

No. 4 At the Seaside

Thanks to all of the ladies over at St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge for the wonderful challenge of  'I do like to be beside the Seaside'. I really do, too, this August has been the coldest and wettest that I can remember for ages. We did take two grandchildren last week in the rain and cold wind, as enjoyable as it was, it's not as good as when it's warm and sunny, for we in the North East of England are blessed with many wonderful sandy beaches. This is my 4th and last card for the challenge, and I now wondering what they will be asking for in September. Onto my card - This is the second Joanna Sheen Babe on the Beach I have used, they are so cute and easy to use. A simple easel card, with just a little colouring with Distress Inks, both direct to card and used as a watercolour. I stamped a few shells from an Elusive Images set and added a real shell from my stash. I'll be posting it off at the end of the month, with at least one other card for your next fund raiser.

No 3 St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge

This is my third card for this month's challenge 'I do like to be beside the seaside' over at St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge. Please pop over to have a look, they do need a lot of support to help them raise the funds they need each year. They will be so grateful for your support, simply make a card, and if you can spare it, send it to them so they can sell it at their next craft sale. I would like to thank the ladies, for I have been thinking so much of the seaside these past few weeks, my OH and I took two of our grandchilren to the coast on Thursday, it was wet, cold, dull, and we had a fabulous time walking along the beach and playing around the rock pools. So thanks ladies. Now to my card (No 3) this involved a lot of different parts being masked, stamped and coloured. The stamps are a combination of Coast from Creative Expressions   and Beach stamps from Elusive Images. All colouring has been achieved using TH Distress inks, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Mustard Seed. I stamped and used silver EP for the anchor. I hope you like it, I will be posting it at the end of the month, as usual.
I am also entering this seaside card into the Clouds challenge at Stampin B's Design Team .

No 2 Beside the Seaside

Here I am again, ladies, my second card for the month for St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge. Do you know they need to have £4 million  to provide the care they give each year?  It is ages since I was last at the seaside,  so I am enjoying pretending to be there. This card was made using a Joanna Sheen stamp, an oldie but a golden set in my collection. I decoupaged the little boy to make him more life like. I have added glitter glue to the sea, I hope you can see the glitter when you take a peek. I used Distress Inks to colour everything on the card, I thought it added more interest by taking the colouring from the panel to all of the card.

I hope my last batch of cards arrived okay. Have a good week ladies, see you next Sunday.

I am also entering this card into the Gingersnap Creations "Babes and Tots" Challenge.

On the Beach

This week at Try It On Tuesdays, we would like to see anything connected to the beach, there are a few challenges around with the same title this week, so why not add our name to your list too. Over on our blog there are some wonderful samples from the DT. Don't forget the winner, chosen by the Random Indicator, will receive a £10 voucher from One Stop Craft cards, their logo is on my side bar.
For my card, I decided to punch a 3" aperture, to allow us to see through to another scene.
I used the Coastal stamps from Creative Expressions and Distress inks for my colouring both in and out of the card.  I am looking forward once again to visiting your blogs, have fun, I do hope we get some more sunny weather before the summer ends. Have fun and thanks for visiting my blog.
I am also entering my card into the following challenges.
St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge - At the Seaside
There She Goes     Summer
Creative Inspirations  Summertime
Craft Room Challenge summer Holidays

St. Luke's 4th Card

I have enjoyed this month’s challenge  at St. Luke's Charity Card Challenge– Black, White and one other colour, here is my 4th ladies, thanks so much for such an interesting challenge. I had a few suggestions in my comments for various colours, someone mentioned lime green, couldn’t quite make it lime but I did go for green. I think this card, again would be suitable for a male, I do try when making cards for charities to include men’s cards for I know there are less of them made than cards more suitable for the females. This card is mostly made by matting and layering the required colours, the main focus is the centre small piece of card. I used two stamps from Elusive Images Eastern Grasses, firstly I heat embossed with clear EP, a few stamped images, to achieve a resist effect when I covered the piece of card with Bundled Sage Distress Ink. I then stamped the same images directly with the Bundled Sage and again with black. I added a few black gems to add a little bling. The Happy Birthday stamp is from Do Crafts. Wonder what the ladies have in store for us next month?  I will be posting to you 8 cards on Monday.
N.B. I am thrilled to add this card was chosen to be in the July Top 4, which won me a badge, which is now in myside bar. Many thanks to the ladies at St. Luke's.