Winter romance

This week at Come and Get It challenges we have a great sketch for you.  You will see it is very versatile when you check out what the design team have done.




The image called Winter Romance is from our sponsors Sami Stamps.

I coloured the image with Reno pens and cut it out because I wanted it to stand in a frame so it looks like they are on the edge of the world. The image, diecut frame and gold heart are on dimensional foam.  The banner is frosted gold, and the sentiment stamped and gold embossed.  The gorgeous shaded backing paper is from my stash bin (I thought it looked a bit like an aurora).  All of it is matted onto black card with a tiny border, then onto the white base card.  I like the depth and dimension multi layers bring to a card.

Image: Sami Stamps

Frame diecut: Spellbinders

heart diecut: Provocraft

Sentiment stamp: Rosie's

http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/

Sami Stamps digi: https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/179075405/digital-stamp-winter-romance?ref=shop_home_active_2

Shared on challenges:
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.de/2016/01/challenge-84-love-is-in-air.html
http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/favourite-one-or-multi-layer.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-70.html
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.ca/2016/01/week-4-polkadoodles-crafting-challenge.html

Enchanted

I have three granddaughters all about the same age, who love mermaids, as do I.  When I was I child I always expected to turn into a mermaid ... but, strangely, never did.

This lovely image is a dream to colour and this time I used some lovely ombre paper I had in my stash (sorry no idea where it came from) and diecut frames (white, blue, silver).  I stamped the sentiment on vellum because it kind of looks frosted like bottle glass you find at the beach, and pearls because mermaids always have pearls.
Image coloured with Reno pens and touches of Kindyglitz.  3-2-1:  3 pearls, 2 fancy diecut frames, 1 image.


Image: Mo's Digital stamps
Diecut frames: Spellbinders
Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts with black Stazon ink

Shared on challenges:
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/ch-31-fantasy-mythological-etc-winners.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/126-birthday-wishes-lemon-shortbread.html
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/105-anything-goes.html
http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/monthly-digi-stamp-challenge-13-3-2-1.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-70.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-343-anything-goes-option-of.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-410-ladies-only.html

Deerest

I have a huntin'-fishin' son-in-law who loves these kind of cards. 

For the background I used black on a grey base card (nod to masculinity) and kept it simple with green linen twine.


digiimage: Bugaboo, coloured with Reno pens
sentiment:  printed on computer
EF: Craft Concepts


Shared on challenges:

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-photo-inspiration-challenge.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge_26.html

Hearty Red

There are lots of Valentine cards making an appearance.  I'm not really a fussy person, so mine aren't pretty or frilly.  If you like pretty and frilly, there are plenty out there, but you won't find them here!

I decided to start with a sketch from Verve.




I had this red bp in my stash, and sliced it up so most of the words appeared somewhere on it.  A single word 'Adore' is stamped between the lines to link.  I diecut the hearts; the large one is gold embossed with several layers and then stamped with a script stamp while it was hot, and the two smallest are stuck on with 3D foam.

Adore Stamp: Cristina Re
3large hearts: Provocraft
tiny heart: Amy T Scarlett
Script stamp: Hero Arts

Shared on challenges:
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.se/2016/01/week-347-valentines-day.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge_26.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=3941
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-178-holiday.html
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/156-punches-andor-dies.html

Sundowner

Recipe Silhouette; sketch; Anything Goes

Sun stamp is inked with 3 shades of yellow-orange, reflection in 2 shades of blue-green.  The stamp kissing technique is used on the palm tree:  palm tree inked with black, newsprint stamp inked with cyan, kissed and stamped over the sun. The trunk of the palm tree is masked off with painters tape top and bottom to make the dynamic wiggle, stamped in black. Sentiment stamp in black.  Edges of card inked with the blue & green.

Sun & tree stamp:BoBunny
newsprint stamp:  Hero arts
Sentiment stamp:BoBunny

Shared on challenges:
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/week-260-recipe.html
http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/week-396-with-drawn-with-character.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge_26.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge-17th-of-january.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-23/

My Happy

I've never used these stamps before, and I needed a silhouette - perfect.  When I look at this my blood pressure goes down and calmness descends... just like being with some special people makes you feel happy and calm.

I stamped the sun with two colours of ink, then overstamped with the tree.  The sentiment is in capitals like the scrabble letters.  The base card is linen finish and looks like it has a funny pattern on it; I think it must be to do with pixels.  The sea is cut with kids decorative scissors.

Sun & palm tree stamps: BoBunny
Sentiment: Rosie's
Decorative scissors for waves.

Shared on challenges:

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/week-260-recipe.html
http://www.pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/pinspirational-challenge-157.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-343-anything-goes-option-of.html

Tagalong

Isn't this a gorgeous scene?  I called this one tagalong because when the kids were little, we used to have animals that followed them around, just like this kitty.  I had to print two images because I wanted to pop the cat out.  The image is coloured with Reno pens, but I also masked and stamped a daisy background and softly coloured the border of the stitched frame with distress ink.


The bp is a photograph of felt leaves with stitching so it went well with the stitched frame though a little more subtle (it also has some leaves frosted).  I masked and stamped soft daisies on the background which goes nicely with her dress.

A ribbon, twine and button to trim and clear
WoStella to highlight their ribbons and the daisies on her dress.  The whole front of card is raised with 3D foam and the cat is cut out and applied with 3D foam tape as well.

Digiimage: A Day For Daisies-walking with kitty
Stitched frame stamp: Hero Arts
Daisy stamp: Hero Arts
Punch: Fiskars
Sentiment:  Don't know -it's from my leftovers box and may well have been done on the computer.

(Click on the photo for a closer look)









Shared on challenges:

http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/adfd-showcase-cozy-day-challenge-139.html  stitch it up

http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-261.html  children and/or cats
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-343-anything-goes-option-of.html
http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/anything-goes-team-lou.html

Illusionary

This is my illusionary quilt, started at a workshop in Rotorua.  Quilting is one of my other hobbies and is a non-paper favourite.  Actually they are a similar process, just one is fabric, one is paper.  Hmmm, oh yes, that's right ...  and quilting is more expensive, takes a lot longer, and booboo's have to be fixed, not thrown away  ...

Shared on Challenge:

http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/favourite-paper-or-non-paper-project.html

Monkey Business

Bug Day7 1 animal-2layers-3brads.

This little guy looks so serious about his fishing, and has remembered to wear his safety jacket.   Coloured with Reno pens and cut out, he is raised with dimensional foam which doesn't really show here, and the sparkling water is Kindyglitzed.  I drew a wavy banner around the stamped sentiment it goes better with the image that way!
(Click on it for closer look)
Digiimage: Bugaboo
Stitching stamp: Hero Arts
Sentiment stamp: Pink Petticoat
Diecut: Couture Creations
BP: DCWV


Shared on challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/day-7-bugaboos-birthday-bash-freebie.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-create-with-critters/
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-409-just-boys.html

Birds nest

This sentiment leaves the card wide open for any message to be written inside; I like that. 
While I don't generally like brown, with the duck egg blue I like this one, a cool chocolate brown.  The eggs and blossoms have WoStella, image is coloured with Reno pens. 













All stamps:  Clear Impression (new stamp set 2016)
Scribble diecut: Dienamics
Doily die: Couture Creations
Circle dies: Spellbinders
Card, bp, pearls from stash
Ink: Black Versafine

Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/mojo-monday-431.html
http://open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca/2016/01/monthly-challenge-1-something-new.html
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-182-black-brown-and-blue.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/challenge-196.html

Early Bird

Who is giving the advice here?  I deliberately chose to use unnatural colours for the animals just to add tension.    ;-)

For I (Heart)sketches, I chose to do the twist (use nature)  as well as the sketch.  I used the leaves as the background panel to make  more nature.









Digiimages: From the Heart stamps, coloured with Reno pens
Sentiment & flourish stamp: HotOffThePress
Tree die: Couture Creations
EF: Hmm... it seems to have temporarily wandered off somewhere (you know how it is, they wander into the wrong box and found months later).  When it turns up I will update.  Randomly swiped with black distress ink.

Shared on challenge:
http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2016/01/18/i-heart-card-sketches-with-a-twist-135/
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-create-with-critters/
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-26.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/125-embossed-delight-fred-she-said.html

Party Animals

Catch the bug day6 - photoinspiration

These party animals are full of fun and just want to get their piece of cake.



I LOVE dots stripes and checks, but DOTs are my all time favourite.  I inked the edges and the trim of the cake, the checky candles, and the plate.  Heat embossed the stamped sentiment in gold.
The zebra and top of the candles are attached with 3D foam.


Cake Die: Sizzix
Digiimages: Bugaboo, coloured with Reno pens
Sentiment stamp: BoBunny
Kindyglitz

Shared on challenges:

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/day-6-of-bugsboos-6th-birthday-bash.html
http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/favourite-paper-or-non-paper-project.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-create-with-critters/

Zorro Zebra

CatchtheBug Day 5 Funny animal, boy card.

I've been waiting and planning for this one all week!  I love this zebra and I decided he liked a bit of fun, so I dressed him in a Zorro costume - a mask and cape did the trick.  I just freehand cut the mask and used a slot punch for the eyeholes.  He's my hero!


Digiimage: Bugaboo
(cape) die: Spellbinders
Corner die: Sizzix
EF: Sizzix
Speech Bubble die: X-cut
Sentiment: typed on computer

Shared on challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/day-5-bugaboo-birthday-bash-humor-me.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-409-just-boys.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-create-with-critters/
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-69.html
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-177-make-your-mark.html

BIG little Friends

Catch the Bug Day4 Bingo: I chose  Animals-Sentiment-Button.
Incy Wincy: I chose the middle row: twine-red-button

These friends are so engaging and seemed just right for this sentiment.  I like that you have to look into the picture to find the wee mouse.  I am a dots lover and found this scrap of  wonderful red/green bp in my stash and let that dictate the colour scheme.

Image coloured with Reno pens, heart and flower also have WoS.


Image: Bugaboo Stamps
Sentiment: Kaiser
Punch: Fiskars

Shared on challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/day-4-bugaboo-birthday-bash-new-release.html
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.ca/2016/01/tic-tac-toe-jan-18-to-31.html
http://www.craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com.es/2016/01/hi-everyone-doris-here-with-our-next.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=3939 best friends
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/challenge-95.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-26.html

I'm not sharing

I'm not sharing, go get your own!

Simple card, simple image, it works for me.  Image coloured with Reno pens, cherry has Glossy Accents on.  The dark card is a chocolate brown ... like the icing!


Image: Pink Petticoat
Nesting Dies: Couture Creations
Scribble die: Dienamics
EF: Sizzix


Shared on challenges:
http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/challenge-79-cake.html

Just Kissing

Stamp kissing is an interesting, usually subtle, technique where you use a simple negative type stamp and stamp another onto it (while both are wet) before putting it to paper.








Here I have used a tree with music 'kissed' onto it.  Inks are 3 shades of yellow orange, kissed with dark green; the combination makes it's own colour.  Click on the detail for a close-up.

Tree Stamp: Hero Arts
Music stamp: unknown
Sentiment: BoBunny

Shared on challenges:
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/week-259-theme.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-69.html

Make a Wish

MMMmmm, I wish I had more stencils ...

This is the first time I have used this new stencil because although I loved it when I bought it, I really didn't know what to do with it! 
I sponged distress inks over the stencil using three colours, using heavier inking in the centre and gradually fading out toward the edges to make an ombre effect.  I also wanted some texture in it because it was always going to be a simple card, therefore I 'dabbed' (instead of rubbing) to leave the sponge dotty-ness.

I like the tone on tone-ness of this card, and there is really more colour variation in the card than shows in the photo. 

Distress Inks: broken china, tumbled glass, peacock feathers.
Stencil: Kaisercraft
Sentiment stamp: Kaisercraft,  Ranger cobalt ink
ribbon & pearls from stash

Shared on challenges:
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/time-out-challenges-47.html
http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-171.html
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/welcome-back-to-first-challenge-of-new.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-ombre/

A Tall Story

Bugaboo Day3, This one is about colour:



Lovely jungle colours to work with.  I coloured the giraffe with Reno pens.  The wine tree (...I wonder if it grows wine?) is double-layered with 3D foam between layers for dimension.  Edges of embossed cards are inked with toning colours; clouds are inked with white chalk ink (doesn't show up very well.. actually at all).
I like the way this fella is part of the scenery.


TicTacToe: the line is trees-diecuts-critters.

Digi image: Bugaboo
Tree die: Couture Creations
Cloud die: Memory Box
EF's: both Sizzix
Stamp: Hastings Arts Stamps

Shared on challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/day-3-bugaboos-6th-birthday-bash-color.html
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.ca/2016/01/z-is-for-zero.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-26.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge-17th-of-january.htmlhttp://tictactoechallenge.blogspot.ru/2016/01/challenge-two.html

Let's Party

Bugaboo Day 2

Today is a sketch:







I've had this animal washi tape for ages and hardly used it, but this is the perfect opportunity.

Digi Image:  Bugaboo
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's
Animal print EF: Cuttlebug
Grass EF: Sizzix
Chevron die:

Shared on challenge:

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/day-2-6th-birthday-bash.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/anything-goes-challenge-17th-of-january.html
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/challenge-95.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-68.html

Go Wild

Bugaboo Day 1 Wild Thing

I love these simple naïve images, they are so contemporary and fun.  I reckon this would be okay for an adult or a child birthday. 


Image: Bugaboo
Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts
Paw Stamp: Whispers/Docraft
Grass die: Impression Obsession



Shared on challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/6th-birthday-celebration-saturday-wild.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/124-card-for-child-stitchy-bears-digi.html

Kitty Hugs

I(heart)sketches
I wanted the kitty to stand out against the background, so chose similar intensity papers to set kitty on.  Doesn't everyone like kitty hugs?



Image: From the Heart Stamps
Sentiment: Rosie's
Papers: from stash


Shared on challenge:
http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2016/01/11/i-heart-card-sketches-with-a-twist-134/
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-23.html

Seize today

Mojo430

Dot, dots, dots - I love dots.
Not my usual colour palette (well, the blue is but not the brown), but I decided I quite like it.
I embossed the circle with stars and lightly inked them with gold.  The diecut bird is lightly inked on the top edges with white chalk ink.

Scallop die: Spellbinders
Bird Die: Impression Obsession
Red wriggly edge: deco scisssors
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's
EF: Sullivan's

Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/mojo-monday-430.html
http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/favourite-paper-or-non-paper-project.html

Wow

Mojo sketch

This woman can say anything she likes; she is sassy and can speak her mind.  It is a great retro image, and I like these papers that support the image.

Stamp:  Funny Bones (NEW stamp)
Sentiment: typed on computer
Diecut scallop: Spellbinders
Punch: Martha Stewart















Shared on challenge:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/mojo-monday-430.html
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/time-out-challenges-47.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-68.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-23.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/pennys-challenge-260.html
http://open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca/2016/01/monthly-challenge-1-something-new.html

Football Al

Embossing #101
The challenge this week at Come And Get It challenges is for Embossing, either dry or heat embossing - I used both types of embossing in this card.  Come and join in with us at Come And Get It challenges.

What a perfect image for a boy's card - a Time for Tea digi image.  Jackson, one of my grandsons will be seven next birthday, and he loves football so this is for him.

I dry embossed blue card, rubbedVersamark ink over the high spots and heat embossed it with clear powder (funny, it seems to make it a different colour, which is pretty cool).  I then dry embossed some green card with a wavy design, inked over it with distress inks and diecut it with a chevron die.  Hey presto, grass!  I also diecut a little bit of grass as well in lighter green to frame the image.

The Time for Tea image is coloured with Reno pens, fussy cut out, then the ball covered with Glossy Accents.  Al's eyes have highlights done with white gel pen.  These are all layered using different thicknesses of foam tape to make it more 3D.

Digi Image: Time for Tea Football Al - Get it here: https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/184833429/football-al-digital-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_2&ga_search_query=football%2BAl
Word EF: Cuttlebug
grassy EF: Sizzix
Grass die: Impression Obsession
Chevron die: Couture Creations

Shared on Challenges:
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/time-out-challenges-47.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/124-card-for-child-stitchy-bears-digi.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/pennys-challenge-260.html

Beary Happy

How's this for a bit of fun? Gotta love this bear!

I made this for the Catch the Bug Bingo - and chose the diecut-stitches-sentiment line.

Image: Bugaboo, coloured with Reno pens
Nesting Dies: Spellbinders
Stitched stamp: Hero Arts
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's
Shine on balloon: Wink of Stella white



Shared on challenge:

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-bingo-challenge.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/AG-NO-68.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/challenge-408-bit-of-fun.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/pennys-challenge-260.html
http://www.wheretheheartischallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-5.html

Dreams Flourish

I don't use my flourishes enough, I forget how they are special on their own or as part of another design.

This one-layer card starts with a smooshed base made from distress inks and perfect pearls.  This flourish stamp, which I have had for years as part of a set but never used before, is the perfect shape for the smoosh.  I gold embossed the flourish and the sentiment (which jumped out of the box begging to go on here).

Flourish Stamp: Hero Arts
Sentiment stamp:  Penny Black

Shared on challenges:

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/week-258-one-layer.html
http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2016/01/hls-january-cas-challenge.html
http://casology.blogspot.se/2016/01/week-180-open.html

feather weight

Stencil


Some days I like to get inky - I did this on one of my arty days.  I smooshed the background over green card, let it dry.  Then overstamped with French script, and stencilled feathers with home made texture paste.  Dribbled, flicked and sprayed with watered inks and misters, wiped some off/left some on.  Diecut bird from wet and crumpled paper, that had some chalk ink swiped over.  Inked and distressed the edges, mounted it off set onto a base card then doodled two edges.

Stencil: TCW Balzer designs
French writing stamp: Rubbadubbadoo
Diecut: Impression Obsession


Shared on challenges:
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=3936
http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2016/01/hls-january-mixed-media-challenge.html

Birdsong

It is mid summer here and all the fruit trees are just coming ripe.  Now, I love birds and I don't mind sharing the fruit trees with them, but have you noticed they all seem to choose a different fruit and take one peck from each?



This is from a Verve sketch (and you all know I love sketches), which I didn't like and still don't; it seems arkward somehow.  However, that just makes it more of a challenge.

I used a square card to make it look better.  The stamps are all from a NEW Clear Impressions stamp set, coloured with Reno markers.  The blossoms and eggs are highlighted with Wink of Stella clear.  The foliage diecuts are Couture Creations, inked.


Shared on challenge:
http://vlvsketches.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/viva-la-verve-january-2016-sketch-1.html
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-challenge-anything-goes-with.html
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/welcome-back-to-first-challenge-of-new.html
http://open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca/2016/01/monthly-challenge-1-something-new.html

Swinging

Now and then I like to do a fancy-fold card, and this one uses a special die.  I have only used it this once and may never use it again!  It took me nearly a day to cut all the pieces, and put it together!  It is lovely, but only a SPECIAL person will ever get one of these.  :-D

Sentiment stamp heat embossed in gold.  Pearls added.

Die: Elizabeth Oval Accordian
Sentiment Stamp: Hastings Rubber Arts Stamps
Flower die: Memory Box

Shared on challenges:

http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2016/01/pennys-challenge-258-winners-and-top-3.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/challenge-25.html
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/challenge-94.html

Home tweet

Now and then we girls need a bit of lace in our lives.  I made this after a while of doing modern and CAS cards and thoroughly enjoyed the change.  For someone moving into a new home.

The notepaper is just that, torn from small notepad that has little pictures in the corner, all of them lovely.  This birdhouse dictated the colour scheme, that lovely duck egg blue, which I love.  Lots of little elements here - a doily, lace, ribbon, pearls, al tiny bird and a stamped, painted, cut out flower, all on a layered background one of which is distressed, the other crisp and stitched.

Flower Stamp: Penny Black
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's
Bird die: Kaisercraft
Doily die: Nellie
Stitched rectangle: Dienamics



Shared on challenges:

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.se/2016/01/week-345-ribbon-and-lace.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/challenge-342-florals.html
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/flowers.html
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/january-challenge-anything-goes-with.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-something-new-2/
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/welcome-back-to-first-challenge-of-new.html

Whatever

This is a sentiment stamp I have had for a while now, but never used and never really figured out how to use it.  For this challenge I decided it was perfect - simple - and what's more, it's all purpose, you could use it for  ... whatever!


It's a one-layer card, spritzed with Moonlight Glimmermist and Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls, then overstamped with Ranger Cobalt sentiment and Versafine sepia for the flourishes.  Sentiment stamp (slightly distressed) and flourish stamps are both Hero Arts. The first card I made, I clear embossed the sentiment and flourishes but I didn't like it, so I did it again plain and this is it.

This was very empowering!! That stamp had always intimidated me.  Not any more.

Shared on challenges:

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/week-258-one-layer.html
http://casology.blogspot.se/2016/01/week-179-simple.html
http://stamplorations.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/cas-challenge-january.html#more