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30 March, 2016

Birdie Told


A little birdie told me ...
what a great sentiment this is - inside the card you could write anything.  For example:  you're expecting; you're in hospital; you've got a new job;  you are having a birthday; you're going through a rough patch.. etc
**If you leave a comment, tell me what else you think could go with it!

Image: From the Heart Stamps
Sentiment: not known
Die: Sizzix
Washi tape

Shared on challenges:
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-269.html
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-356-wings.html

28 March, 2016

Sweet


Make a coffee, grab a book, put your feet up ... and have a cupcake.  What could be sweeter than that?

I was given the template by a friend.  I deconstructed it so I could have a separate bottom and top.  I put the bottom half through a crimper and it looks like a real cupcake paper!  The dotty card meant it came pre-sprinkled, so I just put Glossy Accents on the sprinkles. Punched a circle for the cherry and free cut a stalk and leaf, drawing veins in white gel pen.

Die label: Spellbinders
Stamp sentiment: (Happy Birthday) HeroArts & (sweet) ??



Shared on challenges:

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/any-shape-challenge.html
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/freshly-brewed-challenge-201611-happy.html
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/d-is-for-delicious.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/anything-goes-27th-of-march-challenge-7.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-28.html

27 March, 2016

In My Garden

This does look a bit like my garden except for the wheelbarrow, I have wooden square tubs instead. I have a couple of old well-used metal watering cans and there are always odd pots in various stages of growing seedling or cuttings. And I do use sticks tied with string to prop things up ...

The wonderful image is Fred She Said, coloured with Reno pens and a couple of shades of green Flower Soft.  I printed the digi-stamp onto white card and onto woodgrain card to cut out for the barrow.  I love that there is such an abundance of flowers.

Click on pic for a close up.

Image: Fred She Said
The Wheelbarrow Digi ( uncoloured )
Wooden card: DCWV stack
Round die: Spellbinders
W'can die:  Impression Obsession
Flowerpot dies: All Occasions
Label die: Marianne
Corner die: Memory box
Butterfly punch: unknown
Stamp: Rosie's

Shared on challenges:
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-247-nature.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-418-to-die-for.html
http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/nature-enter-me.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/AG-NO-78.html
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-297-flowers.html

23 March, 2016

Spring Snap Dragon

HI everyone, I'm so pleased to be part of the Die Cut Diva team, and look forward to the wonderful challenges ahead of us.  http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/

Our sponsors for March are Dies R Us and Bugaboo Digi Stamps and the theme is "Something Spring".

This cute dragon goes by the name of Clyde; he just leapt out at me (I'm sure dragons must hatch in spring) and I just had to play.

I printed two images, using one copy to cut out the big flower for layering. The image is coloured with Reno pens, Glossy Accents added to ladybirds.  The label has edges inked.  Wink of Stella is added to flower and touches here and there on the dragon  (I'm sure they glisten); Kindyglitz on the butterfly and background spots.  The sentiment is an old set of individual letter stamps, punched out and inked.  I chose the lacy panel because it looked just like dragon scales!

Get Clyde here:  http://www.bugaboostamps.com/Clyde-Spring_p_3930.html

Image: Bugaboo, Clyde Spring
Label die: Spellbinders, curved rectangles
Panel die: Couture Creations, fans of fantasia
Flag dies: Kaisercraft, party

Shared on challenges:
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/ch-35-must-use-green-winners-of-ch-34.html
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-190-spring-and-design-team.html
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-87-st-patricks-day-or-use.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-30.html
http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-180.html

Magnolia sympathy

I love these colours, shades of duck egg blue.

It makes a lovely sympathy card because the tone on tone colour makes a soothing, calming effect.














Stamped Image & background block: Don't know brands, from stash -stamps borrowed from a friend
EF: Cuttlebug
Sentiment stamp: Fundamentals
Brad: Craftwise
Papers and ribbon from stash

Shared on challenges:
http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-404-with-bunny-zoes-crafts.html
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-186-anything-goes.html
http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/monthly-blog-challenge-67-anything-goes.html
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/march-challenge-flower-power.html

Hoppy Spring

Lots of bunnies around this time of year, and aren't they cute (if you're not a farmer that is!).

Here I coloured an image, layered it with an inked edge embossed card, backing paper, a doily and a punched border strip.  Bunnies have WofStella.

Image: Bugaboo
EF: Marianne
Doily die: given to me by a friend
Punch: Fiskars
Pearls and ribbon



Bingo diagonal line:
embossing-bling-3layers




Shared on challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/march-bingo-challenge.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-200.html spring
http://inkychicks.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-64-happy-easter.html
http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-89.html twist-spring
http://daranddiane.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/easter.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-417-easter.html
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-355-easter.html
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/easter.html
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-10-polkadoodles-crafting-spring.html

21 March, 2016

Dragonfly doodle

Dragonflies are so delicate with wings like stained glass, and so elusive - one moment they're there, the next they're gone.

I traced around the inside of a Spellbinders die with black pen, then doodled inside the lines before shading with watercolour pencils.  I was going to paint the water over to blend it into paint, but liked the pencilled effect, so I left it.  The sentiment is stamped (unbranded) and then I doodled some clusters of dots around to show it was flying.  This is a one layer card.











Shared on challenges:
http://casology.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-189-doodle.html
http://addictedtocas.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-84-delicate.html
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-268.html outside the window
http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-89.html anything goes/spring

Spring chickens


I'm no spring chicken, but these are!



Image: a freebie from the net
Coloured with Reno pens
Diecut dynamic band: Spellbinders
Butterfly Punch: not branded
Kindyglitz, white gel pen

Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/mojo-monday-439.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-200.html
http://inkychicks.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-64-happy-easter.html
http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/happy-easter.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/133-spring-is-on-way-dis-digis.html
http://daranddiane.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/easter.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-417-easter.html#
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-190-spring-and-design-team.html

20 March, 2016

Red Dress birthday

A nicely curvacious woman celebrating her birthday.  Because I wanted the red dress to stand out I chose orange (next on the colour wheel) and green (opposite on the colour wheel).  I added some cherry lipstick to this digi image.  I like using both kinds of embossing, but really dry embossing adds a lot of texture, and I usually use more than one on a card.

Image stamp:  Marianne- Snoesjes, coloured with Reno pens.
orange EF: Craft Creations
white EF: Project Life
Circle dies: Spellbinders

Tuesday Morning Sketches
Shared on challenges:
http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/tuesday-morning-sketches-343.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/anything-goes-challenge.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/AG-NO-77.html
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/freshly-brewed-challenge-201610.html
http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/favourite-style-of-embossing-why.html
http://eurekastamps.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/eureka-stamps-challenge-184-anything.html

19 March, 2016

Spring Bunny Hugs


We all look forward to spring, so here's a hug from spring bunny.

Image: Bugaboo
Coloured with Reno pens
Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts
Border punch: Martha Stewart
Sun die: Kaisercraft
Scribble die: DieNamics
Corner punch: Couture Creations


Shared on challenges:
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/133-spring-is-on-way-dis-digis.html
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-311-spring-fever.html
http://creationsnz.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/spring-bunny-hugs.html
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-355-easter.html
http://www.wheretheheartischallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-7.html

Gardening Bunny


Spring has sprung, nature is busting out all over, and this bunny is a keen gardener.   I wish there was a gardening bunny at my house ...

Image: Bugaboo
Coloured with Reno pens
Label Die: Spellbinders
Leaf die: Couture Creations
Sparkly dots

Shared on challenges:
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-247-nature.html
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-311-spring-fever.html
http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-89.html
http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-179.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-200.html

16 March, 2016

Easter bunny peeping


Easter bunny is easy to spot when he's white!  Otherwise you'd never see him, he is so shy.

You will see from the additional photo how I used the dies to get the shapes I want.  For the eggs, I traced around an Egg-shaped egg timer, cut them out, shaped them with a large ball tool, inked the edges and supported them with 3D foam tape.

Bunny is made from the flower dies:
His nose is the 'drop-out' piece from another die.

EF: Craft Concepts- spotted flowers
Black flower die: Couture Creations Retro
Grey flower die: DieNamics
Circle die: Spellbinders
Stamen punch: L-Em.com
Corner punch: Couture Creations
Ribbons, gems

His head is a circle, his ears are two segments of the flower (large white and medium pink).  The flowers are all the grey flower die.

Shared on challenges:
http://wheretheheartischallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-7.html#
http://inkychicks.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-64-happy-easter.html
http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/happy-easter.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/anything-goes-challenge.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/132-dies-cutspunches-stamping-boutique.html
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/time-out-challenge-51-and-our-2nd.html
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-354-spring-is-in-air.html

Shabby Roses

A while ago I watched a tutorial on youtube https://youtu.be/ICB6hvH3WV8 on how to make roses. The video does it with burlap but I was trying for a shabby look here, and the roses are made of quilters muslin (2) and cotton lace (1).  The diecuts are nesting but I offset them.



EF: Anna Griffin -elaborate quatrefoil
Diecut frames: Spellbinders- marvellous squares
Diecut label: Spellbinders -grommet tags
Sentiment stamp: Kaisercraft
Also pearls, organza ribbon

Shared on challenges:
http://diesruschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-45-handmade-flowers.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-416-lace-or-ribbon.html
http://www.cre8tivehandsfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/fairies.html

15 March, 2016

Mousegift


Such a cutie, how could you resist?  And another opportunity to get out those distress inks.

I decided to reverse things, coloured the background instead of the image.  I stamped and embossed the image, then masked it to colour the background.  Sponged distress inks, spritzed and splashed with water, later dropped bits of white embossing powder over for some texture.  I like it;  I hope you do too.



Image stamp:  Penny Black
Sentiment stamp: Fundamentals

Shared on challenges:
http://addictedtocas.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-83-gift.html



Size matters

I have a fishing/hunting son-in-law so I'm always looking for something that will suit.   I think men like funny cards, and even though this image was expensive it lends itself to all sorts of sentiments - sometimes that's a challenge in itself!

Image: Ron Leishman
Sentiment: made on the computer
Star punch: Sullivans



Shared on Challenges:
http://casology.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-188-laugh.html
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/boys-to-men.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/AG-NO-76.html
http://thecraftyaddicts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-10.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-27-anything-goes.html

14 March, 2016

Spring bug birthday

The challenge over on Die Cut Divas is Something Spring, with sponsors Dies R Us and Bugaboo Digi Stamps.  Check it out: 
http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/
.

Here is a pretty spring image from Bugaboo coloured with Reno pens.  I wanted to keep it simple and bright, and in real life it is really bright ... and I mean REALLY REALLY bright!


Image: Bugaboo -Miniset Spring Flower Block
get it here: http://www.bugaboostamps.com/Mini-set--spring-flower-blocks_p_3692.html
Die:  Memory Box - Butterfly Delights
Sentiment: Fundamentals



Shared on challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/time-for-new-challenge-bright-and-cheery.html
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/anything-goes-13-of-march-challenge-6.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-27-anything-goes.html
http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/monthly-blog-challenge-67-anything-goes.html

Spring blossoms Shannon

This week the challenge over at Come And Get It Challenges is Spring/Easter.  
I chose spring.  I wanted to make a card that typified spring without actually saying it out loud, so I concentrated on the flowers and spring colours. 

This beautiful image from our sponsor Polkadoodles  is coloured with Reno pens, masked, then the background and edges softly sponged with ink.  I used this gorgeous backing paper for the background, but also fussy cut some of the apple blossoms and one rose to raise with 3D foam - she had shells, so I covered them with flowers (see how versatile this image is?).   A stamped sentiment, soft bow and mother of pearl sequins to finish.  She looks like she's dancing barefoot through the blossoms.

When spring comes, enjoy every moment!  It makes me feel like dancing...

Come and join us in this fun challenge.  http://cagichallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/109-easterspring.html


Image: Polkadoodles-Seashore Shannon
Get it here: http://www.polkadoodles.co.uk/seashore-shannon/
Diecut rectangle: Spellbinders
BPaper: Crate Paper
Ribbon: Martha Stewart
Sentiment: Rosie's

Shared on challenges:
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-10-polkadoodles-crafting-spring.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-200.html
http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/welcome-spring.html
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/march-mums-dayspecial-female.html
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-354-spring-is-in-air.html

13 March, 2016

It's your birthday

I find teenager cards difficult.  They are so used to intense graphic images and gaming on electronic equipment, it is hard to capture their attention with anything that doesn't move or explode!

So I go for simple design-colour-image. I followed the blue through her clothes with the button border and just popped her with a teensie border of red, and of course a golden star.  I like the backing paper with its tone on tone red with splatters of white and darkest red.




Image: Scrappers Delights

Doily: Nellie
Button die: MemoryBox
Star die: DieNamics
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's




Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/mojo-monday-438-contest.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-27-anything-goes.html
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/iic-march-challenge-lets-hear-it-for.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/132-dies-cutspunches-stamping-boutique.html
http://www.cre8tivehandsfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/fairies.html

11 March, 2016

Flower Lady

This pretty lady is so feminine and serene.  I'm sure her name must be Abigail.  I love the way ladies wore those gorgeous hats dripping with flowers in the 1800's & early 1900's, mind you, they had big boofy hair to put them on.  And doesn't she make a lovely spring picture?  I can imagine her going out to pick a bouquet to take to her friend.

The image is coloured with Reno pens, flowers are punched.  The lovely lacy edge is punched.

Image: A Day For Daisies
Edge Punch: Martha Stewart
Leaf die: Couture Creations
Flower punches: no brand
Stamen punch: L-Em.Com




Shared on challenges:

http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/adfd-showcase-take-two-its-childs-world.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-246-pretty-projects.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-416-lace-or-ribbon.html
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/week-353-international-womens-day.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/challenge-26-floral.html
http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-178.html
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/march-mums-dayspecial-female.html

09 March, 2016

Shades of Green



A little bit o' the Irish in this card, a small salute to my ancestry; I hold an Irish passport  ... enough reason?  Not to mention a bit o' fun.



Circle die: DieNamics
Hat die: MemoryBox
Little heart punch: unknown
stalk die: Memory Box
Wink of Stella, sequins
Papers: about seventy shades of green (has photographed with bluish cast for some reason).







                  diagonal line: green-gold-photo                                                                          
Green and two other colours: Seventy shades of green, plus red & black.

Shared on challenges:
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/ch-34-st-patricks-day-winners-of-ch-33.html
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/pile-it-on-103-green-and-two-other.html
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/shades-of-green.html
http://www.pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/pinspirational-challenge-160.html
http://tictactoechallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-five.html diagonal line: green-gold-photo
http://daranddiane.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/feeling-green.html
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-184-clean-and-simple.html

07 March, 2016

Cuddly Bunny



What a cuddly looking bunny.  I used a Verve sketch (I love sketch challenges) for this and coloured bunny in soft shades - I really wanted a marshmallow look. Three shades of pink and silver mirror card hearts.




Image: From the Heart Stamps, coloured with Reno pens
Lacy square die: Spellbinders
Die with hearts: Poppy, word hearts balloon
Three shades of pink card scraps, pearls

shared on challenges:

http://vlvsketches.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/viva-la-verve-march-2016-week-1-sketch.html
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/time-out-challenge-51-and-our-2nd.html
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-188-cute-cuddly.html
http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/welcome-spring.html

Hugs n fishes

I love this little image and wanted to keep it simple.

I used the sketch, but turned it upside down:













Image: A Day For Daisies (col. with Reno pens)
Round die: Spellbinders
Wonky Stitched round die: DieNamics
Label die (done as a frame): Spellbinders
Grass die: Impression Obsession
Clear Sentiment Stamp: Pink Petticoat

Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/mojo-monday-437.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/challenge-199.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-29.html

SpringDogged

This months stamp at From the Heart Stamps is so funny - it's spring and he has had such fun ... 

Image coloured with Reno pens, partially cut and then set behind the circular frame so the flowers overhang.  Paper string in a bow and a couple of folds of organza ribbon give it a bit of balance.  I like these colours together for a spring effect.

Image: From the Heart Stamps
Die frame: DieNamics wonky stitched circle
Punched edge: Fiskars
Stitched EF: Sizzix
Eyes: Glossy Accents


Shared on challenges:
http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2016/03/02/free-stamp-of-the-month-march-2016/
http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/welcome-spring.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/spring-challenge.html
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/freshly-brewed-challenge-201609-spring.html
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/time-out-challenge-51-and-our-2nd.html
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/new-challenge-march-anything-goes.html

Pinky goes shopping


Most women do something to their hair sooner or later, whether it's style or colour, or just from being bored and wanting a change.  What about this for a change?  I did have dark pink streaks for a while and really enjoyed them; funny thing was, I don't think anyone else did because nobody EVER said anything about it!

I decided not to add any other colour to this image, but to leave her as the brightest thing in the picture.
The printed materials were sent to me by a friend as part of a swap challenge (also her Martha Stewart edge punch), so I don't know where they are from, but isn't she cute?  I just trimmed her down to tall and narrow, and diecut the tag.

EF: Craft Concepts
Diecut tag: Spellbinders
Ribbon and card from stash.

Shared on challenges:
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/unusual-hair-colour.html
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/310-sentiment-as-focal-point.html

06 March, 2016

Hoppy Wishes

I am honoured to be guest with Penny Black this month for Feature a Creature Challenge - thanks for asking me.  Some of my first stamps were Penny Black who may well be responsible for my cardmaking addiction.

I have always loved frogs.  One of my early memories is going down to the local disused quarry that had a pond in the bottom, armed with my mum's old stockings threaded onto fencing wire (a homemade scoop net) to get tadpoles.  Even as an adult, if I can't get hold of them, I have been known to pay the local school kids for them at $1 each.  I now have one left from this summer and he is just getting his hind legs.  Did you know that frogs are environmental indicators for the health of the planet?  and they are fast disappearing.

This is a one layer card.  I started with the watercolour splash onto the base card (several colours layered), then the tiny splashes painted in.  The image is then stamped, black embossed, and painted with watercolours.  Then I carefully sprinkled gold embossing powder on the places where froggies have the gold speckles.  The line is sticky glue drawn along with patterned antique gold foil rubbed over, and the sentiment is stamped and gold embossed.  This looks just like the frogs I raise and I even think frogs would like this wonderful image from Penny Black.

Frog stamp: Penny Black - Leap of Joy
Sentiment stamp:   Pink Petticoat clear stamp (old freebie set with Papercraft Essentials)

Feel Better

At Come And Get It Challenges, this fortnight's theme is Favourite Techniques.   We all have them, and that often changes as we try or learn new things.  This background technique is called embossing folder stamping - using the EF as a stamp (see Splitcoaststampers).  A lot of the fun is that it is often totally random how it comes out, and usually with fabulous effects.

You are sure to have a favourite technique - give it a go!

The image is from our sponsor Oddball Stamps (Bella image 218), coloured with Reno pens on white oval card, matted onto a kraft oval.  The background is stamped with distress inks.  Strips of raw fibre woven tape just went nicely with the kraft card.  The raised sentiment is stamped with a smudgy bit of distress ink to echo the colour.











Oddball Stamps:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/233585689/digi-stamp-digital-instant-download?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=get%2Bwell%2Bgirl

Image: Oddball Stamps, Bella Image 218 Get well girl
EF: Amy Tangerine
Die: Spellbinder
Stamp: Hero arts

Shared on challenges:
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/iic-march-challenge-lets-hear-it-for.html

03 March, 2016

Butterfly Magic


I don't know of anyone who doesn't love butterflies.  They bring a smile to faces old and young, and can change someone's day.  They symbolise hope and transformation, and are indeed
magical creatures.

These butterflies are stamped onto semi-gloss card,  then coloured with distress inks (that card makes the ink sort of clot together),.  I dabbed the pad onto acetate, spritzed with water and painted. When dry I added Wink of Stella to the main parts.

The sparkly square is a lace patterned stamp. I stamped white card with versamark ink, and heat embossed with Kaliedoscope embossing powder, then spritzed with pale blue homemade mica mist, wiping off the excess.  The lace pattern doesn't really show, but it looks pretty and vari-coloured, and is quite a gritty texture.


Butterflies stamp: Tanda
Sentiment stamp: Kaisercraft
Oval die: Spellbinders
EF: Project Life
Lace scraps, ribbon, pearls


The line of  F&F bingo I chose is DYOT-distress-diecut-sparkle mist/glitter.



Shared on challenges:

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/fussy-and-fancy-challenge-158-shabby.html
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/week-352-sentiment-in-focus.html
http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/challenge-177.html
http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-88.html
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/310-sentiment-as-focal-point.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-246-pretty-projects.html
http://inkychicks.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/challenge-63-ribbon-andor-lace.html
http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/getting-wordy-with-team-trace.html

Lacy wishes

Basically I'm not a frills-type person and I don't generally work in a lot of pink.  This one started with the pink dotty base card, but the diecut background looked wrong in white so ...  some distress inks and a bit of sponging later, it put the background where it belongs .. in the background!








Panel die: Memory Box (one die cut three times beside each other)
Bunting die: Kaisercraft
Sentiment die: Spellbinders
Sentiment stamp: Bebunni
Lace, Pearls, dotty tulle, a scrap of ribbon



For the Polkadoodles tictactoe challenge I went with sentiment-lace-flower.
Shared on challenges:
http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/tuesday-morning-sketches-341.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/challenge-199.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/challenge-246-pretty-projects.html
http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/qkr-stampede-challenge-180-birthday.html
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/week-8-polkadoodles-crafting-challenge.html
http://inkychicks.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/challenge-63-ribbon-andor-lace.html