CAS cacti

 Clean and simple cacti, watercolouring subdued but with a splash of colour.  This is for my stash, and could work for any congratulations card, a birthday, or just a 'love ya' card.  It would be great for someone graduating or getting an award from horticulture or floristry. 

This set of stamps is good because it has a great mix of images and sentiments; I love the container and, because it stamps empty, you can put anything into it (maybe a mouse or some sweets...).

Cacti set of stamps: Rosie's Studio
watercoloured using DInks
Sentiment: Rosie's Studio
Splatter stamp: Hero Arts


Shared on challenges:
aaacards cas-game-84-watercolour
happylittlestampers-february-watercolour-challenge
modsquadchallenge.com/geometric
southerngirlschallenge-154-nature-inspired
brownsugarchallenge-239
pennyblackatallsortsfebruary-favourite-stamp

Jungle drums

It's always the birthday of one grandchild or another, and all of them like animals.  I like the idea of the animals telling each other about The Birthday on the animal grapevine.



Sentiment Stamp: Hero Arts
Ladybird stamp: Penny Black
Other animals stamps: Hero Arts
Frame die: Spellbinders
Branch die: Marianne
Also: torn & crumpled paper, Distress Inks, Copics, White gel pen.


Shared on challenges:
cuttlebugmania its-zoo-out-there
qkr-stampede-challenge-232-ag-birthday
inkychickschallenge-79-happy-birthday
sirstampalot february-animal-magic

Science Man

Men or Boys
is the theme at Come And Get It this week and we'd love you to join us there; have a look at what the design team have created as well:
cagichallenge


Polkadoodles is the sponsor and has provided this super image: polkadoodles science-maths-teacher

I have made this for our son's birthday; he is a science/physics teacher.

Image: Polkadoodles
Coloured with Copics
Happy Birthday sentiment: Mama Elephant
Science saying: typed on computer
KindyGlitz, white Gel pen, black enamel, staples, Distress ink (on Science label)

Shared on challenges:
carabbiemomentsofcraft-112-masculine
creativeknockouts 182-funny-card
qkr-stampede-challenge-232-ag-birthday
inkychickschallenge-79-happy-birthday
thecraftyaddictschallenge-33-ag,sentiment
starstampz-2-or-more-patterned-papers
colourcrazy week-8

Summer Drinkies

A nice long cool lemonade (or maybe something stronger that goes with lemon!) is one of the nice things about summer.  We're having over 30 deg C with high humidity and no aircon, whew! 
Hmmm, a cool drink is just what I need right now!

Drink Die: Memory Box
Cut from sparkly cards
Border Punch: Martha Stewart
Stash Paper: Haven't a clue, but isn't it gorgeous?
Ribbon, and a charming charm.

Shared on challenges:
die-cut-divas-february-red-or-pink  red & pink!
allsortschallenge-404-metal-andor-charms
glitternsparklechallenge-228
creatalicious challenge-109-ag-ribbon,twine
tuesday-throwdown-331-embellishment charm

Get Well Chicky

I made this get well card for a child, but then I looked again and thought it would make anyone smile. It reminds me of springtime.  Thanks Faith for this cute image and for the hand-drawn sketch (so much nicer than a computer generated one), here:  i-heart-sketches-with-a-twist-163 (my computer security won't allow the sketch to post).  If you look closely the colours are there too, apart from the turquoise - entirely by accident.


Image: From The Heart Stamps
Coloured with Copics
Sentiment and heart borders stamps: Hero Arts
Also scraps, twine


Shared on challenges:
i-heart-sketches-with-a-twist-163
glitternsparkle challenge-228
sirstampalot february-animal-magic
craftysentiments spring-challenge
craftycatz-challenge-359atg-withspring

Cheers Gears

A simple card with a blue textured base card and distressed looking rusty-wine papers looks so stylish.  Add in metal gears, twine with a fine gold thread, a metallic copper sentiment and bingo! it becomes masculine.  Most men like something a little geometric, even rectangles and circles.
This could be for a birthday or a congrats type card.

Sentiment die: Poppy Stamps
Others bits all from stash.




I used a mojo sketch:



Shared on challenges:
mojo-monday-485
carabbiemomentschallenge-112-AG-masculine
creataliciouschallenges-109-AG-twine
happylittlestampers-anything-goes-with-dies
worldwideopen-15th-february-2017
ooh-la-la-creations-222-diecuts
modsquadchallenge-geometric
lilpatchofcraftyfriends-52
inkychicks-79-happy-birthday
allsortschallenge-404-metal-andor-charms

Birthday Elephant

NOT pink or red, that's the theme this time at the Crafter's Café.  Why don't you join us: crafterscafe


The fab curvy elephant is from our super sponsor Tory Tale here

I paperpieced the image and I think she is soooo cute.  I was going to put a punched butterfly over the image one, but decided it looked like a hair clip so I Kindyglitzed it instead.  Amazingly the balloon loose glitter is a plain grape colour but has photographed as blue with lots of other colours (still looks good though).


Image: Tory Tale 'Good Mood'
Sentiment stamp: Kaisercraft
Balloon glitter
Butterfly: Kindyglitz
Brads, corner punch

Shared on challenges:
rubbernecker-challenge-3-animals
pinspirational-challenge-184 (see pic)
sirstampalot-february-animal-magic
disdigidesigns-animal-challenge

Love is in the Air

Love is in the Air is the new challenge at Come And Get It challenges:

with the lovely images of sponsor Sami Stamps:





I'm sure there is someone in your life who would like to know you love them!





Image: Sami Stamps - With You (paper pieced)
EF: Cuttlebug (sanded)
Heart Punch:
Also clear sequins.





Shared on challenges:
glitternsparkle -226-love
creatalicious-108-anything-goes-with-hearts
craftycalendar-february-challenge-love-is-in-air
craftypurplefrog-4-love-is-all-around
deepoceanchallenge-148-hearts
fabnfunkychallenge-337-wild-about-you
carabbiemomentschallenge-111-love
wordartwednesdayanything-goes-weeks-268-269

Vintage Birthday

I love patterned papers and the lovely vintage feel this one gives. The Victorian Lace iron fence and the lovely pale background lacy-look flowers are so deliciously feminine.

Sentiment stamp: unknown brand
Paper:  Meg's Garden-Romantic Garden stack
Silver paper, gems, pearls and ribbon.


Shared on challenges:
craftingfromtheheart -145
craftysentiments-lace-andor-ribbon-challenge
carabbiemomentsofcraft-110-feminine
creativeknockouts-179-birthday-wishes
brownsugarchallenge-236-pink-and-pearls

Pete the Lawn Ranger

My friend's husband asked me to make her husband a birthday card.  He just loves his ride-on mower, so what better ??            
Inside it says  '... to the Lawn Ranger'.


Image Stamp: Art Impressions
coloured with Copics
Sentiment stamp: Kaisercraft
curved to fit with edge of card
Cloud die: Memory Box
Grass die: Impression Obsession




Shared on challenges:
cuttlebugmania-hobby
creativeknockouts-179-birthday-wishes
craftycatz -356-crafty-catz-anything-goes-with-male
thecraftyaddictschallenge-33

You & Me

A romantic card that isn't pink or red!

I printed the image, masked it, then sponged, smooshed with distress inks and spritzed the background with water.  I cut up a world map with New Zealand on it to fit the shape under their feet (like they're standing on top of the world) and stamped it with the sentiment.  The whole lot is matted onto black card. An embossed banner and punched star in silver are placed on the base card before adding the 3D foam main panel and an extra star to link it together.  A touch of Kindyglitz for stars on the sky.

I like the way it looks like they're framed in starlight.

Image: Sami - Winter Romance
Sentiment: Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz
Star embossing: unbranded texture roller
Punch: unbranded

Shared on challenges:
timeout-76-inspired-by-words
craftycalendarchallenge-february-love-is-in-air
incywincydesigns-love
tuesday-throwdown-328-love-notes
addictedtostamps-227-make-your-mark
wordartwednesday anything-goes-weeks-268-269
qkr-stampede-challenge-229-valentine
disdigidesigns-all-about-love-challenge

Flake

A simple stacked snowflake on watercoloured background.  I like this  arrangement because as the eye travels across the colour gets warmer - just like spring really.

The watercolour paper is really heavy and has a beautiful texture which really shows up with paint.  I diecut the watercoloured paper and used the cut out for the top layer; then a soft blue pearlised card, then 4 layers of ordinary card.  Because I wanted it to be forward I left the lower layers intact and only pushed the 'drop-out' bits in the top one.  This is my first try at this technique.

Flake Die: Impression Obsession
Kids pearly watercolour paint set.

Shared on challenges:
aaacards cas-game-82-winter-chill
happylittlestampers-february-cas-challenge
inkychicks challenge-78-clean-and-simple
happylittlestampers-february-watercolour-challenge
deepoceanchallenge-147-winter-wonderland

Hamlet at Heart

This cute little fella is called Hamlet Pigwit and he is one of Faith's animals at From The Heart Stamps.

Image, Knit Heart & sentiment: all From the Heart Stamps (all digital)
Coloured with Copics
Gold pen, Distress Ink, dotty Kaisercraft paper.



After printing everything, I coloured in with Copics.  I cut the heart out with fancy edged deckle scissors because that looks more like a knitted edge. The sentiment is sponged with Distress ink and edged with gold pen.  Hamlet is holding a Kiss that I coloured with a metallic gold pen.  So cute.




Shared on challenges:
fromtheheartstamps February
creatalicious challenge-108-anything-goes-with-hearts
hidinginmycraftroom-287-red-pink+1 gold
tuesday-throwdown-328-love-notes
rubbernecker-love-romance-challenge-2
cutecardthursdaychallenge-463-be-my-valentine
starstampz lots-of-red-challenge
qkr-stampede-challenge-229-valentine
wordartwednesday anything-goes-challenge-weeks-268-269
craftycalendar/february-challenge-love-is-in-air

Recycle Massacre

The theme at the Crafters Café this time is recycle:  here!



and the sponsor I used is Dr Digi: doctor-digi


I recycle cans like this:







Image: Dr Digi - Leatherface
Coloured with Copics
Bricks EF: Sizzix - Tim Holtz - swiped with D.Inks
Blood on wall: Glimmermist, dribbled on
Skull & Slogan Stamps: Tim Holtz
Also: yarn, Kindyglitz, black pen, distress inks



How to: When you need to open a can with a tear tab top, just open the bottom of the can 7/8 way round with a can opener.   Clean well and dry out thoroughly in oven.   Fill with sweets, socks, or any gift that fits, put a circle of card over to stop hot glue getting on the stuff inside, then use hot glue gun to seal the lid closed. Decorate.  (I usually put a felt circle on the bottom to hide the mess I make with the hot glue gun!).  Tie ribbon or something else through the pull tab.   People always wonder how you got the stuff inside, especially kids.
The slogan reads: embrace imperfection ( I love it and do!)
This particular image is so suitable for a mini first aid kit, or maybe Halloween.

Shared on challenges:
addictedtostampschallenge-227-make-your-mark
craftycreationschallenge 334-anything-goes
glitternsparkle challenge-224  cylinder
thecraftyaddictschallenge-33
classicdesignteamchallenge 1st-february-2017
worldwideopendesignteamchallenge15th-january-2017