Trad Merry

Traditional colours for this merry card and a bit of a vintage look.




Sentiment stamp: Denami Design
gold embossing
Die labels: Spellbinders
Papers Pad: Kaisercraft
Border die: Kaisercraft
Floating Leaf die: Couture Creations
Background Leaf die as stencil: Couture Creations
Ribbon, gold cord, distress inks edge

Shared on challenges:

daranddiane -traditional-christmas-colors
mojomonday-474
addictedtostamps-challenge-220-photo-inspiration
qkrstampede-challenge-217-touch-of-gold
pennyblacknovember-challenge-anything-Christmas
craftypurplefrog-challenges-begin_10 Christmas Magic
trimmiescraftchallenge-390-17th-of-november-christmas
sirstampalotchallengenovember-anything-Christmas
ooh-la-la-creationschallenges-217vintage

Birthday Star

Everyone likes to be a star on their birthday, right?
I love this image of Charlie Chaplin (an old silent movie star for those of you who are way young); it's so great for a mancard.

I watercoloured the background plaid (I tried shading it from light to dark) with a ruler edge, the side of a coffee stirrer stick, a stamp and a stencil using distress inks.  Then I spritzed with water and blotted to make it uneven and blotchy.
I painted around the image with distress ink Hickory Smoke with various intensities, and added the touch of purple in Dusty Concord.
I think the hessian and staples add a manly touch.

Image: ADayFor Daisies
Stars die: Sizzix
Sentiment: Rosie's Studio
Plaid
Stencil: Rosie's Studio
Stamp: Hero Arts
Edge of ruler

Shared on challenges:
virginiasviewchallengewatercolorstamp-plaid
adayfordaisies-november-add burlap
glitternsparkle challenge-214 ag
avenue613challenge-191-anything-goes
getcreativechallenges ch-52-birthday

Bird Christmas Tree

Over at the Crafters Café, we have a Christmas theme, check out the wonderful work from the design team and enter your own: crafterscafeblogchallenge

All of the items on the card except the gold stars are from our sponsor Decosse: decossesdynamitedoodles
Thanks Decosse!
I chose these items because we have a summer Christmas and snow just doesn't work here!

I used these printable digipapers from Decosse's Holidays, Christmas collections:
12 Months Christmas 2014
A Grungy Christmas
Christmas Critters
Striped Paper Multicoloured
An Eclectic Christmas

Doily Die: Nellies Doily
Border die: Kaisercraft
Also: punched gold stars, Glossy Accents (on birds), Pilot gold pen (edge of tree).

Click on images for a closer look.




And ... when you're on a roll ...




THE TAG: The tag is diecut (Sizzix/Tim Holtz) and the background is stamped over with Kaisercraft sentiment using Versamark ink as a watermark, splashed with gold ink (Pilot). I used a left over bird tree to make a tag, edged tree and tag with gold embossing.  Cut out five little birds to pop up using 3D foam. 



Shared on challenges:

craftypurplefrogchallenge-Christmas Magic   DT: to look at my other work - click the Creations banner at top.
sirstampalotchallengenovember-anything-christmas TAG
craftingfromtheheart-challenge-135
open-mindedcraftingfun-challenge-11-christmas-hanukkah

A Chicken Bawk

A bawk about a chicken?  Chicken Licken or Chicken Little, however you call it, is pretty much a weird story about a chicken who gets hit on the head with an acorn and thinks the sky fell on her head.  I'm sure there are days we all feel like that!

One layer cards are pretty challenging.  I was so glad to find a chicken netting stencil in my box of tricks that was just right for this stamp.  I masked the image and lightly stencilled over with distress ink.

Stamps: Art Impressions
coloured with copics
Stencil: Rosie's

Shared on challenges:
simplylessismoore challenge-302-one-layer
creativewithstampschallenge-8-use-bird-stamp
addictedtostamps-challenge-219-cas
allsortschallenge-week-389-feature-creature

Tui cheerful

I love sketches:





and I used this to make an Analogous Colours (colours next to each other on the colour wheel)Cardswap card.

Tui is an iconic NZ bird with an amazing array of calls (including local dialect)which are so cheerful.  Tui is a nectar feeder and the stamp shows it feeding from a flax flower.   NZ gets its black and white sporting colours from Tui.  It is a forest bird that looks black with two white curly feathers at its throat until it is in the sun, where it is black with an iridescent blue-green sheen to its feathers.


Stamp: Craft Creations
Die: Couture Creations
Sentiment stamp: Verve
Also: feather, gold pen, white gel pen, pearls

Shared on challenges:
mojomonday-473-contest
diesruschallenge-60-thankful-for-nature
creativewithstamps-challenge-8-use-bird-stamp
carabbiemomentsofcraft-106
classicdesignteamchallenge/1st-november-2016
happylittlestampers-november-anything-goes-with-dies
freshbreweddesigns-challenge-november

Got the blues

Got the blues?  send someone a hug!  Win:win, they feel better and you feel better too.

You know how I love sketches:



Image: A Day For Daisies
Coloured with copics
Circle dies: Couture Creations
Heart die: Couture Creations
Background die: Couture Creations
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's (gold embossed)
Metal heart: MME Necessities
Other: scraps of paper, hessian

Shared on challenges:
sketchsaturday-week-437
disdigidesignschallenge/hand-colored-image
adayfordaisies-november- add burlap
happylittlestampers-nov-anything-goes-with-dies
pinspirationalchallenges -178
thecraftyaddictschallenge-28ag-blues
cutecardthursday-451-add-something-metallic
southerngirlschallenge-148-anything-goes-team-trace

Deer Christmas

I like simple cards and used a Verve sketch for this one:








Image stamp: unknown
Silver embossed
Background stamp: Rubbadubbadoo
Sentiment stamp: Papermania







Shared on challenges:


viva-la-verve-november-sketch-1
catchthebug november-anything-goes
sirstampalotchallengenovember-anything-Christmas
pennyblack-november-challenge-anything-christmas

Birthday Whiskers

What could be better than birthday whiskers for a cat lover?

TicTacToe is on at Come and Get It challenges: cagichallenge
I chose the blue-glitter-ribbon line.

I used sponsor Sami image (so cute)of  'sneaky whiskers' printed at different sizes, get it here:
etsy.com/shop/SamiStamps


Image: Sami Stamps 'sneaky whiskers' coloured with Copics
Sentiment stamp: Rubbadubbadoo
Paw stamp:





Shared on challenges:
fabnfunkychallenges-325-animals
inspirationdestinationchallenge ag-no-110
disdigidesigns hand-colored-image-challenge
catchthebugblog november-anything-goes
lilpatchofcraftyfriendschallenge-45 ag
southerngirlschallenge/pop-it-up-with-team-lou

Birthday Smiles

Come And Get It team are doing tic-tac-toe this challenge, check it out here : cagichallenge

I used sponsor All Dressed Up image which comes with the sentiment, and coloured it with copics:
etsy.com/shop/alldressedupstamps

For the tic-tac-toe I chose diagonal blue-glitter-ribbon.

This image cried out for pastels, which I don't usually work in, but I enjoyed this one and I like the soft effect.

Image: All Dressed Up
Dies: Spellbinders
Ribbon, gems, corner punch


Shared on challenges:

avenue613challenge-191-anything-goes
deepoceanchallenge-141-use-die-cuts-or-punches
inspirationdestination/ag-no-110

Awesome thanks

It's always a good idea to have thank you cards ready; you never know when you'll need them!

Check out Die Cut Divas November thankful challenge: die-cut-divas

with our wonderful Sponsor Bugaboo:
bugaboostamps.com/pumpkin-crow


Image: Bugaboo, coloured with copics
Tag Die: Spellbinders
Speech bubble die: X Cut
Sentiment: Verve
heat embossed with white
Also: Ribbon, Kindyglitz





Shared on challenges:

diesruschallenge-60-thankful-for-nature
tuesdaythrowdown -tt318-thanksgiving
deepoceanchallenge-141-use-die-cuts-or-punches
daranddiane harvest-blessingsgive-thanks
timeoutchallenges challenge-69 thanks

Dotty Pumpkin Thanks

The Die Cut Divas are spotlighting thankfulness in November - check out the Divas cards throughout the month : die-cut-divas. 

It's always handy to have some thank you cards in your box ready to appreciate someone.
Click on the image for a closeup.

The image is from fabulous sponsor Bugaboo: 
bugaboostamps.com/pumpkin-crow

Image: Bugaboo - Pumpkin Crow
(Paper pieced, edges inked)
Doily die: Couture Creations
Scribble die: DieNamics
Thank you die: Spelbinders
(stacked with 2 black cuts then a white cut)
Corner punch: Couture Creations
Also Kindyglitz

Shared on challenges:
tuesdaythrowdown 318-thanksgiving
daranddiane harvest-blessingsgive-thanks
timeoutchallenges -69
creativeknockouts 166-doily-delight-star-stampz

Rainbow hope

There's always a rainbow after the rain - such lovely words of hope and encouragement.



I inked the EF using separate inks to get the rainbow effect.  It took several tries to get it right but it worked in the end.  I will be able to cut up the rejects and use bits of them later, I hope.



EF:
Die: Spellbinders
Sentiment:
Pearls


Shared on challenges:

creativeknockouts-something-to-say-day-for-daisies
cutecardthursday challenge-449-lace-andor-pearls
getcreativechallenges ch-51-ag
craftysentiments anything-goes-challenge-nov-1

Park the broom

Park the broom and have a coffee with me!

Colour: Three shade of Distress Dabbers
Stamps: Woodware
Gold ink fine splatter from edging pen

Shared on challenges:

inspirationdestinationchallenge ag-no-109
craftycreationschallenges-water-color
thecraftyaddicts challenge-27
carabbiemomentsofcraft challenge-105Spooktacular
starstampz halloween-harvest
qkrstampede-215-halloween
inkychicks-74-too-cute-to-spook

Mmummmy

Halloween is the theme over on Crafters Café, check it out:  crafterscafeblogchallenge

and what better image than Marky Mummy from 
robynsfetish.com/shop


I coloured the image with Copics, cut it out and used 3D foam to stick it on (he really does look like he's coming forward!  The background is folded, torn, sanded, inked and stamped on, using up left over bits (especially the purple which had some crinkles in it already).

Image:
Stamps: Woodware
Diecut: Provocraft/Cuttlebug

Shared on challenges:

carabbiemomentsofcraft challenge-105spooktacular
glitternsparklechallenge-212 Halloween
thecraftyaddictschallenge-27 ag Halloween
pileitonchallenge-120-scraps
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2016/10/ag-no-109.html
inkychicks-74-too-cute-to-spook

Pumpkin Cat

Cats love to hide amongst the pumpkins.  Cats like to play in the pumpkins.  Cats like to snooze in the pumpkins.

I coloured the Pumpkin image with Copics.  Then stamped the cat on manila card, embellished with white gel pen, then put in shadows with Copics.

Image: Eureka
Stamp: Inkadinkadoo
EF: Cuttlebug


Shared on challenges:
pinspirationalchallenge-177
addictedtostamps-challenge-217-make-your-mark
thecraftyaddicts challenge-27
inspirationdestinationchallenge ag-no-109
timeoutchallenges-69 give thanks
starstampz-colours of halloween-harvest
craftyfriendschallenge-43anythinggoes
qkrstampede-challenge-215-halloween
fussyandfancychallenge-175 autumn

Spooky-boo

I only do hallowe'en cards for the grandchildren, but they like spooky ones - no pretty-pretty for them!

I primped up the image with Glossy Accents on the hat and raised it with 3D foam, used a bit of tatty tulle under, black sequins and some diecut spiders on a fabulously purple and orange paper.



Image: CardMakingWorld Printables
Diecuts: Provocraft/Cuttlebug
Also: Glossy Accents, black sequins, tulle, Kindyglitz


Shared on challenges:

fabnfunkychallenges-324-celebrate-halloween
modsquadchallenge-halloween-fun
cinspirations challenge-260-halloween-fall
thecraftyaddictschallenge-27Halloween
carabbiemoments challenge-105 spooktacular
creataliciouschallenges-101-anything-goes-with halloween
starstampz spooky-or-cute-halloween-harvest-andcolours
disdigidesignschallenge halloween-andor-colors-orange-black
qkrstampedechallenge-215-halloween

Hallow Tree

What a lovely selection of diecuts for Halloween.  The die has a matching EF - vavavoom!


All Dies & EF: Provocraft/Cuttlebug
Paper: Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine Bonus Papers
Cobweb stamp: Woodware


Shared on challenges:
deepoceanchallenge -140-halloween
cuttlebugmania - spooky
cinspirations-260-halloween-fall
cutecardthursdaychallenge-448-halloween
disdigidesignschallengehalloween
creativeknockouts-embossing
craftycalendar october-challenge-Halloween
southerngirlschallenge punches-dies-team-trace
diesruschallenge-59-fall-including-halloween

Scary Coffee

I started out to make this as a really CAS card and it just took on a life of it's own!   Scary huh? Still a little bit CAS though.

Image:
coloured with Copics
Digi Sentiment: Useless Trinkets
Diecut banner: Spellbinders
Diecut bat: Cuttlebug



The card is cor'dinations with pale purple centre, crushed and sanded.   A bit of Kindyglitz on heart.






Shared on challenges:

cuttlebugmania -spooky
addictedtocas challenge-99-coffee
cinspirations -260-halloween-fall
deepoceanchallenge-140-halloween
cutecardthursday-448-halloween
disdigidesignschallenge halloween-andor-colors-orange-black
glitternsparklechallenge-211
craftycalendar october-challenge-Halloween
diesruschallenge challenge-59-fall-including-halloween

Flower Cart

Embossing is the theme at Die Cut Divas; this is the first embossing folder I got, and I still really like it and use it a lot.
To see what my teamies and our challengers have created, go to: die-cut-divas

This image 'flower cart' is from our sponsor  The Stamping Boutique:
http://www.thestampingboutique.com

These are not colours I would normally use, but I wanted to try this primary combination. I like its bright cheeriness.

Image: The Stamping Boutique- Flower Cart
Coloured with Copics
EF: Cuttlebug
Label die: X-Cut
Doily die: Couture Creations
Leaf die: Couture Creations
Cloud & rain stamps: Close to my Heart
Thanks stamp: Rosie's
Stash: ribbon, WinkOfStella, gems

Shared on challenges:
creativeknockouts -embossing
inspirationdestination anythinggoes-108
brownsugarchallenge challenge-221-anything-goes
craftyfriendschallenge-43-anything-goes
lilpatchofcraftyfriendschallenge-44anythinggoes
polkadoodle-42-anything-goes
fabnfunkychallenge-323-fabulous-flowers
open-mindedcraftingfunchallenge-10-thanks-thanksgiving
allsortschallenge-386-sparkle-and-shine

Stella in ICU

Come And Get It challenge theme this week is HUMOUR, check out my teamies work here, and join in yourself:
http://cagichallenge


Now, when you're sick nothing makes you feel a bit better than something to make you laugh.

Our sponsor is the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps with some hilarious images available; you can get this image here:
http://bugaboostamps.com/Stella-Nursing--ICU_p_1761.html

Image: Bugaboo
Sentiment: made on computer & punched
Arrow die:
Stash: paper & card, ribbon

Shared on challenges:
craftysentiments - anything-goes-challenge_18
inspirationdestinationchallenge-108
brownsugarchallenge-221-anything-goes
craftyfriendschallenge -43-anything-goes
lilpatchofcraftyfriends-44

Magical Pumpkins

Pumpkins pumpkins everywhere!

I combined a digi image with stamped images, coloured with Copics, and embossed with gold.

Pumpkin Image: Mo's Digital Pencil
Broomstick, stars, sentiment stamps: Woodware
Edges inked with Distress Inks.

Shared on challenges:

addictedtostamps-challenge-215-photo-inspiration
thecraftyaddictschallenge-26
carabbiemomentsofcraftchallenge-104
qkrstampede-challenge-213-pumpkins
creataliciouschallenges-101-anything-goes-with Halloween
craftycalendarchallengeoctober-halloween
getcreativechallenges-black-orange
tuesdaythrowdown-316 Festive Pumpkins
craftysentiments anything-goes-challenge_18
deepoceanchallengeblog-140-halloween

Thinking of you Unky

Over on Crafters Café the challenge is 'using a new- to-you technique'.  Check out all the techniques the team have tried for this challenge:
crafterscafeblogchallenge

This great image is from The East Wind and there are lots of cute and quirky images there:
theeastwind

I tried embossing with a die and then used it as a stencil to ink over with distress ink (I masked the image first) to make a frame for the image, then used a larger size to diecut the frame out. 
On the base card, I used a background stars die on blue card and backed it with silver paper, and added silver stars to the topper that I made with the die embossing and stencilling.

Image: The East Wind - thinking of you Unky
Coloured with Copics
Nesting Die: Spellbinders
Background Die:
Also: silver stars
Shared on challenges:
creativeknockouts163-anything-goes
lilpatchofcraftyfriends challenge-44
polkadoodle week-40-anything-goes

Sketch Poppies

Now you all know I love sketches and this week Come And Get It theme is a sketch, check it out:
http://cagichallenge

Our sponsor is the fabulous A Day For Daisies, and here's a quick link to the image:
http://adayfordaisies.com/stamps/flowers-garden/jar-of-wild-poppies

I coloured the image with Copics, and layered various card and papers. I really like this autumn-y colour combination.

Image: A Day For Daisies
Journalling card: Rosie's
Sentiment stamp: My Favorite Things
Doily die: Marianne
Scallop die: Couture Creations
Stash, deco.paper, card, gems, washi tape

Shared on challenges:
sweetstampinchallengeblog-autumn
craftyfriendschallengeblog- challenge-42 autumn colours
deepoceanchallenge -139-favorite-season
lilpatchofcraftyfriends challenge-43

Swinging Birthday

EMBOSS EMBOSS EMBOSS say the Die Cut Divas this month, check it out here:
http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/

This Playing on the Swings image is from The Stamping Boutique:
http://www.thestampingboutique

Firstly, I letterpress embossed the background linen card (EF inked with Distress Ink iced spruce), leaving the embossing folder up a bit so I had a flat bit at the bottom for stamping. the sentiment is stamped with Versamark ink, and gold EP.  I coloured him then cut him out.  I sliced a slit at the bottom of his hand and  the top of the swing seat to thread the cord through for the swing rope.

Image: The Stamping Boutique
Sentiment stamp: DoCrafts
EF: Cuttlebug

Single Layer Flower

Single layer cards are always a challenge, so if you're up for it check out
http://cagichallenge.blogspot.co.nz/

Our sponsor this month is Bagaboo and this lovely image is one of three that I separated out, enlarged and printed directly onto the base cardstock.  I masked the image and sponged Milled Lavender and Tattered Rose Distress Inks over the background, then spritzed with water, blotted and dried, and stamped with a small butterfly.  The sentiment is stamped and a stitched line is embossed and inked.


I must confess this is effort #3, because of booboos I made when inking.

Image: Bugaboo - http://www.bugaboostamps.com/floral-trio-frame-1_p_4040.html
Coloured with Copics
EF: Sizzix
Sentiment stamp:
Wink of Stella on butterfly

Fishing Boy

Over at the Die Cut Divas the challenge is fall/fall holidays.  What better thing to do that time of year but go fishing.



Check out the challenge and my teamies work:
http://die-cut-divas



Our sponsor this month is Frantic Stamper, and you can check out the huge range of products, including this stamp, here:
http://www.franticstamper.com


Stamp: Paper Artsy - Boy with fish
Journalling label: Rosies
Die: Sizzix/Tim Holtz
Dotty background stamp: Hero Arts
Stash: gauze, fishscale sequins

Buttons Missing You

Crafters Café theme this time is BUTTONS, so jog on over and have a look at my teamies work:
http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/

And our sponsor Angies Cards
can be found here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AngiesCardsandDigis

I looked for appropriate buttons, before I decided on the colour scheme - what better than a whale and a couple of bubbles.   Then coloured the image with Copics and cut it out. He looks really sad so I chose to make it a 'miss you' card.

Image: Angies - Boy in pool
Diecut waves: Memory Box
Sentiment: DieNamics
Other from stash: papers, buttons.

Polka Dottie

Polka Dottie likes icecream and balloons, and it is so perfect for a birthday.

Polka Dots is the theme for Come And Get It this time, come and go dotty:
cagichallenge

This cute image is from our sponsor Star Stampz:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/268144350/balloons-and-ice-cream-digital-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_2

I printed her out on white card (edges punched) and on two dotty papers, and then paper pieced after colouring with Copics. The sentiment stamp fitted perfectly into the front balloon, and a little heart charm tied with ribbon, and of course a touch of Kindyglitz.

Image: StarStampz
Sentiment stamp: Fundamentals
Punch: Fiskars
Stash: charm, ribbon, kindyglitz

Shared  with challenges:
avenue613challenge-189-anything-goes

Now is the time

This month at Die Cut Divas is Fall/fall holidays, come and join us:
http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/

Our sponsor is Frantic Stamper - they have a huge range of products and you can get the image I used here:
http://www.franticstamper.com/

I wanted to use the leaves for her hair, so punched various kinds from assorted scraps, laying them out like rapunzel. I like torn edges and this card tore beautifully leaving a paler tone.

Stamp: Finnabair

Die: Sizzix/Tim Holtz

Also punches, gems



Shared on challenges:

creativewithstampschallenge-challenge-6-photo-inspiration
modsquadchallenge-use-foliage

Choccy Bites

Who doesn't like chocolate?  Hmm I thought so.

Crafters Café theme this time is two patterned papers - join in here:
http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/

and our sponsor is Bloobell
https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/BloobelStamps

I actually used four patterned papers, but you can only see the patterns on two of them.  I coloured the image with Copics then cut it out. Circle and doilys are diecut - did you notice they are chocolate and caramel?  A couple of freebie downloads from the net for tickets and a sprinkle of - you guessed it - milk- and dark-chocolate coloured sequins.

Image: Bloobell digi
Circle die: Spellbinders
Doily die: Nellie
Other: Ticket freebies from the net, sequins

Shared on challenges:
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends/2016/08/challenge-40
inspirationdestinationchallengeblogAG-NO-101

Waterfall butterflies

Just fluttering by with my first ever waterfall card.  They always look so complex, but in fact are a lot easier than they look.  I thought the panels looked a bit like wings, which inspired the butterflies.

I used a tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers and also looked at some youtube videos.

Stamped butterflies: R&R Pocock Ltd
Coloured with Copics
EF: Craft Concepts
Stash items: two tones of yellow card, eyelets, Wink of Stella, ribbon













Shared on challenges:

http://inkychicks.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/challenge-71-lots-of-butterflies.html
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/fussy-and-fancy-challenge-171-lets-fly.html
http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/anything-with-wings-challenge.html
http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/challenge-136-things-with-wings.html
http://carabbiemomentsofcraft2016/08/challenge-101
craftysentiments2016/08/lots-of-layers-challenge