Delicious

I love pears, one of my favourite fruits and they are just in season here... delicious! crunchy! juicy! fresh!    And this card is for one of my favourite people.

The pears are stamped and gold embossed, then sponged with black distress ink to bring them forward, almost 3D.

Pear stamp: A Stamp in the Hand
Sentiment stamps: Hero Arts
Embossing: gold

Shared on challenges:

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Spotlight Poppies

I love this stamp!  So simple but very versatile.  A lovely bunch of spring flowers for a friend in the CAS style.

The poppies are stamped onto a smooshed background on linen paper.  I coloured the flowers using Lyra watercolour crayons, and used white gel pen to highlight the edges, then diecut into a circle. I also stamped onto a white piece of card and left it uncoloured.  The circle is mounted on 3D foam and placed over the uncoloured image, matching the lines of the image. The sentiment is two stamps from the same set that I have had for years and is unbranded.

Image stamp: Penny Black
Circle Die: Spellbinders
Sentiment stamps: unknown brand
Also: ribbon, red pearls

TicTacToe rows: (Pearls-red-ribbon, or pearls-flowers-green, or Red-image-dies)


Shared on challenges:
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aaacards cas-game-84-watercolour
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thecraftyaddictschallenge-34-CAS
happylittlestampers-march-watercolour-challenge
cardsundmore-178-friendship
creativeknockouts183-diepunch

Get Well Green

I need some get well cards at the moment!  And I got some help for this one from Sketch Saturday:


For some reason I seem to be in a green phase ... does that happen to you?

Anyway, this is for a man so it is quite structured and there are no fussy bits.

Scallop die: Kaisercraft
Tag punch: unknown
Heart stamp: Heidi Grace
Sentiment stamp: MamaElephant
Lamb stamp: Penny Black
EF: unknown
From stash: papers, ribbon


Shared on challenges:
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Cool Bunny

Keep It CAS!  that's the theme at the Crafters Café, and you can check out here
the details and the design team's work

Creative Bug has generously provided the image and you can get it at cool+bunny

This is dedicated to a cool & crazy online real bunny person - YOU know who you are!  Hi there Bunny!

I made two masks - one for the fence and one for the whole image.  The fence is stamped with woodgrain in three colours, and the sky sponged with Distress inks.  The 'cool' diecut has the middle holes punched out.

Image: Creative Bugs
Woodgrain stamp: Hero Arts
Cool Die: Sizzix
Circle die: Spellbinders
Banner end: square punch
Also: DInks, scrap of paper from stash

Shared on challenges:
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craftycardmakers-go-green
lovetoscrap-95-anything-goes

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:
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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:
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allsortschallenge-404-metal-andor-charms
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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:
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glitternsparkle challenge-228
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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:
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carabbiemomentschallenge-112-AG-masculine
creataliciouschallenges-109-AG-twine
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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:
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creatalicious-108-anything-goes-with-hearts
craftycalendar-february-challenge-love-is-in-air
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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
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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:
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craftycatz -356-crafty-catz-anything-goes-with-male
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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:
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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:
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craftycreationschallenge 334-anything-goes
glitternsparkle challenge-224  cylinder
thecraftyaddictschallenge-33
classicdesignteamchallenge 1st-february-2017
worldwideopendesignteamchallenge15th-january-2017

Superstar Ellie

Come And Get It Challenge this week is 3 or more layers.  Have a look at what the design team have done and join in: cagichallenge

Thank you to sponsor Paper Nest Dolls; the Ellie image is great to colour and would suit a variety of occasions: paper-nest-dolls - superstar-ellie

I coloured the image and carefully laid Kindyglitz  on her crown, glasses and wand, after all, superstars have to have some glitter don't they?  The image oval is raised on 3D foam, allowing the stars to be inserted underneath.

Image:  Paper Nest Dolls 'Superstar Ellie'
coloured with Copics
Oval dies: Spellbinders
Star die: Couture Creations
Heart border die: Spellbinders
Also: ribbon, glitter tape, Kindyglitz

Shared on challenges:
craftyfriendschallenge-50-girly
getcreative ch-54-anything-goes
craftingfromtheheart challenge-144
fabnfunkychallenge-335-ribbon-and/or-pearls
carabbiemomentschallenge-110-feminine

I Heart Birds

I was inspired  when I saw the red edge on her guest designer card at Time Out and just had to CASE  Ksenija's card:



Stamp: Papermania
EF: Kaisercraft



The heart is heat embossed with red distress EP, and I added some fine silver heat embossed sprinkles.



Shared on challenges:
timeoutchallenges-75-case-with-your-own-twist
modsquadchallenge/showyourlove/
trimmiescraft challenge-400-love
pennyblackatallsorts january-anything-goes
qkr-stampede-challenge-228-anything-goes
disdigidesigns all-about-love

Daisy Fresh

A simple flower, fresh colour, a bit of detail and a lovely quotation.

Flower stamp: IndigoBlu
Coloured with Copics, stems drawn by me.
Sentiment Stamp:
EF: Kaisercraft  (distress clear heat embossed)
Die: Kaisercraft
Corner punch: unknown
Ribbon, pearls



Shared on challenges:
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allsortschallenge week-399-daisy-daisy
creativecraftcottagechallenge-80-flowers
addictedtostampschallenge-225
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pile-it-on-125-quotable
fabnfunkychallenge-334-must-use-ribbon
cinspirations-266-fabulous-flowers
southerngirls challenge-151-stitch-me-up

Black & White Scotty

Working in black and white is always a challenge, and I am always tempted to add a wee dash of colour somewhere ... but I resisted this time.
It is so handy for masculine cards too.


Stamp: Inkadinkadoo
Sentiment: Kaisercraft (white embossed)
EF: Marianne
Paper: Creativ
Black cord


Shared on challenges:

daranddiane-black-and-white
incywincydesigns-for-men-in-your-life
ooh-la-la-creations challenge-220 men/boys
crafty-catz-challenge-354-anything-goes
wordartwednesday-anything-goes-weeks-266-267
craftycreations-anything-goes
thecraftyaddictschallenge-32monochromatic

Winter Ppinky

The theme this week at Come And Get It Challenges is 'Winter', have a look at what the team has done and join us here:  cagichallenge

Our sponsor for this challenge is Ppinky designs, check out the beautifully drawn images here:
ppinkydollsart


Image: Ppinky Winter
Coloured with Faber & Castell pencils
EF: Practical Publishing
Die: Couture Creations
Sentiment stamp: Woodware

I wanted to keep the image soft so I coloured with pencils.  I stamped the sentiment onto a strip of organza ribbon using Stazon ink.

Shared on challenges:
tuesday-throwdown-tt325-snowflakes
cuttlebugmania winter-wonderland
timeoutchallenge-74-winter
happylittlestampers-january-anything-goes-with-dies
worldwideopendesignteamchallenge 15th-january-2017
creatalicious challenge-107-anything-goes+winter
papersweetiesinspiration-challenge-january-2017
wordartwednesday anything-goes-challenge-weeks-264-265
diesruschallenge-65-winter-blues

Celebration Mouse

There's a photo inspiration at Crafters Café this week:  crafterscafe



sponsored by the talented Lisa Decosse with these delicious papers, here at decossesdynamitedoodles
We'd love you to join us for this challenge!

The diecuts have edges inked.  The image is paper-pieced - the mouse is stamped three times: once onto the Decosse snow paper, once on grey card (and coloured with Copics), and the scarf is stamped on a scrap of patterned paper.   The tree is layered with dark blue and fixed with 3D foam.



Papers - snow, argyle, celebrate: Decosse
Image stamp: Penny Black
Tree die: Marianne
Snowflake dies: Couture Creations
Also: Kindyglitz, gem


Shared on challenges:
tuesday-throwdown-tt325-snowflakes
cuttlebugmania winter-wonderland
diesruschallenge-65-winter-blues
creatalicious challenge-107-anything-goes-with winter
thecraftyaddictschallenge-32-AG/monochrome
creativeknockouts 176-celebrations
timeoutchallenges-74-winter
incywincydesigns celebrate
cardsundmore-challenge-175-party-animals

90 Birthday Celebration

A funny thing happened ...

I made this card for an elderly friend of mine who turned 90 on Monday.  We go to the same library craft group each Wednesday.   She laughed so much when she saw it, because on the Monday (unknown to me)  her daughter had brought around a small birthday cake for her with only 9 candles and when lit, the candles all flared up, melting each other and the icing, and they had difficulty putting them out!


Stamp image: Art Impressions Burnadette (new)
Coloured with Copics
Sentiments & number done on the computer
Zigzag die: Couture Creations (sparkle card)
Border punch: Fiskars
Die Ovals: Spellbinders
DIe Circles: Spellbinders
Stitching hand drawn with black pen


Shared on challenges:
disdigidesigns-celebrations-challenge
fabnfunkychallenges-333-birthday-with-number
carabbiemoments challenge-109 new
creativeknockouts 176-celebrations
craftycalendarchallenge january-challenge-new
deepoceanchallenge-146-anything-new
wordartwednesday anything-goes-challenge-weeks-264-265
classicdesignteamchallenge 1st-january-2017
pennyblackatallsorts/january-anything-goes

Birthday Ticket

I started with a sketch:

I always need birthday cards and enjoy doing mancards.  I used a colour palette of Coffee and Cream, and my new embossing folder and new sentiment stamp.

I distressed the edges and sanded the embossing randomly (distressing is one of my favourite techniques), then layered it over gauze. The ticket on brown card and sentiment on cream card are stamped with different coloured inks to add interest and variation.  The base card is matt metallic gold.

Paper: Kaisercraft
EF: Kaisercraft
Ticket die: Couture Creations
Ticket stamp: Invoke Arts
Sentiment stamp: Mama Elephant
Also: gauze, metal brad




Shared on challenges:
yournextstamp-sketchchallenge-54
sirstampalot-challenge-january-coffee-and-cream
diesruschallenge-64-anything-goes
inspirationdestination ag-no-118
creativeknockouts174-anything-goes
allsortschallenge-396-something-new
lilpatchofcraftyfriendschallenge-49
avenue613challenge-193-anything-goes-technical

Birthday Lolly

Start off 2017 with a monochrome card!  See Crafters Café challenge here: crafterscafe
Check out what the design team have done and leave some love.

Our sponsor is creativebugdigis and how cute is this image?




Image: Creative Bugs "Look at Me Lolly"
Coloured with Copics
Round die: Couture Creations
Happy die: Creative Dies
Birthday die:
Pawprint stamp: Whispers

Shared on challenges:
craftyfriendschallenge-48ag
lilpatchofcraftyfriends-48-ag
creatalicious challenge-106-anything-goes
avenue613 challenge-193-anything-goes

Hats Off Grad

A CAS one layer card!  And a toast to the new grad: new beginnings!

I stamped directly onto the card, then masked the image and sponged distress ink around the silhouette. Because the sentiment is a clear stamp I bent it to where the hat would be if it was lifted off.


Stamps: My Favourite Things
coloured with Copics

Shared on challenges:
casology week-229-toast
myfavoritethings-color-challenge-60
simplylessismoore/challenge-307-308-children
timeout challenge-73-inspired-by-words

BlueChristmas

A blue Christmas, well blue and silver really.  And you already know I like simple...  and you might have guessed I really like smooshing.

The background is matt metallic silver paper.  For the tree, I coloured white card using smooshed distress inks, then embossed it before adding silver Glimmermist.  This meant it collected in the nooks and is quite subtle.  Then trimmed it to a tree shape, inked the edges and raised on 3D foam.

Words EF: C

raft Creations
Star EF: Sullivans
Liquid Pearls, silver cord, silver star.

Shared on challenges:

craftypurplefrog-winter-blues
cuttlebugmania-a colourful Christmas
tuesday-morning-sketches-383
inspirationdestination ag-no-117
cas-ualfridays 163-christmas-hanukkah
trimmiescraftchallenge-395--anything
pile-it-on-123-celebrations
happylittlestampersdecember-cas-challenge
cupcakeinspirations 388

Contrast Merry Christmas

Christmas doesn't have to be red and green to be merry and fun.  I like the contrasts for this one and the simplicity; after you see the colours, the gold embossed sentiment becomes the focus. 

Dies: Spellbinders
Stamp:  Hero Arts

Shared on challenges:
cuttlebugmania i-am-dreaming-of-colourful
tuesday-morning-sketches-383
incywincydesigns-non-traditionalChristmas
wordartwednesday anything-goes-challenge-weeks-262-263
craftycreations merry-Christmas
trimmiescraftchallenge-395-anything
cas-ualfridays 163-christmas-hanukkah
creatalicious-105-anything-goes-with Christmas