Tiny Garden

Here is a tiny garden. 
I embossed the die onto the base card, then stamped within the frame.  Such a pretty image.  I had previously stamped another card but smudged the sentiment as I was stamping, so this provided an already coloured flower head to cut out and attach with foam.  The stamp sentiment was 'you make me smile' but I only used the 'smile' bit.

Stamp: Penny Black
Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts
Coloured with Copics
Die used as EF: unbranded
Kindyglitz

Shared on challenges:
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Butterfly thanks

What wonderful creatures butterflies are.  As they flitter by they always give us a lift in spirits and usually we gasp with delight - 'Ahhh, a butterfly..' no matter how fancy or plain it may be.

At the moment I'm loving these colours.  The smoky blue-green with black and white is a standout for me. 



Image paper: Paper Arts
Papers: Kaisercraft
Dies: Unbranded
Sentiment: Bo Bunny
Corner punch: unbranded
Washi tape, pearl








Shared on challenges:
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Cabbage Bunny

This is such a cute bunny and that cabbage looks so comfortable; I imagine it would be cool resting in a spring cabbage when you've had a busy day in the garden.

Image: Eureka
coloured with copics
EF: Couture Creations
Sequins, Glossy Accents

Shared on challenges:
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White Easter basket

An Easter basket for putting those eggs in; so pretty.  I made this all in white and I guess it would look nice for wedding or celebrations of any kind.

I got the instructions from the internet.  The basket is cut with a craft knife from 240gsm heavy white card, stapled together, and decorated.  The sentiment is punched then embossed with silver.
A personal message attached to the other handle.

Die: Spellbinders
Circle punch: unknown
Sentiment: Penny Black
Butterfly punch: Martha Stewart
Ribbon, pearl, tissue, eggs

Shared on challenges:
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Lavender's blue

Do you remember that old rhyme "lavender's blue dilly dilly, lavender's green..."?
I have lavender plants ranging from blue, all the purples, to pink and I have seen green and white ones too.
I LOVE lavender, and this is a lovely drawing of it.

Image: A Day For Daisies
coloured with copics
Stitched die: unbranded
Corner punch: unbranded
Sentiment: unknown
Buttons, ribbon, Kindyglitz

I hope you can spot the tiny sparkles on the lavender heads:

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Springtime Cuppa

Taste a bit of springtime over at the Crafters Café and spot the DT's work: crafterscafe

My Stitch Back in Twine is one of our sponsors this time, check it out:  Mystitchbackintwine



Isn't it lovely, that first time in spring when you can take a cuppa out into the garden, breathe deeply, listen to the birds and enjoy the moment.

Image: A Stitch Back In Twine
Coloured with Copics
Border punch: Fiskars
Sentiment die: Poppy Stamps
Butterfly die: Couture Creations
Flower punch: Martha Stewart
Ribbon, gems, Kindyglitz, WofStella

Shared on challenges:
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Feel Better Cuppa

What a lovely sketchy image for our Easter/Spring flowers challenge this time at the Crafters Café here!


This wonderful image provided by My Stitch Back In Twine 274974102-sketchy flower teacup


Image: My Stitch Back In Twine
coloured with Copics
Both Label dies: cArt
Sentiment stamp: unknown
Star punch: unknown
Circle punch: Woodware
Also: gems, Kindyglitz, ribbon

Shared on challenges:
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Hello Wag Wag

... if you come and play with me, I'll share my bone with you!   This is for a regular monthly cardswap and the theme was Animal, and  I know Alison has a terrier - this was as close as I could get.

I have had the hairy patterned paper for ages and never known what to do with it - now is the time!
I made the watercolour paper with GlimmerMists (it is shimmery) then die cut the word from it.  I stacked layers of the word then put it back into the space.  The dog &bone are stamped onto kraft card and smudged with distress ink.

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz
Coloured with Copics and Distress inks
Corner punch: unbranded
Hairy PPaper: DCWV
Die: Sizzix/Tim Holtz
White gel pen, WoS


Shared on challenges:
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Easter baskets

I wanted to make something for the  grandchildren so I googled woven easter baskets and found lots of ideas, but I just loved these because they display the eggs so nicely and  are simple to decorate.


I made mine with 10 x 1/2 inch strips of card and wove a mat, then you gather up the ends and staple.  It's harder than you think - the mat falls to bits while you're trying to hold it! but by number three, you start to get the hang of things.   ;-D
If you want bigger baskets just use more strips or make them wider.




Stamp: Hero Arts
Flower punch: Martha Stewart
tulle, tissue, Stickles, distress inks (edge of flowers).




Shared on challenges:
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Bunny's Birthday

A real Easter-born spring Bunny! 
Here is a side stepper card for a special real-life Easter Bunny's birthday.  I thought it would be nice to have some friends along for the mischief.
Bunny was born at Easter but won't have another Easter birthday for a long time.  Happy Birthday Bunny.

Image: Penny Black
coloured with copics
Happy stamp: unbranded
Birthday stamp(embossed): Hastings Rubber Stamps
Oval Doily die: Marianne
Oval die: Spellbinders
Grass die: Impression Obsession
Little daisies: drop outs from something else.
Also: Enamel Accents

Shared on challenges:
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Magnificent Magnolias

Curvy and fabulous magnolias show themselves in spring and what a show they put on while they have their brief spring fling in their new dresses.

One layer card:
Stamped, coloured with copics.
Image stamp: Hero Arts
Sentiment stamp: Heidi Grace
Gold metallic pen, white gel pen



Shared on challenges:
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Spring Garden

Come And Get It Challenges design team celebrates Spring and Easter this week, do join us: cagichallenge

I used an image from our sponsor Fred She Said: 
fred-she-said-store-daisies-ladybugs

I printed the image twice so I could 3D the ladybirds, then covered them with Glossy Accents - they look so glamourous.  The sentiment is stacked chipboard with the top layer the gingham of the mat.


Image: Fred She Said
Coloured with Copics
Die sentiment: Lawn Fawn
Glossy Accents, KindyGlitz


Shared on challenges:
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Friends Teacups

Friendship.
There's nothing better than a cuppa with friends ... unless its a glass of wine!  And that's one of the reasons tea is called the cup of cheer, it warms the heart and makes you smile. 


Sometimes my daughter (who lives a couple of hours away) and I have a cuppa together on the phone, just like we would if we were together.

I diecut the teacups and paper pieced with various toning papers.  I love this smoky-blue-green colour so much, I think I'll paint my room this colour...very French looking with the white.

Die: Poppy Stamps
Sentiment stamps:  Avery Elle






Shared on challenges:
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15th-march-2017-world-wide-open-design-challenge
paper-sweeties-challenge-april-2017 the stacked layers , white china,  pale blue items. 
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Hoppy wishes

Oh my goodness it's Easter bunny time again! Doesn't he look surprised at how fast that came around?

My grandchildren always like to get real mail, so any opportunity ...  and I like a clean fresh spring look, so here goes ...





Image: Eureka
Coloured with Copics
EF: DoCrafts
Sentiment stamp: Pink Petticoat clear
Eggs, cut from patterned paper, 3D foam
Silver Sharpie pen
Tulip Puffy 3D Paints (tail)
Tulip Puffy is a tube fabric paint that you leave to dry for 24 hours then heat and it puffs up, but it works great on paper too!  (It makes great bunny tails and Santa beards)  I found you can heat it straight away but it is a better result left for a couple of hours.

Shared on challenges:
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disdigidesigns-add-some-texture (EF, bunny tail)
cutecardthursday -472-easter

Reach for Rainbows

I think this image is wonderful and such fun to play with.  Can you imagine how wonderful it would feel to be flying inside a rainbow?  Whheeeeeee ...

Firstly I made the background using watered distress inks. Stamped the silhouette wildflower garden, and paper pieced the cat-kite, shading the cat with sponged distress inks.








Image: Ikes World
stamp: IndigoBlu
Distress inks
White gel pen (eyes)





Shared on challenges:
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A Rainbow of Butterflies

I know it's usually called a flight of butterflies but I reckon a rainbow of butterflies is more descriptive. I like the transformation idea here too.

I made the rainbow using watered down distress inks on card, then die cut.  The card is really a dark blue but looks almost black in the photo (maybe because its artificial light?).

Butterfly die:
Border punch: Fiskars
Ribbon, gems


Shared on challenges:
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Special person, special flower

The starting point for this was the beautiful patterned paper/card in lovely pastel colours;  I made it into a base card. I've had it in my stash for ages and used it in cards, but never as a card.

I used a Mojo Monday sketch for the design.  While reorganising my die collection I re-discovered a hexagon die I'd forgotten about, and tried out a new freebie layered stamp'n'die set.  Card edges inked.  The flower is also spritzed with silver Shimmer spray, and the stamped sentiment is stamped in grape and heat embossed with silver (I thought), but maybe it was clear (it's come out a purpley silver) ...weird.


I took a close-up to try and capture the subtle shimmer:

Patterned Card: Heidi Grace

Image stamp & die, sentiment: Altenew

HexDie: Couture Creations
Silver Shimmer, gems

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Chocolate Understands

Humour is the theme for this challenge at crafterscafe - come and join us for a bit of fun.

Super sponsor Scribbles provided the fun image:

scribblesdesigns 129-carla-diet-queen-diva

Health Warning:  don't try this at home!  There has been a recent spate of people killed by falling scales.  (Note: chocolate is much safer.)


I coloured the image, sponged some of the background & tag, then framed it.  I placed it wonky, just because I liked it that way, plus sometimes when you're lying on your back the world goes a bit woosy.    Apart from every girl needing a bit of bling, I don't think it needs anything else.



Image: Scribbles.
coloured with Copics
Frame & tag dies: Avery Elle
Sentiment from net
Ribbon, gems, distress ink

Shared on challenges:
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Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday)

I made this for our French teacher.
The image is stamped and paper pieced; the sentiment is ghost stamped (my first attempt at this).
I made the rose using the pinecone die from Tim Holtz, and the leaves are a punch & press.

Image stamp: Cardmaking & Papercraft
Sentiment: PaperXtra
Pinecone die (Rose): Tim Holtz/Sizzix
Leaves (2 punches): unbranded
Corner punch: unbranded
Ribbon, gems

Shared on challenges:
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Avery's easter egg

Come And Get It has a springtime challenge this week, here: cagichallenge  We'd love you to join us!

Paper Nest Dolls is one of our sponsors, so check out their wares; here is the link to the one I used:
paper-nest-dolls egg-coloring-avery

Image: Paper Nest Dolls
Coloured with Copics
Die labels: Spellbinders
Corner die: Spellbinders
Flourish die: Dienamics
Ribbon, pearls, silver metallic pen


Shared on challenges:
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Spring Fling

Springtime is the theme at Come And Get It  here!

and our sponsor All Dressed Up has provided this beautiful image:
little-birdie

Doesn't it make you want to go outside and sit amongst the flowers?

Image: All Dressed Up
Coloured with Copics
EF: Craft Concepts
Punched flowers: Unnamed
Die cut circle:DieNamics
Die cut butterfly: Couture Creations
Also: scrap of patterned paper, gems

Shared on challenges:
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daranddiane things-that-fly

Cupcake Birthday Bunny

You have to love it when the cupcake birthday bunny visits!

Image: Cardmaking Downloads
coloured with Copics
EF: Craft Concepts
Labels Dies: Spellbinders
From stash: White chalk ink, pink distress ink (sponged), WofS, pink sequins




White chalk ink is sponged over the embossing to highlight the cupcakes, and also spun sugar Distress ink sponged over the label.  Clear WinkofStella on cupcake icing.







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Birthday Framed

I love these simple cards with just a splash of colour.













Image: RickStDennis, coloured with Copics
EF: Cuttlebug
Frame die: Couture Creations (cut & re-cut)
Glossy Accents on balloon, silver embroidery floss


Shared on challenges:
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southerngirls-156-dies

Birthday Mail

Don't we all look forward to getting something in the mail that's not a bill?  Especially around our birthdays.  Sorry, a text or email doesn't do it for me.




I used Mojo's sketch for this one, but I turned it on the side.

Image: A Day For Daisies
Coloured with Copics
3 papers & printed sentiment
Vellum doily die: Couture Creations
Circle punches
Pearl

Shared on challenges:
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cinspirations challenge-271-anything-goes