Sparkle Wherever

The Crafters Café theme is TicTacToe, such a fun way to get inspiration - here: crafterscafe




Bugaboo supplied the super summery image,  get it here:   bugaboostamps







I chose the diagonal line Black-PP-Yellow.  I softly coloured the background of the image with distress inks sponged. Diecut the pp and a foam sheet to act as a spacer for the shaker.  The embossing powder is sparkly too.
I like the silhouettes with the butterflies and hummingbirds attending the flowers.

Image: Bugaboo-Hummingbird Flowers

coloured with distress inks in soft yellow & blue

Circle Die: Spellbinders

Sentiment stamp: Rosies Studio with sparkly EP

Sequins, acetate

As you can see, some sequins escaped  ;-D

Shared on challenges:
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Old Bird

Always critters at 2Crafty Critter Crazies, so spot the design team for inspiration and join us here:
crafterscafeblogchallenge












And our sponsor with this super cool image is a set from Sparkle n Sprinkle, get it here: sparklensprinkle-digi725b-cool-chicks

Image: Sparkle n Sprinkle Cool Chicks set
Paper pieced bodies from snippets, legs are Copics
Washi tape, white pigment pen, flower

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Hoppy Wishes

Incy Wincy Design's challenge is ATC, Tag or Bookmark this time.  Be inspired by the design team and have a go yourself: incywincydesigns




Thanks to Limited Runs who have provided this very cute froggie (I love froggies), get it here:





The background is made by smooshing, splashing and spritzing with distress inks and gold.
Froggie is colured with Copics and misted with gold Shimmer Mist (unfortunately doesn't show very well).

Image: Limited runs
Bee stamp: Penny Black
Sentiment Stamp: Pink Petticoat
Shimmer Mist gold
Ribbon, gold cord, mulberry paper (green)


Shared on challenges:
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Dragonfly Thoughts

Sometimes when you're sitting outside on a summer day, little winged things come to where you are.  Have you ever wondered where they came from and where they're going?  Do they find us strange? Do they check us out to see what we are?  Maybe that's why they come for a visit!


I had previously made the background by using distress inks/gold mist and the cling wrap technique.  I used the inks in a rainbow style layout and then spritzed with gold mist.  Click on the detail pics for a closer look.

I used a snippet of the made card, left over from another project, and stamped this lovely dragonfly in black ink.





Image: Hero Arts
Sentiment: Rosies Studio
Die: Spellbinders






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Hot Tub Mice

I have just got the Joanna Sheen House Mouse cd and this is my first card using images from it.
I wanted it to look like they were in a secluded grove enjoying the tub; these tiny mice look like they're having fun together in their tiny hot tub.  The flowers are slightly shaded using distress inks.

Image: House Mouse
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's Studio
Oval die: Spellbinders
Leafy Die: Couture Creations
Punches: unbranded
Also: gems

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Bionic Bag

I have been sewing this bag with two of my friends for 3 days.  Jan has made two, Judy has made four, and now that it's finished I never want to make another!  I nearly bust my machine; at one stage you are sewing through about 10 layers.
That said, it is a super bag, compact, useful and fits anything I would need to go to classes or stitching groups.

The back of the bag sits up and the front lays out open like a tray.  In between the zipped pockets are spaces for stuff like scissors.  The triangular pouch is for threads and scraps - it folds flat.

And there's even a wee pocket for my craft specs.

Thanks Jan and Judy, I would never have figured it out using the instructions alone.  Now that it's finished, I'm glad I made it, but I still won't ever make another!

Dragonfly Awesome

I've been trying out different ways to get arty effects.  Here I watered ink and brushed it on, spritzed and used sea salt to absorb colour.

Dragonfly stamp: Hero Arts
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's Studio
Die: Spellbinders
Also Shimmer Spray (click on image to see)



Shared on challenges:
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Nest Celebration

Creatures! challenge at the Crafters Café.  You can check out the challenge and the design teams inspiration here:  crafterscafeblogchallenge














Thanks to sponsor Wink Wink Ink for this very cute image.  Get it here: Wink Wink Ink digital-stamp-our-nest-is-best





Click to see the shimmer:

Image: Wink Wink Ink - Our Nest is Best
Coloured by smooshing with Distress Inks
Leafy die: Couture Creations
Sentiment die: Poppy Stamps
Also: Shimmer Spray, Nuvo crystal drops


Shared on challenges:
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Blooming Bunch of Flowers

I got these stamps with a magazine and have been having a bit of fun with them, this is #3.  Here is a one-layer card made by using an inked acrylic block as the stamp onto the card blank, then stamped over with image.  I also added some of the inks to the flowers and leaves with a brush.




Stamps: freebie with magazine
Distress Inks
Lindys Glitz Spritz
Glossy Accents




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Purple bow flowers

Say it with flowers, a lovely way to communicate.

I have been trying different ways to use this stamp, this is #2.

The flowers are stamped and heat embossed in white, then watercoloured.  The jar is die cut from patterned paper.  The paints are iridescent (click on pic to see the shimmer).  

Stamp & jar die: freebie from magazine
EF: cuttlebug
Also: Ribbon, Pearls.

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The best place to be

I love being out in the garden.  What better place to feel calm and in touch with nature.  This image reminds me of younger days when I would be out in the garden with the kids when they were little and they would pull up handfuls of plants and present them to me.


Image: Mo's Digital Pencil
Coloured with Copics and paper pieced
Watering can die: Impression Obsession
Pots die: All Occasions













Pinspirational pic:

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Fly Away Kitty

Incy Wincy Designs and the design team have a THINGS THAT FLY challenge which you will love to join in, here: incywincydesigns




Polkadoodles is our sponsor with these wonderful images, check it out here: polkadoodles


Image: Polkadoodles Jasper
coloured with Copics
Die: unbranded
Also, ribbon, button, flower, twine, Distress Inks, black pearl

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letscreate-137-ag-lace ribbon twine
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Birthday Flowers

This stamp/die set came recently with a magazine and I have been trying it different ways - this is #1.

Flowers,vase-Stamp/Dies: freebie with magazine
Coloured with Copics
EF: Cuttlebug
Sentiment stamp: Rosie's Studio
Also: washi tape, gems










Shared on challenges:
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Kitty kitty

For those of you who are acquainted with my 9 year old granddaughter Rhiannon's cardmaking work, here is a card I made using one of her handdrawn images.
I love her art and think it is right up there with some store bought images.

Image: Rhiannon W
Coloured with pencils
Sentiment is in my own printing
Also: ribbon, drawn black pen border,felt heart
PP with inked edges

Shared on challenges:
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Goldfish - Rhiannon age 9

Rhiannon - age 9. Nonna lets me use her blog.

I used nonnas stamps and coloured it in.  I used washi tape I got with pocket money to make borders and a box for the caption.


Shared on challenges:
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Nonna's note:
Sentiment stamp: Pink Petticoat
Jar/fish stamp: freebie with a magazine
Coloured with felt pens.

Create Magic

Gatefold or Stepper cards is what's on the menu at the Crafters Café, here:  crafterscafe














I used sponsor ScrapNDipity Aquarius image, get it here:  scrapndipity-aquarius









Water creates magic! I was so pleased  I could get the magic to come out of the can.  This would be good for mothers day.


Image: ScrapNDipity Aquarius
Coloured with Copics
Die: magazine freebie
Sentiment: Finnabair
Also: Gem, button, white pigment pen

Shared on challenges:
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Birthday Dirt

It's a gate-fold or step-fold challenge at the Crafters Café this time, here:
crafterscafeblogchallenge



Our Sponsor ScrapNDipity provided the great-to-colour image, get it here:  scrapndipity-digital-stamps/astrology/aquarius



Image: ScrapNDipity
Coloured with Copics
Sentiment: Bugaboo
Sentiment die: unbranded
Large pot/lavender die: Spellbinders
Small pot dies: All Occasion
Flowers/cactus dies: Sizzix
Gems, Kindyglitz, Distress inks

Shared on challenges:
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Anastasia's Birthday

At 2 Craft Critter Crazies we have anything as long as it's Critters as the focal point.  Check out the design team's work and join in:  2craftycrittercrazies









Rick St Dennis is our sponsor.  What a wonderful selection and such fun, see here: rick1949/anastasia

I made the background on watercolour paper (very textured) and used Distress Oxide inks, then spritzed, splattered etc - that was fun too.  The sentiment is gold embossed.

Image: Cat Anastasia
Coloured with Copics
Sentiment stamp:
Perfect Pearls mist, Pearls, W of S, white gel pen




Shared on challenges:
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