Just Cute Bears Challenge #6

This week's Just Cute bears challenge is

Mint and brown.

We are sponsored by Cuddly Buddly and you have the chance of winning this ...

Now I have to admit to finding this challenge .. well challenging .. mint isn't a colour I do!!
I watercoloured the image and matted it onto brown cardstock. I matted the papers onto brown cardstock, added the greeting and 5 brads ... very much a bloke's card!! I admit it is more green than mint, but some of the papers look minty!!

Do check out the other DT creations and join in.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Forever Friends
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: MME
Embellishments: brads from stash

Birthdays!

I have done all my jobs (ironing, cleaning, tidying ...) and as a reward for being good I have made some cards. I coloured the images in last night so it was just a matter of putting the cards together.
The first card is for my Mum, not a Mothering Sunday card (I showed that last Saturday) but its her birthday soon, so its her birthday card. And the challenges it ticks off ...

Just Magnolia - birthdays
Friday Sketcher - sketch
Colour Create - red, black, off white
Stamp Something - recipe - ribbon, design paper, button
Allsorts - card/gift for Mum
Simon Says Stamp - vintage with flowers (I think its vintagey!)
Totally Gorguss - for Mum

I masked Tilda onto the Magnolia watering can and watercoloured the image. I cut it out and matted it onto the circle. The sketch has been rotated and I have to admit to not looking closely at the three strips - I have put them all the way across (oops!). The dp (Basic Grey Scarlet's Letter and Infuse) is faux stitched and distressed. I added some organza ribbon, a big bow with a button at its centre. Finally some brads and some roses.

My second card is also for my Gran from the girls ... she will be 94 in a couple of weeks.
And it ticks off these challenges:
Totally papercrafts - sketch
Wags N Whiskers - freestyle
One Stop Craft Challenge - optimistically pink
I do love this pair, they look angelic! The image is from Wags n Whiskers and is called Love you Sis. I watercoloured the image and muddied their wellies (well who has clean wellies!!), before cutting them out. I followed the sketch without fiddling with any of the elements (a change for me!!) and added some punched flowers. I wanted to add some ribbon but had none that matched the blue cardstock ... I have loads of ribbon but none that matched!! The dp is Basic Grey Blush.

Onto my next birthday card ... it is my lovely friend Vicky's older son's birthday on Wednesday (and I haven't forgooten Vicky!!) so here is his birthday card.
And the challenges -
Just Magnolia - birthdays
Create4fun - sketch
I masked the Magnolia monkey onto its Liane branch and then watercoloured it and let Ellie help distress the background .. a bit darker in places than I would have liked!! The dp is Basic Grey Hang 10 and I matted it onto brown cardstock. The sentiment is Penny Black and the buttons are from my stash. I threaded some twine through them .. kindly "helped" by Miffy the cat ... it has been lovingly chewed and clawed (nice!!).

And finally the card I was going to give my gran for her birthday ... I'll explain the was in a bit.
The challenges ticked off are
Papertake Weekly Challenge - sketch
Saturday Spotlight - clean and simple (I think so!)
Charisma Cardz - birthday card with a candle
One Stop Craft - optimistically pink
This is one gorgeous HM ... I just love that ickle meece holding his full tummy!! I watercoloured the image and matted it onto pink cardstock. Just some Basic Grey Blush papers and the sentiment ... and thats my problem ... without realising I got some ink on the block and its transferred onto the card ... any ideas how to remove it ... or am I going to have to add something to it?!


All the challegnes are linked in my sidebar.

And now for a little moan ... I stamp on linen cardstock from the Papermill shop, but I have noticed that this current batch is absorbing my distress inks before I can shade with them so i am not getting the level of shading I want. Tilda's red dress is an example of the lack of shading thanks to the ink being absorbed ... ok moan over!

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge week 72

The lovely Donna has chosen this week's Secret Crafter challenge. We would like to see stitching on your creations.
I adore this image and coloured it with mycopics and promarker pens (all available from Secret Crafter). I love these K and Co papers ... very vintage and soft, so I matted them onto cardstock, and faux stitched them using a white gel pen. The flower is layered using flowers from Poppicrafts (I relly miss their flowers :() and Wild Orchid Crafts, and the lace is from my stash.

Do take a peek at the fab DT creations.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Elisabeth Bell A Good Read (digi)
Colouring Media: promarkers and copics
Papers: K and Co
Embellishments: all from stash

Vintage with flowers

I love a bit of vintage ...
Willow is coloured in using my new distress inks ... these new colours are fab!!! I then applied the cracked glass technique to the image, cracked the glass and rubbed vintage photo into the image. The image is distressed with antique linien and vintage photo. I distressed the edges of the paper and added vintage photo ink and then clear embossing powder and heated. The dp is also faux stitched. Finally some raffia, pearls, glittered roses and a bow.

The card covers the following challenges:
Simon Stamp Stamps - vintage with flowers
A Spoonfull of Sugar - distress inks, pearls and glitter
Whiff of Joy - sketch
Stamp with Fun - stitching
ABC Tutorial Challenge - cracked glass; ABC challenge - New (inks and pearl strings)
Cute Card Thursday - ribbon fantastic
Saturday Spotlight - Get messy

Recipe:
Stamp(s): WOJ Willow
Colouring Media: distres inks
Papers: K and Co
Embellishments: all from stash

Dutchdare Card Challenge #72

This week's challenge is a gatefold card.
I made an Easter card using Penny Black images...

For the front of my card I used these fab Doodlebug papers and added some Bo Bunny ribbon that I have had for ages without being able to cut into it!! I watercoloured the iamge and then cut out the images and mounted them either side of the fold so they replicated the original image. I added some punched flowers.



On the inside of the card I followed Create4fun's sketch and used this cute PB image (thank you Pauline). Again Doodlebug papers and some white raffia ribbon that has had some yellow/gold organza ribbon threaded through it. Again punched flowers and a yellow bow.

As I have mainly used pink, yellow and green I am entering this into the PBSC this week.

Do check out the DT creations.
Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers:Doodlebug
Embellishments: from stash

ABC Christmas Challenge E for

Elves

and fairy folk

And its my turn to choose the extra .. another colour combo .. red and green.

We are being sponsored by our lovely DT member Lacey from Stamp and Create and have a fab prize up for grabs - a Whiff of Joy Wee in Stocking.

We are letting you use fairy folk as well as elves as long as its Christmasy!

I watercoloured the image and cut it out using my nesties. The mat was created by cutting round the outer edge of the nestie I had used for the image. I matted the ribbons on to red cardstock, and added the layered flower and charm.
Do take time to have a peek at the other DT cards and join in and crack on with your Christmas cards.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): WOJ Wee on reindeer
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: Basic Grey Figgy Pudding (I think)
Embellishments: charm, ribbon and bobbly ribbon from Stamp and Create, flowers from stash

Just Cute Bears Challenge #5

Thank you to everyone who entered the challenge last week ... what great interpretations of Jane's sketch.
This week our theme is ...

Lilac

and you have the chance to win this gorgeous stamp from Cuddly Buddly.

Here's my take on lilac:
I watercoloured the image and matted it onto a scalloped nestie. I added some ribbon, 2 gorgeous flowers with gems in the centre, and some gems as a corner accent.

Do check out the other DT cards and join in yourself.
Recipe:
Stamp(s): Forever Friends
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: Kanban
Embellishments: from stash

Snuzzles and cuddles

Its Saturday morning and I have been up since the crack of dawn thanks to our 'delightful' cat who has obviously read somewhere that owners like their cats to bring very alive shrews (or mice) into the bedroom to torture!! She stalked off to my craft room to kill the first and we managed to liberate the second ... but by 6am I was wide awake ... so I thought i would have a go at making some challegne cards before cracking on with some DT work.
For both cards I have my latest stamps .. both from Wags 'n' Whiskers .. and bought before Lent!!!

The first card covers these challenges:
Wags 'n' Whiskers - favourite things ... stamps, charms, flowers, distress inks ...
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Stamp Something - touch of Spring (I think the papers are spring like!)
Totally Papercrafts - Lots of Spots
Fuss 'n' Fancy - Dazzle us
Cute Card Thursday - metal mania
Totally Gorguss - Flower Power
I masked the wings off and stamped the image, before watercolouring it using distress inks and distressed round the outside in tumbled grass (new and just a bit fab!). I rotated the sketch and the sentiment is Magnolia, with the not masked off. Sorry I have just noticed the charm is twisted ... opps! I added some gems in a sort of swirl, some flowers and spacers and a charm.

Now I bought this image as it reminded me of one of my favourite things ... younger daughter Beth and her favourite teddy Harvey (no pink bow!!) ... oh and she is wearing her favourite colour ... pink!!

Onto the second card ...
Friday Sketchers - sketch (rotated)
Wags 'n' Whiskers - favourite things (see above)
Cute Card Thursday - metal mania
Totally Gorguss - Flower power
Allsorts - tag/label/ticket
Totally Papercrafts - Lots of Spots
I LOVE this image ... it is Ellie and her bunny! I watercoloured the image and distressed the edges. I faux stitched the dp and added a Tim Holtz ticket for the sentiment. The flower is layered and I added a charm to it. Finally some white organza ribbon and a ickle bow.

Here are my gorgeous babies with Bunny and Harvey ... you can't really see Bunny ... trust me she is well loved and very patched!!! (Auntie JoJo will confirm that as she's the one that gets to patch Bunny!)
Ellie on New year's Day 2005 with Bunny - they were both 3 weeks old!!
and finally Beth in April 2007 with Harvey ... the day she got him.
The girls were supposed to be going swimming ... but that has been cancelled ... so hubby is on playing duty so I can craft :)
I will be blog hopping later ... got lots to catch up on as I have had a really busy week and not much 'pooter time.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Wags 'n' Whiskers Bear Hug, Snuzzle Love; Magnolia sentiment
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers:MME Pretty Please
Embellishments: ribbon, charms, spacers, brads, flowers from stash

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge week 71

This week's challenge has been chosen by the lovely Debby and its Mothers day.
I made an easel card for my Mum.
I coloured this gorguss Sugar Nellie Manga (thanks Jane) using my pens and then cut and mat her using nesties. The papers are MME and I added some layered flowers from Poppicraft (nearly out of these now :() and some ribbon and gems. I used a See Dees lphabet set to stamp Mum.
Do take a peek at the other DT's gorgeous creations and join in.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sugar nellie manga
Colouring Media: Proamrkers and copics
Papers: MMW Pretty Please
Embellishments: ribbon, flowers and gems from stash

ABC Tutorial challenge

On the ABC Challenge there is a tutorial challenge running and the DT are allowed to enter! So I am entering as a fab prize is up for grabs ... but you have to go over there to find out what it is!!

This card covers:
ABC Challenge - Cracked glass
ABC challenge - 1 paper
Simon Says Stamp - recipe - 1 image, 2 papers, 3 types of embellies (brads, flowers, pearls)
Charisma Cardz - sketch
Cute Card Thursday - Metal mania (copper brads)

I used my new distress inks to watercolour the image and cut her out using my nesties. Then I heat embossed the image 4 times, put it in the freezer, then cracked it and rubbed some vintage photo ink into the cracks. I kept the details simple .. would have loved to have added some ribbon ... but ran out of embellies.

I have made the card for a good friend who took my 2 girls off my hands yesterday so I could deal with the husband who passed out on the train down to London. The girls had a great day, and my friend seems to have survived, bless her! But then she is a prison officer so you would hope she could manage 3 girls!!!


Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sugar Nellie Demure
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers: I wish I knew!!
Embellishments: prima flowers, brads and pearls from stash

Raining pearls

My lovely new distress inks arrived yesterday ... and they are fab!!! I love the new colours ... just couldn't decide which to use first!! I inked up one of my neglected Whiff of Joys and played ...
The card covers these challenges ...
Simon Says Stamp - recipe - 1 image, 2 papers and 3 types of embellies (pearls, flowers and punched swirls)
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Whiff of Joy - Pearls and Swirls

Willow is coloured using my new distress inks and then cut out using my nesties. I inked the edge in green and matted the dp onto green cardstock, after doing some faux stitching. The sentiment is PB and I used my CB charms to cut the sentiment out.. Some punched swirls, a layered flower and a smattering of pearls to finish.

I am on a stash diet for Lent ... no buying of anything crafty for 40 days!! Managing so far ...!!!
Just hoping nothing really good gets released that I really need to have NOW!! And I keep thinking of all the money I will have saved for my holiday.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): WOJ Willow and Umbrella
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers: Basic Grey Sugar Rush
Embellishments: all from stash

ABC Challenge - O is for ...

One paper

For this challenge we want you to use 1 paper ... it can be 1 sheet of single or double sided paper, or you can make your own.

I made my own paper for this challenge.

Tilda is coloured using distress inks and then I used my nesties to cut her out. The edges of the blue paper is inked in silver ink. I added blue organza ribbon and some blue and silver braid. The sentiment is stamped onto the dp and emossed using silver embossing powder.

Here's how I made the paper:

1. I swiped faded jeans distress ink on my mat, spritzed it and then rubbed the card into it.
When it was dry and spritzed with 3 different glimmer mists to create the tones and shades.

2. I used the snowflake circle and 2 sizes of snowflakes and versamark ink.

I stamped the snowflake circle in versamark over the paper.
3. I covered the dp in silver embossing powder and then tapped the excess off.
I heated the powder up.

4. I stamped the snowflakes over the dp and again added silver embossing powder and heated.
So it looked like this.
I used the non stamped parts as matts and for the sentiment.

Do check out the other DT cards and don't forget about the monthly tutorial challenge.


Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Santa's little Helper, Snowy Circle, snowflakes, Let it Snow sentiment
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: own
Embellishments: ribbon and braid from stash

A challenge card at last

We're back from a few days away and feeling slightly more refreshed!! Beth's impetigo has almost gone and Ellie is off school for the week so lots of nice thingss planned.
The children are still tired from their time away and chose to have a chill time this afternoon in front of the telly ... they ended up watching it through their eyelids!!!

So I made a card for some challenges:
Quixotic Cards - tag it
Simon Says Stamp - Whats love got to do with it
Just Magnolia - Love
Friday Sketcher - sketch
Allsorts - recipe - 3,2,1 ... I used 3 flowers (and buttons!), 2 patterned papers, 1 ribbon
A Spoonfull of Sugar - Springtime
Passion for Promarkers - buttons and bows
Papertake Weekly - Check this out (checks/gingham)

I colouredTilda in and then cut her out. I matted her onto oval dp and scalloped oval cardstock (I love my nesties!!!). The dp is edged with pink ink. I added yellow ribbon and a bow. I punched flowers out of the dp and added white buttons. Finally a tag stamped with the sentiment.


Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Happy Tilda; PB sentiment
Colouring Media: Promarkers
Papers: Forever Friends
Embellishments: punched flowers, ribbon and buttons from stash

Sketch and Stash #29

I can't believe we are onto challenge 29!!! And that Becky is still coming up with such fantastic sketches .. me I'd have run out of ideas by now!!

We are sponsored this week by Whimsy Stamps and they are offering a $15 voucher.
Here's the sketch ...
and my interpretation (yes i had to rotate it!!)
I coloured my new Sugar Nellie Manga in using promarkers and copics. I matted the iamge and dp onto blue cardstock and stamped the fleur de ils detail along the bottom. The flower is made using my nesties and alot of scrunching and distressing!!

Do check out the other Dt members fab cards and join in if you have the time.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sugar Nellie Sitting Pretty
Colouring Media: promarkers and copics
Papers: Basic Grey Wisteria
Embellishments: from stash