CAS is the way forward ...

I keep thinking if I practise more CAS will be easier ... hopefully!!!

I have had ths Penny Black stamp set for ages, just not got round to doing anything with it.  I stamped the butterfly out using distress ink, cut it out and then liberally misted it with pearl glimmer mist - I wanted some 'veining' of the wings.  I embossed the white cardstock, and added a decorative corer and some ribbon.  I cut out the oval and stamped a swirl, before adding the butterfly.  Finally a double bow and some flat backed pearls to fiish it off.

Supplies: 

Image: Penny Black free flight; Swirl from Clearly Besotted Stamps Butterfly Wishes

Sentiment: 

Colouring medium: distress inks

Papers: 

Embellishments: organza ribbon, flat backed pearsl

Tools: CB D'vine swirl embossing folder, Dienamics photo corner, Spellbinders fancy ovals

Challenges:

Crafty Catz - anything goes

Sweet Stampin - white +1 

2 Sisters - anything goes

ABC - embossing

Crazy4 - ribbons and bows

Penny Black Saturday - January Blues

Sketch saturday - sketch

Totally Gorguss - anything goes with ribbon
Allsorts - CAS

 Sugar Nellie have released some new digi images, and they are just a bit gorgeous!!  I coloured this one in using copics before cutting out using my spellbinders.  Beth helped, so it is a simple layout.  She cut the flowers and layered them up, adding some pearls.  A bit of ribbon and the sentiment to finish it off.

Supplies: 

Image: Sugar Nellie VA Annabel

Sentiment: Clearly Besotted Stamps The Best

Colouring medium: Copics

Skin: E11,E00,E000, R20

Hair: E15,Y30,YR20,YR31

Clothes: BG70,BG72, BG75, BG78

Papers: Pink Petticoat

Embellishments: ribbon and flat backed pearls

Tools: Marianne Creatible flower die, Spellbinders circle die

Challenges:

 Stampavie and more - blue and white

Charisma Cardz - monochromatic

Challenges4Everyone - anything goes
Dream Valley - anything goes

 

Basic Grey Challenge

 The theme for this time's Basic Grey Challenge is Easter.
 We are sponsored by ...

Who are offering a $25.00 voucher.

(PP charges apply)

Another Easter card using my neglected Penny Black duckling!!  I coloured the image using my promarkers.  The dp is Basic Grey Oh Baby Girl, whilst this is discontinued they now do it as a digital set ... I love Basic Grey Digi papers!!! I added gingham ribbon,a layered flower and a pearl, all very simple.

 Challenges:
Creative Card Crew - spring
Oldie but a Goodie - Easter Wishes
Try it on Tuesday - Easter theme
Simon Says Stamp - anything Goes
Divas by Design - stamp something
My Mum's Craft Shop - Stamp it
Charisma Cardz- Easter
Cute Card Thursday - Happy Easter
Moving along with the times - cute and cuddly
PaperPlay - Easter

Totally Papercrafts challenge

Its my first time to set a challenge over at Totally Papercrafts Challenge ... and this week's challenge is Anniversaries.   We are sponsored by

Meljen's Designs

and the prize is  FOUR digi images of winners choice.

 I used this fab Penny Black stamp, Squeeze me til I squeak, and coloured it using my Prisma pencils.  The dp is from NitWits and I matted everything onto kraft, and distressed the edges of the papers.  I added a PB sentiment stamped onto kraft, some lace, a heart doilly that I distressed using tea dy distress ink.  I finally added some flowers.

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge -distressing
 

Simon Says Stamp Guest Design spot

I'm in this week's Simon Says Stamp Designer Spotlight!!! I am really chuffed to having been asked ... Thank you Lols and Heidi.

The theme for this week's challenge is ...

New Baby

I have been making a lot of baby projects over the last couple of weeks ... 2 friends have had babies, and my niece is due in a couple of weeks.
A few weeks back I made a keepsake book for my SIL and one of my friend's loved it so much she asked me to make one for them when the baby was born. They just didn't know what it was going to be (unlike my SIL). I made up the basics of the book and decorated it when Renee was born. It has been a little adapted from the last one!
My friend and her hubby are not very fussy at all ... .flowers, lace, ribbon was a definite no-no!!
I love this cute PB image and it is such a fab one for baby cards and projects. I watercoloured and cut it out using my nesties. I matted it onto the dp and created a joy fold card so you can open it out ...

to have Renee's name inside.

Here's what it looks like from the side. It is basically an accordian book made from wallets stuck together.

And inside each wallet is a decorated page that journalling and photos can be added too.
The tutorial to make this style of accordian book can be found here, but I have not had the fold over flap on this one ... struggled getting the magnectic snaps to work really well.


Do take a look at the other DT creations and don't forget LOls has candy up for grabs.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Baby Hammock
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers: Making Memories
Embellishments:none (gulp!!)

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge week 66

It's Gina's turn to set the challenge this week and she has chosen a musical theme.
I love these ickle meeces dancing away on the piano. I watercoloured then and matted them onto black cardstock. I have gone for a very clean and simple card ... just embossing some pearlised cardstock with my allegro folder and adding a couple of photo anchors.

Do check out the other DT cards and I look forward to seeing your musical creations.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Ode to Joy
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers:
Embellishments: from stash

DDCC #67

This week's Dutchdare Challenge is Make it happen. We want you to make your own embellishments for your cards.
I made my own flowers.
I watercoloured this fab Penny Black hedgie and cut him and the mat out using my nesties. The papers are a digi freebie - Shabby Princess I think, and I used a past Friday Sketcher sketch as my layout. I added some punched leaves and lace to my flowers and some lace to the card. Nice and spring like!

Here's how I made the flowers.

1. Cut 3 sizes of circles out.
I used my nesties, but you can use punches or cut them free hand.
2. I stamped over them using a floral stamp I have and faded jeans distress ink.
You can emboss them at this stage if you want.
3. I distressed the edges, cut into them (but not right into the middle!!) to create petals, and distressed the petal edges. I have also inked the edges.
4. I use a cocktail stick to curl the petals. I curl one edge of each petal forward, and the other backwards.
So they should look like this now. I add my centre to the smallest flowers at this stage.
5. I now use an embossing tool to make the petals curl upwards.

6. Now to assemble the flowers. I use silicone glue and add it to the back of the middle sized flower and then put it inside the largest flower. Be careful not to flatten the petals out.
7. I repeat the process with the smallest flower.
And there you have it ... one handmade flower.

You can see some more hand made flowers here.

Do take a peek at the other DT's embellishments.

Snowy Friday Sketcher

I am back on the see a sketch make 2 Christmas cards promise!! I have used the sketch from Friday Sketcher, Penny Black Saturday Challenge's Christmas for the Guys and Corrosive Challenge blog's embossing theme.

For both cards I embossed the base cardstock with my CB Swiss Dots and Snowflakes folders. I matted the images and dp onto red cardstock, and watercoloured the images. I punched red snowflakes and added card candy to their centres, and then added fluffy stuff to the images for the snow.
Simples!!


Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Royal Mail, let it Snow
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers: Basic Grey Fruit Cake
Embellishments: punched snowflakes, card candy, twine from stash

Daisies

Charisma Cardz challenge this week is daisies, and the Allsorts challenge is Furry Friends. Only one stamp sprang to mind ... this gorgeous Penny Black.
I stamped and watercoloured the image 3 times, before layering it up. I have kept the layout very simple and neutral. The flowers are punched and inked in pink on their edges, just like daisies when they first bud and flower.
Here is a view of the layering.
Feeling slightly stuffed after the first pub meal on our own in nearly 5 years!!! Think I am going to have an easy afternoon LOL!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Squeeze 'til I squeak
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: K and Co Daisies
Embellishments: punched flowers, pearls and raffia from stash

Christmas cards ... I'm on a roll!!!

I thought I would crack on with a few Christmas cards ... the New Year's resolution to make at least 1 a week has been on rocky ground for a while so a bit of a catch up is in order!

This card uses this week's Sketch Saturday sketch.
I watercoloured the image and then glossed the bauble. Once the gloss was dry I added the stickles. I have kept everything simple, using my deckled nesties for the scallop edge. The papers are DCWV, the smaller pattern comes from one of the borders papers. The sentiment came from somewhere ... still no Christmas sentiment stamps so I am going to have to resort to buying some :(

This card is for this week's Allsorts challenge ... a sketch and monochrome Christmas.
Snowy is a great stamp to use for monochrome!! I watercoloured him and stickled him. After cutting him out I matted him onto pearlised cardstock embossed using my snowflakes folder. The dp is DCWV and matted onto turquoise cardstock. I punched the snowflakes and added a bit of stickles. The sentiment is a vellum Papermania one found deep in my stash.

Finally I used the Stampin' for the Weekend sketch.
Not very Christmasy but I have someone in mind for it and they are very butch and not at all sparkly!! I watercoloured Henry and matted him using red and green cardstock. The dp is DCWV Christmas stack from a couple of years ago. I used my nesties to cut the diamonds out. It does need a sentiment ... might be resorting to the peel-offs I found at the bottom of my Christmas box!

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #54

It's Mandy's turn to set the challenge this week, and she wants to see old or neglected stamps on your creations.
I found this cute Penny Black in my Christmas box ... not inked up for 2 years, poor thing!
I coloured the image in distress inks and then added 3d gloss to the baubles. I added some organza ribbon, punched snowflakes and gems. Still looking for the CHristmas sentiment stamps!! I know if I buy some more they will turn up!!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black wishing
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: DCWV
Embellishments: punched snowflakes, gems and ribbon from stash

Dutch Dare Challenge 62

This week's challenge is a recipe:

2 different colours of cardstock

2 different pieces of Patterned Paper

2 flowers

2 brads

2 gemstones/buttons

I adore this stamp, and have to use it at Christmas. I watercoloured the image, and glittered and glossed the berries. I matted the patterned paper onto green cardstock, and embossed a piece of red cardstock using my baubles folder. I layered up a prima flower and attached it using a small brad. I added a big brad to the opposite corner of the image. A couple of red gems finish it off.

Do have a peek at the other DT cards.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Holly Jolly Christmas
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers: Forever Friends
Embellishments: Prima flowers

Penny Black Saturday Challenge sketch

Domi has done a fab sketch for this week's PBSC. I have combined it with the colour challenge over at Cute Card Thursday (pink and green). As it has my favourite embellishment, punched flowers, on it I am entering it for this week's Stamp Something.
I watercollured this cute teddy and cut it out. Imatted the dp up and distressed the edges. I added white ric-rac and white organza ribbon, some punched flowers, and brads.
However, I am not a fan of round cards as I can never get them to stand up properly. So ...
I put it onto a card.
I embossed the white panel using my Swiss Dots folder.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Unwrapped
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers: DCWV Nursery stack
Embellishments: punched flowers, ric-rac, brads, ribbon from stash

Cute Card Thursday Guest DT

It's my 2nd week guesting for Cute Card Thursday. This week's challenge is Lazy Dayz.

This hedgie immediately sprung to mind - Summer to a tee (well anywhere but in the UK!!). I love these papers - another digital freebie - and think they have a great summery feel to them. I have kept the layout simple - just adding some lace and punched flowers.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Lazy Day
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: digital freebie
Embellishments: punched flowers, pearls, lace

Michael's 18!!!

My best friend's little boy is 18 on Saturday .. and I have known him since he was 3 - eekkk!!!! How old do I feel?!! I have been struggling with the birthday card for him, but finally settled on the image and the rest has sort of fallen into place - would have liked another few weeks for this (not that i've not known it was coming LOL!!!).
I have combined a few challenges for it ...

• PBSC - blue, tan and cream
• Sketch Saturday - layout
• A Spoonful of Sugar - travel (well they are in a boat LOL!)
• Papertake Weekly Challenge - pick your favourite challenge and do it again - mine was Elegant embossing (not sure this is so elegant LOL!)
  

I watercoloured the image and the cut it and the matt using my nesties. I embossed all the cardstock using Swiss Dots and the Happy Birthday folders. I used my Fiskars threading water punch for the scallops and added a strip of carstock instead of ribbon. No flowers, I used buttons instead of flowers.
Now just got to get the pressie!!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Fishin', Saluations
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: coredinations cardstock
Embellishments: buttons form stash

Pretty in pink

Another sketch challenge - they all sem to be sketches this week!!
I have made this card using Beth's sketch over at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for a friend's birthday.

I coloured my image and the big Maya Road flower in using promarkers. I have been using up stash so having rummaged I found these papers (no idea who they are!!) and some shimmery black paper. I punched the flowers and added black gems to the centre.
I have had a really peaceful morning - done a bit of gardening, a bit of crafting and removed the 4 small dead rodents that my loving pussy cat left me during the night!! She is a bit of a killer and obviously needing to please me! I should be gratfeul ... they were still whole!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Light the Night' Salutations
Colouring Media: Promarkers
Papers: ???
Embellishments: maya road flower, punched flowers, gems, brad and organza ribbon from stash

waterskiing mouse!!

I didn't do any crafting yesterday - Ellie announced at 6.30am that she wanted to go to an areroplane museum ... now where did that come from?!? So we met up with Vicky and her family at RAF Cosford's Air museum and spent the best part of 4 hours looking at planes and helicopters ... her are my two tomboys!

Today Dave has taken the girls out on some erands so I can do all the housework and cleaning ready for work tomorrow. I have to confess to sneaking into my craft room to make this card for a few challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Summer
Allsorts - recipe - 3 flowers, 2 papers, 1 ribbon
Sunday Sketch and Stamp - sketch
I love this ickle mouse and really should stamp it up more often. I watercoloured the image and the cut him out using my label nesties. I love these papers (given to me by Vicky) and think they have a fresh, summery feel to them. The ribbon is one piece wrapped round the dp. Finally I layered up a flower and spritzed it with gold glimmer mist.

I'm going to do a bit more tidying up and then crack on with some design team cards.
Do pop back tomorrow to see my Sketch and Stash DT card - its another cracking sketch by Becky.

There is an ew challenge blog starting soon - Bizzy Becs - Creatalicious Challenge. The Challenges will start on 15th August 2009 and a new Challenge put up once a month thereafter. They have a Celebration Blog Candy on offer to celebrate this new challenge.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Water lily skiing
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers: K and Co
Embellishments: ribbon, pearl and flowers from stash