Flower Power

I haven't managed to make many cards this weekend as I've finally got back into my Kit & Clowder colouring class and have managed to complete the first lesson on colouring skin. I can already see an improvement in what I'm doing and strangely seem to have found the advanced technique easier than the basic one- I never have done things the easy way!

After practising my skin technique, I decided to colour up one of my Polkadoodles Work & Play 2 images (florist) to have a try. I'm not overly happy with the hair but I haven't got to this part of the class yet!

Here it is made up onto a card

I started by colouring up the image using a whole host of Spectrum Noir pens. I hand cut the digi into the shape using a Kanban mat as a template and then used a slightly larger version to cut a mat from a 12x12 DCWV 'timeless textures stack' paper. I chose 2 different 'rose' patterned papers to pick out the roses in the digi. The dark one came from a 6x6 Papermania paper pack (freebie with the DoCrafts Creativity magazine) and the larger one is from a Creata A5 paper pack. I trimmed the papers slightly to fit onto the 8x8 card.

I tried out lots of different layouts before settling on this one- I liked the idea of making the smaller darker paper sit at an angle but my brain couldn't deal with it- it was much happier with a nice straight line!

The ticket sentiments also came from the Work & Play 2 collection so I simply cut them out, inked them with 'worn lipstick' distress ink and attached them to the card with a small piece of double sided tape. the top right hand corner looked a little bare so I added the 3 pale pink gems just to finish it off.

It's a bit more fussy than my usual style but still fairly CAS considering it's got 3 different papers on it!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
The Paper Shelter '3+ layers of paper' 3.2
Creative Inspirations 'roses' 3.2
Cute Card Thursday 'stamping mad' 4.2
Polkadoodles 'flower power' 13.2
Crafts Galore Encore 'stamp/digi' 28.2
Crafty Hazlenut Patterned Paper Challenge 'anything goes' 28.2
The Pink Elephant 'photo inspiration' 9.2
Craft Your Passion 'anything goes' 8.2
That Craft Place 'anything goes' 14.2

hop hop hooray!

Here's another of my SWALK cards, this time using a topper that could be suitable for a whole range of occasions- new baby, exams, driving test, child's birthday, thank you etc.

I started with the topper which is printed from the SWALK cd and created my own message topper using the verse writer facility. I inked both of these pieces with 'salty ocean' distress ink and then mounted them onto a star print holographic mirror board. I then got a 6x6 white card blank and topped it with a Kanban star print paper. I then added the toppers and finished the card with 3 star gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Creatalicious 'new beginnings' 14.1
Quirky Crafts 'clean & simple' 17.1
Creative Card Crew 'for a child' 18.1
Digi Choosday 'thanks' 20.1
Crafters Cafe 'new' 14.1
Crafty Catz 'polka dots' 15.1
Cute Card Thursday 'what's new?' 14.1

DJ love

Only 1 card made this weekend as I've finally started my Harry Potter scrapbook and while I seem to be in the mood, I want to get as much done as possible!

Here it is...

A nice simple card using a fab Saturated Canary digi stamp.

I started by colouring my digi aiming to use the colours to emphasise what I see in the image- a very confidant woman and a shy man. I used very bright colours for her and quite muted tones for him. When I had finished the colouring of the digi, I mounted it onto some silver mirror card just to help it stand out.

I chose a piece of bright orange A4 card to make into the A5 base card that matched the orange colour used on the digi. I then took a piece of turquoise chevron patterned paper from DCWV Girlhood Stack and embossed it with Sheena Douglass 'splat' embossing folder. I then inked the paper with Spiced Marmalade distress ink to highlight the embossing.

I used double sided tape and 3d foam tape to attach all of the pieces together before finishing off with the turquoise jems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
cards galore 'use a digi/stamp' 30/3
Daring Cardmakers 'colour challenge' 14/3
Graph'It 'male colours' 21/3
Paper Shelter 'DT call' 20/3
Penny's paper crafty challenges 'not square' 11/3
Paper shelter 'anything goes' 11/3
Creative Inspirations 'anything goes' 11/3
Craft room challenges '20th Century' 17/3 (records being used on the turntable)
Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes' 4/4

Christmas Camper

I was having a look round the Polkadoodles website a few days ago when I spotted a brilliant digi stamp of a Christmas Campervan. It's basically a vw camper with a Christmas tree on top. It's great. It was only something daft like £2 so I ordered it and being a digi, it arrived instantly. This is the first card I've made using it and I absolutely love it!

I started by printing the digi image twice onto a normal sheet of copier paper. I then decided which pieces I wanted to paper piece and used low tack tape to attach my chosen papers onto the print out. I then put the paper (with patterned paper on top) back into the printer and printed again so that the design was on the patterned paper. I did this for the tree, the body of the camper & the windows. I cut out the pieces and laid them onto a plain version printed on thin card.

I used my Promarkers to colour the parts of the design that were not to be paper pieced and then used small amounts of glue to attach the paper pieces. I carefully trimmed out the design leaving a small white border.

I then chose a 12x12 DCWV patterned paper that graduates from dark to light- I think it's perfect as the bottom looks like snow for the camper to sit on. I cut it down to mat onto the 8x8 card base and attached with double sided tape. I then used a double layer of foam pads to attach the camper van. The finishing touches were to add the 3 die-cut snowflakes (with a single layer of 3d foam) to the card, embellishing them with large gems. I then added the peel off message and then used Stickles glitter glue to highlight the fairy lights on the tree.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Polkadoodles 'anything goes' 2/2
Digi Choosday 'anything goes' 30/1
Crafting for all Seasons 'for the girls' 3/2

Christmas sparkle

I've managed to make another Christmas card today. That makes 3 so far for January- it won't last!

Here it is...

I started with a 6x6 white card blank and to make sure my topper matched perfectly colour-wise, I cut down another card blank to make the layer (I'd saved one that I'd messed up the embossing on ages ago so I used the back of that). I chose my stencil (Imagination Crafts) and used double sided tape to stop it moving. I firstly, inked the branch using 'gathered twigs' distress ink and then used an embossing pen to ink the snowflakes. I used 4 different shades of blue mica powders (also Imagination Crafts) to colour them. I also used the mica powders to dust all over the background.

Finishing touches were to add the gems and then mount it onto a blue mirror card mat and then onto the card. I will probably add a message before I send it though. Unfortunately, the beautiful shine of the mica doesn't show up very well on the photo but this one does show the blingyness (good word!) of the gems I've used...

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazlenut's Christmas 'shades of blue' 24/1
Paper Shelter 'winter blues' 21/1
Crafters Cafe 'bling' 22/1
Christmas Cards '1 layer' 26/1
Imagination Crafts 'anything goes' 31/1

art deco- red & black

I know that the run up to Christmas is going to be absolutely manic for me both at work and at home, so I'm trying to make the most of half term this week by making as many cards as I can. Over the next couple of months there are nativity plays, pantomimes & everything Christmassy at work and then various shows (so I can buy lots of new goodies) & craft fairs (so I can hopefully sell a few bits & bobs too)!

I was also lucky enough to win a £100 Create & Craft voucher in a Pinterest competition, so I'm doing my best to spend it (suprisingly not that difficult!) and this card uses 2 of the new things I've ordered.

I started with a decoupage topper from the Papermania 'Art Deco' Ultimate Die Cut & Paper pack, which I mounted on to some bright red mirror board from Creata (one of my freebies!). I then took a sheet of black A4 card and folded it to make the base card. I attached the layered topper to the corner of the card and added the 3 Hobby House gems to the corner. I completed the card by adding the paper bow to the corner which is from Craftwork Cards Paper Bows pad (another C&C freebie). The bows are all white/gold & black- so I coloured it with Barn Door & Festive Berries distress ink to match the card better. I attached it to the card and then edged it with 'xmas red' stickles.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Creative Card Crew 'sun, moon & stars'
Paper Shelter '2 colours'
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges 'anything goes'

Inspired by Pinterest

Over the Summer, I may not have been doing much crafting but I have discovered the fabulous world of Pinterest. I've spent hours finding all manner of both school and crafting ideas that I'm hoping to use soon. This card is inspired by one of the first ideas I saw using a page from a book and some tippex. I tried printing a digi image straight onto the book page which worked well but when I wanted to blank out the skin colours, I didn't really have anything that would work so I've kind of cheated to make my card below...

I bought a cheap copy of Twilight from a car boot (30p) as I knew I could use it when I finally get the Visible Image 'Edward' & 'Isabella' stamps (hopefully when I go to the NEC in November), but it came in handy for this card too. I said that I'd cheated slightly and that's because I printed my digi stamp onto plain card and onto a page from the book and then I paper pieced the skirt rather than working directly onto the book page. After I had coloured my image (using promarkers & spectrum noirs), I carefully cut around it and then drew around the image on another page from the book. I then used the tippex to highlight the edge so that my image would stand out when I stuck it on top. This meant that I didn't have to be too careful with the tippex as my image would cover any mess I made. I used a ruler to create a neat torn edge on the book page and then mounted this onto some dark red glitter card and then mounted that onto a dark red base card made from an A4 sheet. I finished the card by making some paper roses from 3 circles cut from 2 other pages of the book, cutting and spiral and then twisting it around my pokey tool. I secured each flower with some glue and added a dark red gem to the centre. I then dipped each flower into some glue and then dark red glitter to give them a glittery edge.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Catch the Bug 'anything goes'

Papertake Weekly 'anything goes'

Totally Gorjuss 'anything goes'

and

The Paper Shelter 'DT Call' (to see other examples of my colouring, click on either the 'digi stamps' or 'colouring' labels)

Acceptance card

I recently made some invitations for some friends who are having a Naming Ceremony (non-religious Christening) for their baby girl. I also needed to make an acceptance card to say that I was going! I decided to make a card that matched the invitation in colour choice and theme but was completely different. The invitations used the same butterflies & flowers but they were die-cut from the card leaving a cut out design behind. This is my variation of the idea-

I started with an 8x8 white card blank and 4 sheets of pastel DCWV mat stack cardstock (2 yellow, 2 pink). I took one of each colour of card and embossed it with a star design using my Grand Callibur and then inked the edges in the opposite colourway using distress inks (squeezed lemonade on the pink card & picked raspberry on the yellow). I mounted these onto the card overlapping one corner. I then used my cricut to cut out the flower & butterfly toppers from the other piece of each colour of card. I arranged the toppers before sticking them down and then added the as the butterfly trails. I finished the card by stamping the 'acceptance' sentiment using Brilliance pearlescent pink ink and alphabet clear stamps.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes'

Creative Card Crew 'baby'

Cutie Pie 'pretty in pink'

Paper Shelter 'anything goes'

Lili's flowers

Somehow the last 2 weeks have gone by in such a blur that I haven't had a chance to make any cards let alone do any blogging- but I'm back! Work is still a bit crazy but in 3 1/2 weeks I should have all the time in the world! Anyways, here's a new card I've made using a Lili of the Valley topper and some Craftwork Cards products.

I started with an 8x8 card blank and trimmed the main background paper to fit it. Before attaching it to the card, I mounted the topper onto a pink dotty paper and put this in the centre of the backing paper. I then got 3 Craftwork Cards flowers (from a wreath kit I won) and used large gem brads to attach these to the backing paper. I then used double sided tape to mount everything onto the card base.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Creatilicious 'summer'

Paper Shelter 'buttons &/or brads'

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges 'girl power'

Lili's Little Fairies '1,2,3'

Crafty Catz 'say it with flowers'

Purple Purple Purple!

Anyone who stumbles across my blog occasionally, will probably know that I absolutely love the colour purple so when the latest Polkadoodles challenge was posted, I knew that I'd have no problem making a card for it-

I chose one of my favourite Saturated Canary images as a starting point and used my promarkers & spectrum noirs to colour it using mainly shades of purple. I then mounted it onto a purple mirror card and put this onto an 8x8 white card blank mounted with a textured DCWV purple paper. I then added the 3 flowers & the gems to complete the card.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Stampin' for the Weekend 'monochrome'
Cutie Pie '3,2,1' (3 flowers, 2 textures & 1 colour)
Polkadoodles 'the colour purple'
Totally Gorjuss 'anything goes with flowers'
Papertake Weekly 'anything goes'
Paper Shelter 'flower power'

purple bird

I've been busy trying to make as many cards as possible ready for a craft fair next weekend. I'm trying to use some toppers that haven't yet seen the light of day so I've got as wide a range of cards as possible. This card is made using a topper from a Kanban blockbuster from C&C (suppose we won't be getting any more of those!). Anyways... (apologies for the dodgy photo)

I started by choosing the bird topper which uses lots of vintage colours but with a purple focus & silver foiling. I chose a lilac A5 card base and topped it with some purplish grey patterned paper and then the topper. I added a grosgrain lilac ribbon, purple gem swirl & 'happy birthday' peel-off sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Love to Create 'bingo' (sentiment, ribbon & bling)
Creative Inspirations 'ribbons & pearls' (pearl aspect is on topper but difficult to see in pic)
Penny's Papercrafting Challenges 'anything goes'
Polka Doodles 'birthday & bling'
Crafty Catz 'purple'
Totally Gorjuss 'ribbons & pearls' (pearl aspect is on topper but difficult to see in pic)
Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes'

Bling 18th Birthday card

I like to make number cards for the BIG birthdays as lots of people ask me about them at craft fairs. I always tell people that I have numbers that can go on any of my cards but people don't always seem to want the hassle. This is a card that I made that could be used for any female birthday but I've made it into a specific 18th birthday card.

I am entering this card into the Songbird 'age cards' challenge, Paper Shelter 'Celebrations' challenge, Creative Inspirations 'Anything Goes' challenge and Papertake Weekly 'buttons &/or bling' challenge (I've chosen bling obviously!). It was incredibly quick & easy to make.

I started with an A4 white card that I folded in half. The backing paper is from an old Kanban kit and was originally A4 so I just trimmed it down to size leaving a small white border. The heart die-cut is also from a Kanban kit and I attached this to the card using 3d foam, leaving a slight overhang (check that it will fit in your envelopr first though!). I used a number peel-off as a stencil for the '18' on the heart and then covered my pencil lines with gems that I coloured using my promarkers. I finished the card with the peel-off message that I also promarkered to match the gem colour.

Saturated Canary challenge #34- song inspiration! 'Star Girl' & '5 Colours in her Hair' card

When I found the Saturated Canary blog http://saturatedcanary.blogspot.co.uk/ just last week, I opened a whole new world of ideas and fell in love with the design style. I then found the challenge blog http://saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ and the current challenge seemed perfect for me. The only rule was to use a Saturated Canary digi stamp and link to the theme of 'Song Inspiration'. As soon as I saw one of the design team had made a card inspired by a Take That song- I was hooked!

I had a look at the Saturated Canary shop and ended up buying 8 digi stamps which came to just over £20 which I think is excellent value. These are the first digi stamps I've bought over the internet and can see that this will be something I'll be doing again. They are much cheaper than rubber/acrylic stamps and, I think, more versatile as you can print them off at whatever size you need.

Out of all the stamps I bought, I chose to use the 'Starla' image as it reminded me instantly of the McFly song 'Star Girl'. Here is the card I have made for the challenge http://saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-34.html

As well as 'Star Girl' I have also been influenced by another McFly song '5 colours in her Hair' and used this inspiration in the colouring of the image.

I started by colouring the image using my spectrum noirs and promarkers. I then added the star shaped self adhesive pearlescent & sparkle gems. I carefully cut out the image and set aside for later. I then got a 6x6 scalloped edge card blank and inked the edges with 'Peacock Feahers' & 'Picked Raspberry' distress inks. I then layered a Making Memories 8x8 paper that I randomly cut the edge of onto the card base. I then got a Kanban pre-cut white mat and embossed it with a star stencil using my grand calibur. I then used the same distress inks to emphasise the embossing. I layered the mat onto the card with double sided tape and then attached my 'Starla' image using 3d foam pads. I also used one of the messages that came with the didi stamp.