'Setting the Scene' Owl card

Here is my latest creation, designed for the Daring Cardmakers 'Setting the Scene' challenge which has been sponsored by DoCrafts.

I started with a 6x6 scalloped edge white card blank and my 'Imagination Crafts' 6x6 'Dust till Dawn' stencil. I drew the line of the hills onto some plain white paper and then cut along the line so I could use this as a mask when I inked the card. I did the same, using a post-it note for the moon. I coloured the sky, using 'Stormy Sky' distress ink first and then did the green hills using 'Peeled Paint'. I then put the stencil back onto the card and used 'Gathered Twigs' distress ink (for the pathways) and 'Black Soot' (for the houses). I then used Imagination Crafts 'lamp black' stencil paint and a small stippling brush to highlight the owl in the tree. The final touch was to bring out the moon by covering it with 'Frosted Lace' stickles glitter glue.

Monochrome magic

This is another new card that I have made for the Polkadoodles 'Monochrome' challenge.

It was made using entirely Kanban products from a kit I've had for what must be 5 years! I started with the heart design card which was a full A4 sheet. I folded it in half and then into quarters to create the easle style. I folded the base section up so that I did not have to add a different piece of card to act as the stopper. The main topper came from the kit and I embellished it with a little extra glitter. I threaded the tag with some white satin edged organza and attached this to the card with 3d foam pads. I finished the card with the sentiment on the base.

Kanban 'So Feminine'- Pink Skullduggery

I've been busy again making cards for some challenge blogs- I can't say enough how much this has changed my cardmaking. I'm challenged but also inspired to try something new- my passion has returned!

This is my latest effort that I am entering into the DoCrafts photo challenge, Creative Inspirations 'Anything Goes' challenge and Paper Shelter 'Anything Goes' challenge.

I started with a fancy edge 8x8 card. I used my cricut 'Elegant Edges' cartridge to cut a similar shaped mat from some Kanban 'Pink & Black Boots' cardstock. I attached the card with double sided tape and then edged it with silver stickles glitter glue. The toppers were from the Kanban 'So Feminine' kit and particularly from the 'Pink Skullduggery' topper sheet. I chose 4 toppers, including the message. I attached them using double sided tape and 3d foam to create different layers. I finished the card by adding the button style embellishments which I had glittered with Star Dust stickles.

'House of Kanban' templates & Basic Grey 'eerie' paper pad

Entering crafting challenges has really helped me to get back to using some of the products from my stash that haven't seen the light of day for many a month, or year! This weeks Polkadoodles challenge inspired me to get out my Kanban dress templates, some beautiful Basic Grey 'eerie' papers and my sewing stash too.

The challenge was 'stitching and lace' and can be found here http://polkadoodle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/week-3-stitching-real-or-faux-and-lace.html. This is my entry into the challenge

The 'lace' element of this card is the net fabric used for the base of the skirt and there is some real stitching (not visible) at the sides helping to create the shape.

I started by drawing round the 'House of Kanban' template onto some black card and then cut it out. I cut a circle of purple net fabric slightly larger than the base section of the dress and used some small tacking stitches to secure it at either side to match the shape of the card. I then used the card as a template to cut the scalloped base into the net fabric. The bodice and top part of the skirt were both cut out from my 6x6 Basic Grey 'eerie' paper pad. The paper sections were attached to the card base with double sided tape and were perfect for hiding the stitches and the top edge of the net.

It was a pretty simple card to put together and also a little bit unusual & 'goth'- a bit like me!

Blondie (with a hint of pink)

This is my latest card inspired by, no less than, 4 different challenges! I started by aiming to make something suitable for the latest Saturated Canary challenge 'Movie Inspiration'. I decided to use the 'Nevaeh' image to make a 'Legally Blonde' inspired card where everything was a bit over the top pink. I then realised that the same idea would be perfect for the Creative Inspirations 'one for the girls' challenge too. The more time I spent thinking about how the card was going to be, the more I realised that it would also fit with the Card Makin Mamas 'clean and simple' challenge and Daring Cardmakers 'embossability' challenge. This is the first time I've made one card that can fit into so many challenges- I hope that hasn't made me lose my focus.

Anyways, enough chat. Here it is

I started with the Saturated Canary 'Nevaeh' image which I coloured using my Spectrum Noirs. I had already chosen the 'Legally Blonde' theme so went for pale blonde hair, a bright pink dress and sensible grey tights as a bit of a nod to her very sensible job. I was really pleased with how the hair turned out today as this is the bit that I always feels lets me down. The extra practice is obviously helping!

When I had finished colouring the image, I carefully cut around it leaving a small white border. I then got a 6x6 Craftwork Cards scalloped edge white card balnk and embossed it with the floral design using my Grand Calibur and a Crafter's Workshop 'flower frenzy' template. I lightly inked the eges of the card with 'Picked Raspberry' distress ink. I then mounted my main image directly onto the card using some 3d foam pads.

The flowers added the final touch, onto the edge of the card. I punched them using 2 different sizes of xcut flower punches and some plain DCWV cardstock. The large flowers are from a paler pink and the inner smaller flower from a slightly darker shade. I attached these to the card with some PVA glue, starting with the central flower so that I could get then evenly spaced along the card. I added a small clear crystal gem into the centre of each flower and also onto Nevaeh's dress.

s.w.a.l.k. 'new parents' card

I've been having a play with my new s.w.a.l.k. digi stamp cd rom and really loved some of the images for the slightly more unusual card sending moments e.g. new home, belated birthday & expecting a baby. They seemed perfect for the Basic Grey Challenges blog, challenge 85 'New Beginnings' http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-85-new-beginningssomething-new.html. So here's my entry-

I started with a Craftwork Cards 6x6 fancy edge card. I drew round the card onto the back of a flamingo & giraffe print 6x6 paper from Basic Grey 'sugared' paper pad. The paper made me think of couples and love as the giraffes had little hearts above their heads. I cut out the paper to match the shape of the base card and attached it with double sided tape.

The topper was printed from my Crafters Companion s.w.a.l.k. cd-rom and coloured with Spectrum Noir pens. I used the leftover piece from a Kanban mat sheet, as a stencil, to draw the fancy shape around the image and then cut it out by hand. I inked it very lightly around the edges with 'Squeezed Lemonade' distress ink. I then got a matching Kanban silver mirror card mat slightly larger than the one I had cut myself. I used my Grand Calibur with a Crafters Workshop 'Mini Star Shower' 6x6 stencil to emboss a star design onto the mirror card mat. I then inked this with Tim Holtz Adirondack 'Wild Plum' alcohol ink to give it the pink tone to match the backing paper. I completed the card by using 3d foam tape to attach the mirror card layer and then the main topper.

Foiled & Distressed Kanban dress card with ribbon flower

This is one of my most favourite recent makes and is far more detailed than my usual style. I do love it though.

I started with an 8x8 scalloped edge card blank that I inked using my distress inks. I added some swirls onto the base card by using a stencil and my quickie glue pen with some gold foil (a bargain from the Kanban outlet). The main card topper, also from the Kanban outlet, was made using 2 flat images of the same dress. I cut out one and layered it up with 3d foam pads and then added some foil highlights using both gold & teal colours. I didn't have any gold mirror card/paper in the right shade to match the rest of the card (for matting & layering) so I again used my foil, and thin double sided tape, to create a foil edge onto my mat.

I used my cricut 'paper lace' cartridge to cut the teal floral mat from another Kanban outlet paper that has a floral embossed pattern. I mainly used this to add another texture to the card. I completed the card with a ribbon flower.



I made the ribbon flower by firstly choosing 3 differently textured ribbons, and a button, that matched the colour scheme of the card. I also found a dark teal button from my stash. I cut the dark brown ribbon into 6 equal lengths, folding them in half and attaching to the back of the button with PVA glue. When that layer was dry, I repeated the process with the teal ribbon, cutting each piece slightly longer and attaching it inbetween the first brown layer. I repeated the process for the final layer but rather than folding the ribbon over, I cut the ends of it into the v shape. When all the glue had dried, I attached the ribbon flower to the card with some more PVA.

It's a sort of Spellbinders inspired card made without any Spellbinders products! In fact, the Kanban outlet bargains mean that this was an incredibly cost effective card to create but did take a fair amount of time.

I am entering this card into the Card Makin' Mamas 'Anything Goes' challenge at http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/a-new-year-and-new-challenge.html 

Bright & Funky Floral Card- Kanban 'so feminine' & WRMK

I was inspired by the latest challenge from 'The Paper Shelter' http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-94-flower-extra-vaganza.html to make something really bright and fun- perfect for a female birthday.

I started with an 8x8 Craftwork Cards scalloped edge card blank which, for once, I left exactly as it was (no inking, stamping or embossing!). I chose the topper that I wanted to use which is from the Kanban 'celebrate in style' sheet from the 'so feminine' kit. It already had a foiled edge that is a silvery/lilac colour. I then trawled through my vast collection of 12x12 papers to find something that would match the colourway. My 12x12 'Tiffanys' scrapbook pad by We R Memory Keepers was perfect. I chose 4 matching papers, some that used glitter and some that were plain. I cut a 9cm square from each one and joined at the back with double sided tape. I wanted to try something a bit different so I then used some pearlescent tape to go over the joins blending them but also emphasising them too!

I attached my paper square to the card blank using double sided tape and then attached the word topper with 3d foam. I then used my xcut flower punch to punch out 12 flowers from 4 more papers from the WRMK pad- this time I chose plainer papers as patterned ones would get lost on the background. I punched 3 green, 3 pink, 3 blue & 3 brown and used an embossing ball tall to shape them by pushing in the centre of each flower. I attached to flowers to the corners of the paper using PVA glue and then added a glittery centre using 'Star Dust' stickles glitter glue.

This is my first entry into a 'Paper Shelter' challenge but hopefully not my last- I do not yet have any of their beautiful digi stamps but hopefully if I win the challenge then that will change! Wish me luck!

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.

Craftwork Cards- Julie Cassidy's 'girly-girl-pink-cards' challenge

I really am loving my new year resolution of entering some card making challenges. It's had exactly the effect I was hoping for and, so far, I've been inspired to try some new things and use some of my crafty stash that has been sitting around unused for ages.

My latest challenge entry is for another Craftwork Cards challenge http://craftworkcards.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/girly-girl-pink-cards.html. This time the brief was 'girly-girl-pink-cards' so here's my effort

I started with a piece of dusky pink A4 card that I folded in half using my ScorPal board. I then used my cricut Flower Shoppe cartridge to cut out a large flower template which I drew round onto the card. I then found out lots of different card candi all in shades of pink and used my candi fix to attach it to the drawn line.

The completed card is quite simple and was quick and easy to make and also shows off the beautiful range of card candi.

DoCrafts online store- update

I promised that I'd post a picture of my docraft goodies when they arrived and they finally turned up at the end of last week. I got an email to say they were on their way and the next day they were delivered so despite the christmas holidays, the service was pretty good.

The box wasn't quite as big as I expected when it was handed over to me and I began to feel a little disappointed

I shouldn't have done- when I got it open, it was very well packed inside. All of this came out of that little box and all for about £30 including postage

Definitely a website I'll be keeping an eye on in the future- especially as they will soon be having some Gorjuss new products!

Teal & Brown RockStar birthday card

This is another card that I've made to enter into a challenge but this time I'm entering 2 challenges with just 1 card!

I am entering this card into the Daring Cardmakers challenge http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/january-colour-challenge.html and Creative Inspirations challenge #195 http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-195-celebration.html

The Daring Cardmakers aspect is the colours I have used and the Creative Inspirations aspect was the theme of 'Celebration'.

I started with a piece of A4 brown card that I folded into an easle card using my ScorPal score board. I cut a piece of DCWV Rock Star cardstock to act as the stopper at the base of the card, attaching it with foam pads. The toppers all came from a Card Creations Plus cd-rom 'Garden Sheds' that I printed out in the 'monochrome' format so that I could colour them to match the colour challenge. I used both Spectrum Noirs and Promarkers to do this. I then cut out the toppers, decoupaging the man image, and then attached them to the easle part of the card using 3d foam pads.

Craftwork Cards Jan 2013 challenge- Let It Snow!

So, this is my first challenge entry and it is for the Craftwork Cards blog- Craftwork Cards 'Let it Snow' challenge. The rules are that you have to stick to the theme and use mostly craftwork cards products- not too tricky for my first go I thought.

So here's my first entry-

I took my inspiration from the challenge theme but also from a commercially bought card that I was sent over Christmas. I was initially worried that I wouldn't have enough Craftwork Cards products to complete the challenge but then remembered that I had some lovely stamps that I hadn't had a chance to use yet- they were perfect.

I started by choosing which Card Candi I wanted to use as I knew this would affect the colour scheme that I was working with. I wanted to go for something a bit unusual so chose a chevron stripe card candi in pink, green & blue. I matched these card candi colours to my distress inks, choosing 'Stormy Sky', 'Shabby Shutters' & 'Spun Sugar'.

I used the 3 distress ink colours with some small snowflake craftwork cards stamps (designed to fit the top of plain card candi) to stamp the background of a 6x6 scalloped card blank. I had used my old 'Stormy Sky' inkpad to create a faded look. I then used my new 'Stormy Sky' inkpad to stamp the 2 large snowflake images both laying slightly off the edge of the card.

I then used my Quickie Glue Pen to go over the stamped design and glittered it with a silver holographic glitter- I tried to make sure that I could still see the stamped outline. I then added the card candi to the spaces in the stamp.

I finished the card off with the 'Let It Snow' message that is another Craftwork Cards stamp that I again inked with the 'Stormy Sky' distress ink. Being a Craftwork Cards stamp, it again had a perfect space for me to add another card candi as the o of snow.

It's a very simple card and is exactly my style- a good starter for my first challenge I think.

New Year- New Challenges!

I have decided to make a New Years Resolution this year (not something I normally do) but as it's a crafty one, I'll hopefully be more likely to stick to it.

It should probably be to stop buying more crafty stash but that would never happen so there's no point! My New Years Resolution is to start entering some crafty challenges from various blogs & websites. My hope is that it will inspire me to try something new with my cards and give me a focus as I sometimes lack inspiration. I might win some prizes too which would be fab (and help me to spend less!).

I will, of course, try to post my challenge entries here too so that if other people want to enter too then the links will be here (if I can work out how to do that!).

Anyway, I have completed my first challenge so I'd better get on with blogging it...