Knight Bus

I love most things fantasy based but particularly LOVE Harry Potter (especially Ron!)- so I make lots of HP themed cards. I was lucky enough to go to the Studio Tour not long ago and took about a million photos that I thought I might use in some of my cards. I've not got round to that yet but when I was lucky enough to win the new XCut 'Create A Scene' dies in the Daring Cardmakers challenge, I chose the London set so that I could hopefully use it to make some HP cards. I particularly wanted to make a triple decker purple Knight Bus. I have tried to do this with stamps in the past but, even with masking, it didn't work very well. I was hoping that the double decker die would be a better bet. It did take me a couple of attempts but I'm pretty happy with the results. So much so that I found myself jumping up and down (literally) with a huge grin on my face!

Here is my completed card

I started by choosing 3 different shades of grey card and used the xcut dies and my grand calibur to cut the 3 different layers of London skyline. I attached them together with 3d foam pads and then used my trimmer to even up the edges. I then cut a thin piece of black card (for the road) and used double sided tape to attach it to the base of the design. I then used a thinner origami paper to cut the buses, taxi, lamp-posts, post box & telephone box. It took me a few attempts to arrange them where I wanted them so I did not glue them straight away. When I was happy with the composition, I attached everything with my quickie glue pen which can be used on really detailed elements. I then got a piece of A4 dark blue card which I folded into an A5 card blank using my ScorPal score board. The card was slightly wider than my London scene so I trimmed the base card down as it would have looked strange if the scene did not go right to the edge of the card. I finished the card by stamping the dragon in the sky using black Memento ink and then used my Stardust Stickles to create some stars- being a proper geek for things like that I even did proper constellations (Orion, the Plough and Cassiopeia).

In case anyone else wants to make a Knight Bus, all you need to do is cut 2 of the double deckers in a nice purple paper and then cut one of them just below the bottom windows. You can then layer the 2 pieces together, overlapping the central windows- you will need to cut out part of the door barrier too.

I am entering this card into the Polkadoodles 'fantasy' challenge.

iPod easle card

Here's another new card that I am entering into the MazyArt 'music' challenge. I make lots of music themed cards as it's something I like and they seem very popular for both awkward groups (men & teenagers!)

This was a really simple card and very quick to make. I started with an A4 sheet of pink card which I folded into an easle card. I used 2 different patterned papers for the base stopper and the background which both came from my DCWV 'Generation Tech' stack. The iPod topper was made using cardstock scraps & Sakura 'Gelly Roll' pens. The design is from the Cricut 'Rock Princess' cartridge.

Kanban 'Baby Girl'

I recently made a Baby Boy card using some beautiful new Kanban toppers I bought recently so I thought that it was probably a good idea to make a Baby Girl one too. Here it is...

I am entering this card into the Cute Card Thursday 'Simplify' challenge.

I made it in exactly the same way as the Baby Boy card with an 8x8 scalloped card, Kanban patterned paper & toppers from the Baby kit and some 3d foam pads!

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.

Kanban 'Baby Boy'

Here is another new card that I am entering into Here Come the Boys 'lots of layers' challenge, Cutie Pie Challenge 'Pretty Pastels' challenge & Love to Create 'All that Glitters' challenge. It's another quick & simple card but also beautiful (I think so anyway!).

This card uses just 3 products- an 8x8 white scalloped card blank, Kanban 'Baby Boy' die-cut topper sheet & Kanban patterned paper from baby themed A4 paper pad (and of course 3d foam pads & double sided tape- but that's a given!). I trimmed the A4 paper down to an 18.5cm square and mounted it onto the card using double sided tape. I then used 3d foam to attach the large circle glittered die-cut piece & then the decoupage letters. I finished the card by adding the rabbit die-cut, which also came from the topper sheet, to the bottom corner. Done!

Butterfly Tree

Here is the card that I have made for the Daring Cardmakers 'Fly Fly Butterfly' challenge. I am also entering this card into Creative Card Crew 'Birthday' challenge, Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge 'Anything Goes' and Digital Tuesday 'Pink & White' challenge (for the base card & glitter paper colours & the digi-image tree).

I started by printing the tree digi image to A5 size and then trimming to slightly smaller than A5 so that I could mat & layer it. I used distress ink 'mowed lawn' & 'salty ocean' to ink the background & then used 3 different shades of brown promarkers (walnut, cocoa & burnt sienna I think) to colour the tree. I then used some small butterfly stickers that I got from Lakeland when they still did craft stuff- I've not used them for ages but I really love them. I got 3 of each same butterfly and folded them in half so that I could stick them together to create a 3d butterfly. I stuck them all over the tree and the surrounding area. I then mounted my tree image onto a mat of white glitter paper & then put that onto my 'dusky pink' base card.

SC Purple & Black

My latest card is my absolute favourite- EVER! (I usually do like my newest card best but this is my MOST favourite...)- the reason is, I have used my 2 favourite colours so this card is perfect for me- Would it be a bit weird to send myself a birthday card?

This card also fits with lots of challenge themes this week so I am entering it into the following challenges:-
Saturated Canary 'Love' (as I love the digi image & the colours)
Creatalicious 'L'Amour' (for the reasons above)
Basic Grey 'Favourite' (as I've used my favourite 'eerie' papers)
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog 'favourite colour combo' (purple & black)
Challenges 4 Everybody 'Anything Goes'
Crafty Catz 'bingo' (embossing, flowers & punches)
Polkadoodles 'shabby chic' (distressed edge papers- this is as shabby as I'll ever get!)
Stampin' for the Weekend 'distressed' (sanding of the embossed star cardstock)
Cute Card Thursday 'an eye for detail'

I started with an 8x8 scalloped edge card, which I matted with Craftwork Cards purple star embossed cardstock (from a prize pack!) that I distressed slightly and Basic Grey 'eerie' 6x6 paper (that I punched a star corner into). The main image is a digi stamp from Satuarted Canary (Honey) which I coloured with both Promarkers & Spectrum Noirs. The 3 flowers came from a pack that I picked up cheaply after Christmas so I didn't mind putting 3 on the one card!

Practically Perfect

Here is my latest card for the Card Makin Mamas Design Team. The main topper comes from the brilliant Sassy Studio Designs and the theme is 'Happy Birthday'.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:-
The Pink Elephant 'Love is in the Air'- as I love Mary Poppins and she is, of course, in the air with her umbrella! Love to Create 'Feelin the Love' and Digital Tuesday Challenge 'Up, Up & Away'.

As soon as I saw the fabulous Mary Poppins image, this card was in my head. It is my most favourite film of all time & I knew that I had lots of things in my crafty stash that would match the theme.

I started with a 6x6 scalloped edge card blank (not sure what I used before these came out!) and a 6x6 sheet of DCWV cloud patterned paper. I used my cricut 'Elegant Edges' cartridge to cut the paper with a cloud style edge. I inked the edge of the paper with 'Chipped Sapphire' distress ink and stamped Big Ben (Kanban stamps) using 'London Fog' memento ink, before attaching to the base card with double sided tape. I then printed the digi stamp onto white card and coloured it using a mixture of Spectrum Noirs & Promarkers. I carefully cut around the image leaving a small white border and then used foam pads to put it onto the card. I used the DoCrafts Digital Designer software & the Portobello Road design disk to make the message topper, again attaching with 3d foam pads.

Kanban 'Love & Marriage'- Love at First Sight

Here's another card I've made from the new Kanban 'Love & Marriage' kit- part of a C&C blockbuster. I am entering this card into the following challenges:- Crafty Catz 'Love is in the Air', Daring Cardmakers 'Love is in the Air', Catch the Bug 'Affairs of the Heart', Creative Inspirations 'Sent with Love', Cute Card Thursday 'Love Struck' and Polkadoodles and Studio 12 'Valentine Love'.

This was a very simple card to make & also very quick. I started with a fancy edge 6x6 card which I inked using Spun Sugar distress ink & a 6x6 'Capricious' template from The Crafters Workshop. The topper came from the Kanban 'Love & Marriage' kit and the silver mirror card mat came from another Kanban kit meaning that the shapes were exactly the same & layered perfectly.

SC (Sparkling Chic & Saturated Canary) 'Jules'

Here is another new creation, that I've made to enter 4 different challenges. I am entering this card into the Craftwork Cards 'Anything Goes' challenge, Saturated Canary 'challenge #36 colour inspiration', Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #113 'Ribbons & Bows' and Papertake Weekly 'Anything Goes'.

I started with a 6x6 scalloped card blank which I left plain. I then cut a piece of Craftwork Cards 8x8 pearlescent paper (which I was lucky enough to win in a challenge) which I embossed with 'mini star shower' template from Crafter's Workshop. The main topper is a Saturated Canary digi stamp (Jules) and I coloured her using my Spectrum Noirs. I finished the card with 2 Prima flowers which I layered and then finished with a star print Papermania brad which has been in my crafty stash for yonks!

Kanban 'Love Birds'

 This is another card from my new Kanban set and it was made using the 'Love Birds' topper sheet and I am entering it into the Polkadoodles 'Lots of Layers + Pink & Red' challenge, Songbird Challenges 'Hopelessly Devoted to You', The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog '#37-Valentines' and The Pink Elephant 'challenge 185- inspiration photo'

I started with a 6x6 scalloped edge card blank that I inked with my 'Worn Lipstick' distress ink. I then used an A4 paper sheet from the Kanban 'Love & Marriage' paper pad, cutting the cream half into a 14cm square and the pink half into a 11.5cm square. I rounded the corners of the papers before attaching them to the card with double sided tape. I've used a main topper also from Kanban from a topper sheet called 'Love Birds'. I have used the pyramage toppers which has certainly given my cards 'lots of layers'! I rounded the corners of the base image of the topper so that it echoed the papers I had used and the base card shape.

Kanban 'No Place Like Home'

I recently ordered a brilliant new kit from Kanban which was a blockbuster on Create & Craft. It contains love, wedding, baby & celebration toppers & papers covering a wide range of occasions. I know they will be featuring a lot in my posts over the next few months. The first card I have made from the set uses the 'No Place Like Home' topper sheet and I am entering it into the following challenges- Catch the Bug 'Anything Goes', Stampin' for the Weekend 'Something Metal', and Love to Create 'Let's Celebrate'.

I started this card with an A5 scalloped edge card blank which I inked with 'Spun Sugar' distress ink. I then cut a piece of Papermania 'Regency' paper from an A5 paper pad and rounded the corners to match the base card. The 2 toppers came from the Kanban 'No Place Like Home' topper sheet from the new C&C blockbuster. I attached the main topper with 1 layer of 3d foam pads and the smaller message with 2 layers. Before atatching the message topper, I added a Kanban stamped heart, in 'Shabby Shutter' distress ink, to the topper to link the colour to the backing paper. I then chose 3 ribbons in pink, green & brown and attached them to the top of the card, tying a knot to secure them together. I then added a metal key charm from 'CarftyBitz' onto the ribbon and then tied another knot at the base to secure it. I cut the ribbon to different lengths and allowed this to hang free at the base of the card. I completed the card by adding some 'Platinum' stickles glitter glue onto some of the chains on the main topper.

Kanban 'So Macho'- Top of the Pops

I've been busy again using some of my lovely Kanban toppers from the 'So Macho' kit. I'm entering this card into the Creative Inspirations 'One for the Guys' challenge. I enjoy making mens cards so this challenge was perfect for me.

I started with an 8x8 scalloped edge card blank. I folded the front piece in half back on itself to create the card shape. I then cut the 2 backing paper pieces from one 8x8 sheet from my Making Memories 'Just Chillin' paper pad. I attached one piece onto the front flap and the other onto the exposed back part of the card. The two toppers were from the Kanban 'Top of the Pops' topper sheet from the 'So Macho' kit and I put these onto the card with 3d foam pads. I finally added the black star peel-offs which are from a Woodware 'Rock' themed peel-off sheet.

Bugaboo Digi Stamps- 'Love Owls'

This is the first card I have created for the Card Makin Mamas Design Team. The theme was LOVE and my lovely (!) main image came from Bugaboo Digi Stamps website. This is the first time I have used an image from their website but I can see that I'll be going back there again. They had lots of brilliant designs to choose from.

I am also entering this card into the Basic Grey 'Love is in the Air' Challenge.

The idea for this card started as soon as I saw the digi-stamp. I knew that I wanted to do paper piecing with it although this was something I had never done with a digi stamp before. I was hoping to be able to change my printer settings so that I could print the image straight onto a 6x6 paper and then cut out the different pieces I wanted, unfortunately this wasn't going to work. In the end, I printed the image onto plain white paper and then attached my base, cloud design, paper over the top of the printed image and then put it through the printer again. I repeated this process for the other elements I needed, carefully cutting the papers roughly to size before putting them over the part of the image I wanted. As it was my first go at this technique, I printed each piece seperately but now I know that it works, next time I will fit on as many parts as I can in one go.

The background cloud design came from a 6x6 DCWV paper pack that I've had for ages. I printed the owls onto 2 different shades of textured brown paper from the Papermania 'Bird Song' collection with Basic Grey 'Sugared' paper for the girly owl & Sissix 'Pastel Little Sizzles' for the boy one. The heart was printed onto some more DCWV 6x6 paper which is the same paper I used for the card background. I coloured the leaves, small bird & flower with my promarkers.

I rounded the corners on my main topper & backing paper before mounting it onto a 6x6 scalloped edge card blank.

Super Exciting News!!!

This week has been almost too exciting!!!

Firstly, I won my first challenge and have a set of wonderful Craftwork Cards goodies on their way to me and secondly, I won my second challenge over at Daring Cardmakers.

I am also, properly excited to announce that I have been chosen to join my very first Design Team!

I've only been entering challenges since the new year and it was the first time I'd entered a DT call. It shows that no matter how new you are to this challenge blog lark, people out there are willing to give you a go.

Head over to the Card Makin Mamas blog to see not only my designs but also the other very talented DT members.

Take part in some challenges too- it's a great way to try something new and you might just win some lovely goodies too!