New CMM challenge- Washi Tape

There's a brand new challenge over at the Card Makin Mamas blog and this time it's Washi Tape. I'm not a huge fan of washi tape so this was most definitely a challenge for me! I had a look around pinterest to try and find some inspiration and this is what I created...

I started by placing stripes of the tape onto the card in both vertical & horizontal directions. I then used a Sheena Douglas butterfly stamp, with black stazon, straight onto the top of the tape giving me the gappy image (technical term!). I then added the 2 small stamped butterflies using a black versafine ink basically to prove that I can stamp properly when I want to! Really simple and not my most favourite card ever but still pretty effective I think.

If I can manage a washi tape card then so can you so come & join in- you might be a lucky winner!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
MayzyArt 'rainbow'
Pink Elephant 'washi tape'

pac-man

I always pride myself on my ability to make cards for the awkward groups- teenagers & men! Here's one of my newest cards that would be suitable for either of those groups of people- kids or the big ones!

This card fully utilises 2 papers from the DCWV 'generation tech' stack- the first I have used for the background, and the second has provided the 3 toppers on the left of the card. I have simply cut the backing paper to size and attached it to an 8x8 card blank and then attached the 3 toppers pyramid style. The sentiment topper is a simple white circle with a slightly larger silver mirror mat. I inked the topper with 'black soot' distress ink and then added the peel-off message.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Paper Shelter 'for the boys'

naming day

This is another new card from a topper sheet that I haven't used before that is also from a Kanban blockbuster. It is an alternative on the traditional christening card, being for a 'naming day' instead.

The backing paper, topper & tag are all from the Kanban kit and I simply added a creamy yellow A4 card (folded to make an A5 base card), pale yellow grosgrain ribbon & 3 cream buttons.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Clear it Out 'anything goes & 2+ buttons'

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'

New Home card

I had an exciting delivery from C&C this week as I treated myself to a early/late birthday present at the start of their birthday weekend- I ordered it before my birthday but it arrived after! I got hold of the Inkadinkado stamping system that allows you to stamp in circles, ovals, squares & rectangles perfectly. It looked fab on screen and I've barely played with it yet but I know there will be lots of cards made using it appearing on my blog over the next few months. The corners of the card were stamped using the system and a simple heart stamp.

I started with my favourite 8x8 white card blank which I stamped using a heart stamp and the circle wheel from the Inkadinkado set. As I overlapped the hearts, they created the almost floral image. I then cut a piece of heart patterned Creata cardstock (that has a hand-drawn look) to a smaller square and mounted this onto the card. The topper is a pre-coloured die-cut from Lily of the Valley. I inked the edges of the topper with the same ink that I used for the stamped corners- 'Worn Lipstick' distress ink. I then got a Kanban die-cut heart and inked it using the same ink and then added the peel-off sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Cutie Pie 'clean & simple'

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges 'sentiment'

Lili's Little Fairies 'double take'

Polkadoodles 'new home'

Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes'

Twilight forever

I've recently found a new love for digi-stamps and there are some really fab websites out there full of amazing artwork that I am certainly not able to create- thank god for printing! There's also lots of 'fan art' out there for various tv shows & films. I found this 'twilight' themed image online and had to use it for a card that will be perfect for a friends birthday.

I started with the image which I trimmed to a small border and then coloured mainly using my promarkers. I rounded the corners of the image as it didn't look right with square corners. I then cut a small red mirror card mat to trim the main digi-stamp image. The backing paper comes from the DCWV 'Immortal Love' stack which is also twilight inspired and has this beautiful paper with a heat embossed & glittered tree design. I finished the card with the 3 handmade flowers, using the colours to represent the good vs evil theme of many of the twilight saga books and also the red for the bloodshed between the two. the finished card is 8x8 in size.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Creative Card Crew 'handmade flowers'
Paper Shelter 'make it bloom'
Catch the Bug 'bingo' (I chose embossing, glitter & paper)
Papertake Weekly 'one patterned paper'

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!

Many people who have seen my blog posts will know that I love Harry Potter so when I found the Har Repotter digi stamps on the Bugaboo site, I had to get them all! I am slowly getting round to making cards with each of them but I'm also making some shopping bags using the same designs. Here's my first card & bag using the Dumbledore image.

The card was made with an 8x8 square base card, a paper printed from 'Wishing on a Star' cd-rom (Katy Sue Designs), some stickles glitter glue, 'Hog Castle' stencil with black stencil paint and then the 2 Har Repotter digi stamps coloured using both Promarkers & Spectrum Noirs.

The bag uses the 2 digi stamps transfered onto heat'n'bond- iron on adhesive for fabric and a load of fabric scraps. The details of the images are hand sewn.

I am entering this card and/or bag into the following challenges:-
Crafty Cardmakers 'card with matching bag'
Creative Inspirations 'anything but a card'

love the dj...

I was lucky enough to win some Saturated Canary images a while ago in a blog hop contest and I had to get the 'dj luv' design. Here's the first card that I've made using it-

I printed the image so that 2 fitted onto an A4 sheet of thin card and then used my trimmer to cut the image with just a small border. I coloured the digi-stamp using mainly Promarkers but also Spectrum Noirs for the skin colours. I mounted the finished image onto some silver mirror card leaving just a small border. I then got an 8x8 square card and layered some DCWV 'generation tech' paper onto it. I mounted the topper onto the card and then used a template to cut the small star (for the message) from another paper from the DCWV stack.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Saturated Canary 'anything goes'
Songbird 'stars'
Love to Create 'for the guys'
Crafty Catz 'for the boys'

Hagrid meeting the first years off the Hogwarts Express

I absolutely LOVE Harry Potter so when I went to the NEC and saw 2 different stencils one showing Hogwarts & the other the Hogwarts Express, I had to have them! I also recently bought some brilliant 'Har Repotter' digi stamps from Bugaboo so they had to go together to make some fab-u-lous cards (there are lots but here's the first)

I started with an 8x8 card blank that I distress inked the background of with 'stormy sky' and 'tea dye'. I then used the 'Hog Express' stencil with promarkers and then mounted on my 'Hagrid' image that I had coloured with promarkers & spectrum noirs. I added a hint of clouds/steam using a waft of versamark pen and then mica powder over the top.

I am entering this card into the Cutie Pie 'Favourite Film' challenge.

Teddy with a BIG flower!

Been busy this afternoon making a few more cards before my holiday runs out! It's starting to look a bit more like spring (even though I am still wearing a hoodie!) so I thought I'd make a nice bright springy card.

As always, it was pretty quick & simple to make. I started with the topper which is a new one (for me anyway) from Lili of the Valley. I then chose 2 papers from the Forver Friends kraft range which matched it nicely. I mounted the topper onto the lilac mat and then wonkily put this onto the turquoise backing paper- all on top of a 6x6 card blank. I then used my black promarker (with the fine tip nib) to add the stitching detail around each piece. The 3 buttons were 'borrowed' from my sewing stash and then I adding some extra sparkle using my stardust stickles.

I am entering this card into the following challenges-
Mayzyart 'sparkle'
Clear it Out 'spring flowers'
Cute Card Thursday 'something borrowed'
Lili's Little Fairies 'all stitched up'
Totally Gorjuss 'anything goes with sparkle'
The Pink Elephant 'spring colours'

Urban Stamp Owl bag

I am always looking for new ideas for crafting and for the past 6 months have been making & decorating bags as well as my usual cards. As soon as I got the new DoCrafts Urban Stamps Owl the other week, I could see it on a cotton bag as a really simple but very cute design.

The bag base came from Hobbycraft and I started by using my cricut to cut a template for the branch (I'm not very good at drawing freehand!). I used Dylon fabric paints to paint the branch directly onto the bag. For the owl, I used a load of scraps of fabric that I have lying around- you can get lots of freebies from various internet companies as long as you don't mind getting a ton of emails! I stamped the owl twice onto copy paper and then cut one into pieces and the other just around the outline. I used these as templates to cut the fabric pieces. I used bondaweb on the back of each piece to prevent fraying and make it really easy to attach to the bag. I also used some black thread to hand sew the detail onto the body, beak and wings.

The finishing touch was the 2 large black buttons for eyes.

I am entering this projects into the following challenges:-

Stampin' for the Weekend- 'anything but a card'

The Night Circus

I recently re-read the book 'The Night Circus' for the second time. I really love it and it inspires me in many different ways. For anyone that has not read it then I recommend it wholeheartedly and after you've read it, you'll see where my card came from! I have also provided this card to the Basic Grey Challenge Blog as my second GDT card so why not go and join in with the Clean & Simple challenge there this time?

As the CAS challenge demands, this was a very simple card to make. I started with a 6x6 white card blank and a Kanban circle mat. I used low tack tape to stick the circle into the middle of the card and then used my black promarker (with fine tip) and a ruler to draw the lines all round. When I removed the circle, I had the perfect blank space. I then used an EK Success star corner punch and my favourite Basic Grey 'eerie' 6x6 paper to punch a range of sizes of stars which I attached to the card with a quickie glue pen. I then added a few silver peel-off stars and the red 'Happy Birthday' message.

I am entering this card into the following challenges-

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog 'red, white & black' challenge

Crafty Catz 'anything goes'

Bon Voyage Kraft card

I bought the DoCrafts goodie bag for the first time this month and even though I've always looked at the great value of them I've never actually bought one- but this time it had both Forever Friends & All Aboard items in it as well as a beautiful butterfly stamp- well worth the £15. This is the first card I've made using the all aboard items.

I started by inking the edges of a 6x6 card with both Walnut Stain & Tea Dye distress inks. I then mounted a piece if kraft 6x6 all aboard paper onto the card and then ripped the edges of one of the map papers and also atatched this to the card. I then used the air-mail print & word patterned craft tape (washi tape) to work as toppers.

I am entering this card into the following challenges-
Papertake Weekly 'anything goes- option of kraft'
Creative Inspirations 'kraft'

Gorjuss 'Up in the Clouds'

I absolutely love the Gorjuss range of products recently bought out by DoCrafts. I treated myself to quite a few of them as soon as they came out and have finally had chance to make another card using them.

This was a really simple card to make although any time I rubber stamp onto a patterned paper I do get heart failure but these stamps are so detailed and beautiful I shouldn't have worried. I chose 2 papers from the 6x6 Gorjuss paper pack both with tones of blue. The distress style paper reminded me of the clouds in a grey sky (not that we've seen many of those recently! ;-D) so I chose to stamp the image of the Girjuss girl sitting with the birds directly onto it. I cut the paper down to 12cm square and then stamped directly with a black Versafine ink pad. I then stamped the sentiment using the same ink. I used my new scallop corner punch to add detail to the edges and then mounted it onto a small silver mirror card mat. I cut the stripe paper as a slightly larger mat, again punching the corners and then attached it all to a 6x6 card base that I also punched the corners of.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-
Totally Gorjuss 'something blue'
Creative Card Crew 'clouds'

pretty in pastel pink

I was recently lucky enough to win 4 Saturated Canary digi-stamps as part of a blog hop. This is the first card I have made using the beautiful 'Double Take' image- if you love it as much as I do then you can find it here.

I started by colouring the 'double take' image using spectrum noirs for her skin and promarkers for her dress & hair. I couldn't decide whether to make her a blonde or a brunette so I ended up going pink instead! I trimmed the image and then mounted it onto a pale pink cardstock from a 12x12 'Sweet Owl' pad by First Edition. I then used another paper from the same 12x12 pad and mounted it onto an 8x8 square card. I attached the topper onto the top right corner of the card and then put the pearl swirl in the bottom left corner. I made this by drawing a swirl onto the card using a stencil and then attching individual Anita's mini-pearls using a quickie glue pen.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Saturated Canary 'pretty pastels'

Crafty Catz 'swirls & pearls'

Catch the Bug 'recipe challenge- cardstock & bling'

Challenges 4 Everybody 'anything goes'

Songbird Challenge Blog 'Five Colours In Her Hair!'

New Baby- lily & lilac

At the NEC last weekend I managed to get some die-cut toppers from the Lily of the Valley stand. They have normally not got many left to choose from when I get there on the Sunday but because I went on Saturday this year, there was a wider selection. I have had this topper before but really like it so it was worth getting another. I've used the topper in conjunction with lots of lilac things to make a baby card suitable for either a boy or girl or unknown!

I started with a 6x6 square card blank and rounded the corners with my new corner punch. The next layer of lilac spot paper is from a Kanban baby paper pack, followed by 'bling' cardstock and then the topper- all with rounded corners. I finished the card with 3 small purple buttons and the large lilac grosgrain bow.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Paper Shelter 'anything goes'

Lili's Little Fairies 'buttons & bows'

Dolly Mixtures

The Craftwork Cards stand is always one of my favourites at the NEC as there is always new Card Candi to be had! This year I ended up buying some lovely floral patterned and spotty ones in various colour combos- I'm sure they'll be appearing on some cards on here soon enough. This year I also picked up a bargain set of their new 'Dolly Mixtures' range. It included a 6x6 paper & die-cut pack, dis-cut tickets, 10 lady toppers and a pack of fancy edge 6x6 cards- all for £10. I chose the 'Coleen' papers but the 'Amy' toppers in my set. I've used the topper and elements from the 6x6 pad to make this card.

I started with the topper, which I coloured using a mix of Spectrum Noirs & Promarkers. The dress is paper pieced using a paper from the 6x6 pad and embellished with a matching colour of Card Candi from my stash. I also used Glossy Accents to add shine to the martini glass. When the glossy accents was dry, I mounted the topper onto some silver mirror card and then onto a spotty paper from the 6x6 paper pad. I mounted this onto the bottom corner of the card base. The paper ribbons and hearts both came from the 6x6 pad, as did the flags that I have used to create the bunting at the top of the card. I attached the flags with 3d foam and then used my black promarker to draw on the string. I then used black peel-off letters to spell out 'Happy Birthday'.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Polkadoodles 'paper piecing'

Craftwork Cards 'dolly mixtures'