Fairy Home

It's been a while since I made a background scene using inks, so today I decided to make a scene using the lovely Lavinia stamps.  

As I need a card for my daughter who is starting a new job as a town planner next week, I wanted to incorporate a house for this card.  I decided to use the Lavinia 'Mushroom Dwelling' stamp as the main image.  I first stamped the image on a piece of white card, then stamped it again on an offcut, which I cut out to make a mask.  I put the mask over the first image, then made my background using Adirondack inks applied with Ink Dusters.  The mask was then removed and I used Promarkers to colour in the image.  The completed scene was matted on black, before attaching to the white scalloped card.

I would like to enter my card for the following challlenges:

Lavinia Stamps Challenge # 6 ~ Any colours you like!

That's Crafty! Challenge ~ Housey, Housey

Christmas in June

It's time for the Rudolph Days Challenge again. Today's card is a simple design that I can easily mass produce.

The embossing folder I used was Cuttlebug's 'Season's Greetings'. The white embossed card was attached to a red card blank and little glittery circle peeloffs added to centre of the embossed snowflakes......and that's it!

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

June Rudolph Days Challenge ~ Make a Christmas Card

CHNC Challenge extra for June ~ Make a Christmas Card

Under the Sea

A second CAS card today.

I used a Memory Box 'Ocean Corner' die for this card.  This was the die I was looking for, when the die I used in my previous post shouted out at me! ;-)      I stencilled the bottom part of the card with a Memory Box 'Wave' stencil, using a 'Peacock Feathers' distress ink pad. 

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

CASology Challenge - Week 152 ~ Nautical

Less is More - Week 229 ~ Stencilling

Addicted to CAS #66 ~ Splash

Black and White

Welcome to my new follower.  Please let me know who you are so I can put a link to your blog. 

I was at a craft fair recently looking for a particular die, when I spotted this Memory Box 'Sylvan Corner' butterfly die, which just shouted out at me 'buy me! buy me!'. So home it came with me.

I'm back in my comfort zone of CAS today , after making yesterday's shabby chic card. I used a metal shim and the intricate die cut beautifully.  In the top left hand corner there are two solid butterflies and the wings lift up to make them 3D, although you can't see them very well in the photo of my card.  You can see how the die cuts here..... 

I added three little punched butterflies for added detail.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Outside the Box, Memory Box Challenge #1 ~ Butterflies

Crafty Boots challenge ~ Black and White
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Shabby Chic or Vintage?

Firstly, welcome to my latest follower, Sandy.

When I saw that the challenge on the Country View blog was 'Shabby Chic', I knew it would take me way, way out of my comfort zone of CAS cards!  For a start, I've never been sure of the difference between Shabby Chic and Vintage, but here is my take on the challenge.

I started with a white card blank and attached a piece of torn patterned paper. I still find it difficult to tear paper without trying to neaten it afterwards, but figured torn is more shabby!  I distressed the card around the edges with 'Tea Dye' distress ink. I also used the same ink on the lace, doily and Spellbinders 'Picot Edge Circle' die-cut I used for the sentiment.  The rosette was made using a Sizzix Tom Holtz die, with a button added to the centre.  The butterfly punch is by Stampin' Up.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:
Country View June Challenge ~ Shabby Chic
Butterfly Challenge # 33 ~ Butterflies + F is for Flowers
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

When life gives you a rainy day.....

I was delighted to be invited to be a Guest Designer on the City Crafter Challenge blog.  It's a colour challenge this week, to use blue, green and a splash of red.  Here is the photo for inspiration.....

..... and here is my card.

To make the background, I used a Memory Box die - 'A Little Rain' three times on white card and attached blue paper behind.  The image is by Little Claire, 'Rainy Days'. It's stamped with a Memento ink pad and coloured using Promarkers.  I added Glossy Accents to the boots and puddles to make them stand out.  The image and sentiment are die cut using Memory Box Stitched Rectangles.  I actually made the bottom card first, using a paler green for the matting, but decided to make another card, changing the layout. 

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge ~ Add a Sentiment

Stamping Sensations June Challenge ~ Dies and Punches
Allsorts Challenge Blog  - Week 316 ~ Use a Stamp

Semi-Retirement

Well, today is my DH's last day at work.  He's retiring from his full-time job as an accountant and just working a few hours a week at home.  It will be strange having him home all the time - he will realise how much more time I spend crafting during the day than I admit to! LOL!  It really seems like the end of an era, so here is the card I made for him.  

The stamped image is by Little Claire and coloured with Promarkers and was die-cut using a Memory Box Stitched Rectangle die. I used patterned papers from a Papermania paper stack - a bargain buy from The Works.  The sentiment was die-cut using a Sizzix die.  I added grey Card Candi to finish off my card.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper June challenge 
Allsorts Challenge Blog  - Week 316 ~ Use a Stamp

Vintage Bicycle

The challenge on the City Crafter blog this week is 'Die Cut Gold', so out came my gold mirror card and box of dies.

I love this Memory Box 'Vintage Bicycle' die, especially cut in gold or silver.  The circles are cut with Memory Box 'Stitched Circle' dies.  I used a Cuttlebug 'Clockworks' embossing folder for the background as I thought the cogs tied in nicely with the Penny Farthing bicycle. A gold Card Candi finished off my card.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

City Crafter Challenge - Week 266 ~ Die Cut Gold

Gears

I'm back with my third post today - and I've also fitted in time to go to the coast to watch the Red Arrows aerobatic display!

The Less is More Challenge theme this week is 'Stencilling'. As it's Father's Day today, I thought I'd make a masculine card.

I made the panel using a Creative Expressions 'Gears' stencil, with Chipped Sapphire Distress ink.  The small mirror card gears were die cut with an x-Cut die.  I used a Spellbinders Cog die cut to mat the sentiment.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:
Less is More - Week 229 ~ Stencilling
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Weeks 181 and 182 ~ Used silver mirror card snippets
Friday Mashup Challenge #214... Stencil this!
AAA Cards Challenge - Game #42 Paste and/or Stencils

Home

I'm really enjoying 'discovering' all my old wooden stamps again.  This one is by Create-It, a company I've never heard of, so perhaps they no longer exist.  However, I really love the sentiment on this stamp for 'New Home' cards, so decided to use it for this card.

I used a 'key' embossing folder by Embossalicious for the background.  The stamped image is coloured in with Promarkers .  I punched a little flower and decide to make it 3D as it won't be posted.  I put the flower in the palm of my hand and pushed a the blunt end of a pencil into the middle to make the petals curl up.  Then I added a small foam square to the middle and attached the yellow centre on top.  
I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:
That's Crafty! Challenge ~ Housey, Housey
Stamping Sensations June Challenge ~ Dies and Punches

Flower Girl

Sorting through my old wooden stamps I came across this one, which I thought would be perfect for the CASology card challenge 'Kids'.

I'm not sure of the make of the stamp, it seems to have got rubbed off the wooden block over time.  The stamped image is coloured with Promarkers and I've added five tiny punched flowers.  I've used Memory Box Stitched Rectangles to mat and layer the images and sentiment.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

CASology Week -151 ~ Kids
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #107 ~ Bingo (Flowers, Stamped Image, Punches/Dies)

Allsorts Challenge Blog  - Week 316 ~ Use a Stamp
Stamping Sensations June Challenge ~ Dies and Punches

Handyman

My second post today is a Father's Day card as there are a few 'Father's Day' card challenges this week.  My own Dad passed away over twenty years ago, when I was in my thirties, so this card will go into my box of cards I sell for charity.  My Dad would have had a giggle if I had given him a card like this.... he wasn't the greatest DIY expert!!

 The stamp is one a bought years ago by Funstamps, but I can't remember ever using it.  The image is coloured with Promarkers and I've gone over the grey 'metal' with a clear Wink of Stella glitter brush to give it a shine.  I've embellished the bottom panel with 'screw' brads.  The sentiment is simple so it can be sent to a Dad for any occasion.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Little Claire's Monthly Stamp Challenge # 58 ~ Father's Day
Crafty Boots Challenge ~  Father's Day / For the Man in Your Life
Cardz 4 Guyz  Challenge # 75 ~ Father's Day
Mod Squad Challenge Blog ~ Father's Day
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #251 - Father's Day

Butterflies

It's my niece's birthday on Monday, so I had a break today from trying to catch up on all my favourite blogs and made her card.  As much as I love going on holiday to places like THIS, I do miss seeing what all my blogging friends have been creating.

The Butterfly Challenge this fortnight is  'Butterflies + F is for Flowers', so my card today has butterflies and a flower (I hope one flower is enough for the challenge, Mrs A!)

A red, black and white card today, using an x-Cut butterfly punch I haven't used for ages.  I used one of the red butterfly cut outs from the panel to attach near the flower, using a black Wink of Stella glitter pen to make the butterfly trail.  A punched flower finished off my card.

Butterfly Challenge # 33 ~  Butterflies + F is for Flowers

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Weeks 181 and 182 ~ Use snippets (used lots today!)
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge ~ Butterflies

New Home

Today's card is a one layer 'New Home' card.  One layer cards never get any easier to make, but somehow I managed to stamp everything in the right place first time!

The image stamps are by Lavina and the sentiment is an old Inca stamp.  The fairy door was stamped with a Memento ink pad, so I could colour it with Promarkers and I stamped the fairies and sentiment with a Versafine ink pad.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Less is More Week 228 ~ One Layer Card - Home
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #149 ~ Clean and Simple

Shaker Card

Many, many years ago I was taught how to make a shaker card using a bought tri-fold aperture card. It was so complicated and bulky, I've never made another one since.  However, seeing shaker cards now which are made with a frame attached to the front of a card blank, I decided to have a go at making one for the Butterfly Challenge, which this fortnight is to use sequins. 

The embossing folder was a free one with a magazine.  I used one of my tapestry stamps to stamp around the die-cut frame.  The butterfly punch is by Stampin' Up and the purple and silver heart shaped sequins were on the table at a wedding some time ago as decoration, so I collected them up at the end before they were thrown away.  I knew they would be useful one day!  Lots of snippets used today, so I'll be sharing my card over at the Playground this week.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge #32 ~ Butterflies + S is for Sequins

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Weeks 181 and 182 ~ Use snippets

Graduation

The theme for the CASology challenge this week is 'Graduation'.

I used my favourite Stampin' Up owl punch and added glasses and a mortar board.  The little owl is sat on a Die-namics 'Branch with Leaves' die-cut.

I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

CASology Week 150 ~ Graduation

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 180 ~ Use snippets

Welsh Dragons

A week in North Wales in glorious sunshine, with a group of friends....what could be better?  With views like this...

sunsets like this....

and visitors like this...

.....the craft box I took with me in case of bad weather stayed closed the whole week!

  We arrived home today and I made this Welsh Dragon thank you card for the friends who organised the holiday.

I used red, green and white - the colours of the Welsh flag.

 I would like to enter my card for the following challenges:

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 180 ~ Use snippets

Silhouette

A thank you card today.

There is something about silhouette stamps that I just love.  This one is a Little Claire stamp 'Silhouette House Stamp', which I stamped with an onyx Versafine stamp pad on a patterned background.  I coloured the door with Sharpie pens.  The image is die-cut with a Memory Box Open Studio Stitched die.  The background patterned paper is from a Papermania paper pad.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Little Claire's Monthly Blog Challenge # 57 ~ Outdoors

Stamping Sensations May Challenge ~ Flower Power