Smile!

The theme of the current Inkspirational Challenge is 'Snap', so I decided to go with a camera taking a 'snap'shot. 

The camera is die cut with a very old Sizzix die.  I made the frame with matt silver card, using the camera die first to get the aperture, then a SB circle die around the aperture to make a frame.  The three apertures were covered on the back with a piece of acetate, saved from the packaging of a set of dies, to give the appearance of glass.  Behind the lens aperture, I also added a piece of grey card, before attaching the camera to the card with foam tape. To continue the theme of the circle shape of the lens, I used patterned paper from a Dovecraft paper pad, 'Blue Skies' and a Cuttlebug embossing folder, 'Spots and Dots'.  The sentiment is computer generated. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Inkspirational Challenge #168 ~ Snap

The Male Room Challenge #93 - Photography & Cameras

The Crafty Addicts Challenge #51 ~ Anything Goes/All about Boys and Men
HLS August Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Singing Snowmen

When I saw that the Allsorts Challenge theme this week is 'Music',  I thought this lovely image would be perfect for the challenge. 

The digi stamp is from Beccy's Place, from the 'Snowman' set.  I decided to use the pre-coloured version and cover the snowmen with a clear Spectrum Noir glitter brush to make them sparkle. I used an MFT 'Stitched Scalloped Circle Frame' die to frame the image and attached it to the card with foam tape.  The background is embossed with a Sue Wilson 'Snowflake Lattice' e/f.  Red and green Card Candi finished off my card. 

I am joining in the following challenge:

Allsorts Challenge - Week 482 ~ Music

Beccy's August Challenge ~ Use one of Beccy's images

CHNC Challenge #400 ~ Anything Christmas

Moving Along with the Times ~ Texture
My Time to Craft Challenge #378 ~ Christmas in August

HLS August Christmas Challenge
Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #110 ~ No Patterned Paper

Christmas in August

The August Rudolph Days Challenge begins today and ends on the 31st.  That means it's only four months until Christmas Day!  What a scary thought! 

My card today has a pre-coloured image from Bugaboo, 'Bugs Snowman 003'.  The frame was die cut with a Sue Wilson 'Shadow Box - Celebrations' die and the patterned paper was from a freebie paper pad which came with a magazine some time ago.  For the village scene, I used a Memory Box 'Quiet Cabin Landscape' die. 

I am joining in with the following challenges:
Rudolph Days August Challenge
Memory Box Challenge #40 ~ Keep Cool and Carry On (Winter Cards)
HLS August Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper August 2018 Challenge
CHNC Challenge #400 ~ Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas
House of Cards August Challenge ~ Use Patterned Paper and/or Colors

Watercolouring

I'm sharing this card on my blog to remind myself that I need much more practise at watercolouring.  I think I last did watercolouring when I was about eight years old and my skills haven't improved since then! LOL!

When I saw that the CAS Watercolouring August Challenge had the theme of 'Sunflowers', I knew I wanted to join in.  I've probably got more sunflower stamps than any other flower stamp, having collected them over the years.   I finally decided on an old Anita's stamp and dusted off an old palette of block watercolours - the sort I used when I was about eight years old!  I tried stamping the image with various inkpads and painting the image, but I think an eight year old would have done a better job.   I thought I'd try heat embossing the image, so dug out an unopened pot of Distress 'Tea Dye' embossing powder, which I thought would leave a subtle outline.  I can't recall buying the embossing powder, I probably got it in a goodie bag.  I spent ages with the heat gun, before realising some of the crystals weren't supposed to melt, but had to be rubbed off to create a distressed look.  So.....sorry for all the waffling, here is my finished card.

The image had a ladybird, but so small it was impossible to paint it, so I nearly abandoned the card.  Then I had a lightbulb moment and covered over the ladybird with a little wooden one.  So, that's my card and I'm off to join in the CAS Watercolouring Challenge before it closes in a few hours.

I'm also joining in the following challenges:

HLS August Watercolour Challenge

Butterfly Challenge

The current Butterfly Challenge is 'Spin The Butterfly Wheel with the Letter F',  Ferrari Red/French Blue/Fuchsia/Folds more than 1/ Flowers/Frame It/ Butterfly.  As I was up for a challenge today, I decided to try and include all seven elements. This is what I came up with.

My first job was to find card as close as I could to the three colours on the list.  The Ferrari Red flower is made with a Cheery Lynn 'Sunflower' die.  I punched a 1" circle in Fuchsia to put behind the black centre of the flower, leaving a small border.  The French Blue frame is made with a MFT 'Stitched Scalloped Circle Frame' die.  The base card was die cut with a Presscut 'Scalloped Semi Circle' die, which has several folds.  I used an Xcut butterfly e/f for the embossed card, to include the butterfly part of the challenge.  Phew! All seven elements included.

This is a side view of the card, showing the folds. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge #105 ~ Spin The Butterfly Wheel with the Letter F (all seven elements)
Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #78 ~ Dies and or Punches
HLS August Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge ~ Bloomin' Flowers
Time Out Challenge Challenge #116 ~ Bright (colours)

Twofer ~ Geometric - Squares

I'm back from a lovely few days in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.  First we watched our local football team play win against Wycombe Wanderers FC and then we visited a couple of National Trust properties, as well as Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

In my last post HERE I made an emoji card, which reminded me of a NBUS set of little emoji dies I have in my stash.  As the Twofer challenge doesn't finish for a couple of days, I thought I'd pop over with a second entry, this time using squares on both cards. 

After checking the rules, I read that punches are allowed as well as dies or stamps.  As I wanted to use 1" squares, it was quicker to use a punch than a die. 

I am joining the Twofer Challenge with this pair of cards.

On my first card I started by stamping the sentiment using a stamp from the Happy Little Stampers set, 'Doodled Flowers'. The emoji shapes were cut using yellow, black and red snippets, inlaying the features, which was surprisingly quick and easy.  The punched white squares were layered on black punched postage stamp squares and attached to the base card with foam pads.  As everything, apart from the base card, was very small snippets I'll be joining in snippets challenge in the Playground.  I had intended entering the emoji card in my last post, but had a Senior Moment as I realised I posted it a couple of days early! 

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

1. Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #333 ~ Use snippets

2. Allsorts Challenge Week 480/1 ~ From Boys to Men

3. HLS August CAS Challenge ~ Use Die Cuts

4. Less is More Challenge #378 - Sketch 24

For my second card, the 1" punch was used to punch squares in very small snippets of LOTV snowflake patterned paper.  As LOTV are no longer producing paper pads of their gorgeous papers, I'm sure I'm not the only one to save even the smallest leftover piece.  The punched squares were attached to a larger snippet of plain blue card, before attaching it to a Sue Wilson 'Double Pierced Square' white die cut.  So, two cards using up more of my ever-growing snippets pile!

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

1.Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper August 2018 challenge

2. CHNC Challenge #399 ~ Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas, optional theme: no stamp or digital image

3.Dragonfly Dreams August Challenge ~ Monochrome

Twofer - Geometric

The theme for Darnell's Twofer Challenge this month is Geometric, two different cards, two different designs for two different occasions, following the theme.  I chose to use the same circle die on both cards.

I am joining in the the Twofer Challenge with this pair of cards.

At a recent craft day I played around with my Pixies Powders for the first time to make some backgrounds.  I used one of these backgrounds for my card.  I laid the stencil on a piece of watercolour paper, sprinkled the Pixie Powders over and sprayed with water - a new technique for me.  Before removing the stencil, I laid another piece of watercolour paper over the top to soak up the excess ink, which made a negative image for a future project.  I love the shiny effect of the Pixie Powders, which show up much better IRL.   I'm hoping I've interpreted Stencil Monoprinting correctly as I want to join in the CAS Mix Up Card Challenge with this card.   I made the frame using Memory Box 'Stiched Circle' and 'Stitched Scalloped Circle' dies.  The stencilled background is die cut with the same stitch circle die and inlaid in the frame.  The silhouette boat is a Poppystamps 'Marina Sailboats' die cut.  The sentiment is from the Happy Little Stampers 'Doodle Flowers' set and stamped with Versafine 'Onyx Black'. 

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

CAS Mix Up August Challenge ~ Stencil Monoprint, Stamping, Die Cutting

Poppystamps Challenge #47 ~ Make A Splash!

Country View August ~ Sun, Sea and Sand

HLS August CAS Challenge ~ Die Cuts 

Ike's World Challenge Challenge #111 ~ Anything Goes/All at Sea

Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge # 201 ~ Get Well Soon

My second card is a birthday card, using the same Memory Box stitched circle die.  I used various circle and tear drops punches for the features on the emoji face.  The background is embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder and the sentiment is computer generated. 

I am joining in the following challenges with this card:

Allsorts Challenge Week 480/1 ~ From Boys to Men

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #78 ~ Texture (embossing)

HLS August Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #78 ~ Dies and or Punches

Die Cuttin' Divas ~ Challenge #382 ~ Birthday Wishes

Thinking of You

Welcome to my new follower, Sylvia of Designs for Occasions.

My craft room tidying and decluttering is going well - I can see the floor and there is a space on my crafting table! 😊  As I don't want to lose my crafting mojo, I've stopped to make a card for a couple of challenges.

The image is one of my current favourite stamps, 'Swirly Whirly - Cats' from Little Claire Designs, stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with grey and blue Promarkers.  The sentiment, a stamp from Happy Little Stampers, is stamped with Versafine 'Onyx Black'.   I die cut the image using a Creative Dies Plus 'Wonky Stitches' die and layered onto a blue mat.  

I am joining in the following challenges:

1. Less is More Challenge #377 ~ Pets

2. 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #17 ~ Anything Goes with a Critter

3. Stamping Sensations August Challenge ~ Use your 'current' favourite stamp

4. That's Crafty Animal Magic Challenge
5. I Love Promarkers  Challenge #365 ~ Anything Goes

Cheers!

I'm having a break from tidying and decluttering my craft room.  I started blitzing it a couple of months ago, but I get easily distracted when I find something I'd forgotten I own!  I'm determined to get it finished this week....fingers crossed. 😊

A masculine card for my niece's hubby who is celebrating his birthday today.

The image is from Digi Stamp Boutique, 'Alf Beer', and coloured with Promarkers.  The patterned papers are from a Dovecraft paper pad, 'True Blue'.  I finished off my card with three punched stars. 

I am joining in the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Week 480/1 ~ From Boys to Men
Moving Along With The Times  Challenge #77 ~ For the boys
Time Out Challenge Challenge #115 ~ Food and Drink
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper August 2018 Challenge
 CCC Digi Creations Challenge #95 ~ Three of a Kind (Stars)
The Craft Addicts Challenge # 51 ~ Anything Goes/All about Boys and Men
I Love Promarkers # Challenge 365 ~ Anything Goes

Anniversaries

A couple of anniversary cards today using the same die, stamp and embossing folder.

I used an Apple Blossom 'Lattice Hearts' embossing folder. The sentiment is from an Apple Blossom 'Wavy Sentiments' set of stamps, stamped with Versafine 'Onyx Black'.  I die cut the sentiment with a die that was part of a set which came with a magazine.  To finish off my card I added three pearl hearts. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Card Mania Challenge # 107 ~ Anniversary

HLS August Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Bizzy Bec's August Challenge

Chinese Lantern

I'm sharing a card I made this week using a die I chose with a gift voucher I won over in the Poppystamps Challenge recently.

The die is Poppystamps 'Chinese Lantern Stem'.  The orange comes as three solid shapes which I've attached behind the die cut.  It was quite fiddly to get them in the right place, without showing around the black outline.   Next time I think I'll try cutting out the stem in orange as well as black and inlaying the orange pieces.  The tag is two Poppystamps dies from the 'Stitched Main Street' set of dies and I added a black gem to the top.  I used a Creative Expressions embossing folder, 'Rambling Berries' for the background.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge Week 278/9 ~ Tags
Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #110 ~ No Patterned Paper
HLS August Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
Get Creative Challenge Challenge #72 ~ Make A Tag
Bizzy Bec's August Challenge

New Baby

During a fabulous two days crafting with old friends......and making some new ones, I managed to make 20 more Christmas cards for my pile, batch making some of the designs I've already posted on my blog.  I also made five other cards for various occasions which I'll be blogging over the next few days.

My last post showed a card I made for new grandparents and today I'm sharing a card I made for the new parents.  I've known the new Mum since she was born and now she has a baby of her own!  How time flies!

The image is from LOTV, which I think may have been discontinued as it's no longer on their website and the sentiment is also from LOTV.  I stamped the image with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured it with Promarkers.  I die cut the image with a Creative Dies 'Wonky Rectangle' die and layered it on pink card.  The background is embossed with a Crafts Too 'Babies Feet'.  The embossing folder wasn't big enough to cover the 7 x 5 card, so I embossed two pieces of card and added a pink strip of card over the join, adding two white pearl hearts for added interest.

I am joining in the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge #225 ~ Breast Cancer Awareness PINK to be the Predominant colour
Penny Black and More! August challenge - I Spy something beginning with B (Baby)

New Granddaughter

Friends of ours recently became grandparents for the first time to a beautiful baby granddaughter.  I made this card for them. 

The image is from LOTV, 'Baby Blanket', stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with Promarkers. I used Spellbinder Nestabilities dies for matting an layering.  The embossing was done with an Xcut 'Small Polka Hearts', embossing folder.  I used a Memory Box 'Stitched Country Border' die for the pink, scalloped border and added a computer generated sentiment.  All the pink card and white embossed card were snippets, so I'll be popping over the Playground to share my card. 

Tomorrow I'm off to a two day crop, crafting all day until 10pm each evening.... well, probably chatting, laughing and eating for some of the time! 😉

I am joining in the following challenges:

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #332 ~ Use snippets

Penny Black and More! August Challenge ~ I Spy something beginning with B (Baby, blanket)

A Gem of  a Challenge #225 Breast Cancer Awareness ~ PINK to be the Predominant colour 
Back to Basics and Beyond Challenge #8 ~ Use an Embossing Folder
I Love Promarkers Challenge  #364 ~ Anything Goes

Dots and Stripes

The Crafty Calendar Challenge begins today and the theme is Dots and/or Stripes.  Our generous sponsor this month is A Day for Daisies.

For my DT card, I chose to use the beautiful Ladybug Hello  digi stamp from A Day for Daisies.  The image is coloured with Promarkers.  The dotty and striped patterned paper is from Anna Marie Designs.  I added three Card Candi to finish off my card.

The Crafty Calendar ends on the 28th August, so pop over the Challenge blog HERE to get lots of inspiration from the DT and perhaps win a gift voucher from A Day for Daisies.

I am joining in the following challenges:
Double 'D' Challenge ~ Don't Bug Me
That's Crafty Challenge Animal Magic Challenge
Passion for Promarkers Week 455 ~Spots and/or stripes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge ~ Wild Things (Ladybirds)
 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #17 ~ Include a Critter
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper August 2018 challenge
I Love Promarkers Challenge #364 ~ Anything Goes

Stripy tights!

A CAS card today to join in with a few challenges.

I chose to use one of my all time favourite stamps,  Funstamps 'Fairy with Attitude', as she has stripy tights .  I bought the stamp to make a birthday card for my daughter when she was a teenager, which was a LONG time ago! LOL!   The image is stamped with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' and coloured with Promarkers.  I love the film 'Me Before You', where a pair of yellow and black striped tights feature in the film, so this gave me the inspiration for the colour scheme.  I added some sparkle to the crown, star and wings with Wink of Stella clear and silver glitter brushes.  I scored four lines around the edge of the card to make a border, although the vertical lines show up much better IRL.  To finish my card, I added four silver stars where the scored lines cross over.

I am joining in the following challenges:

1. Less is More Challenge #376 ~ OLC Stripes

2. Passion for Promarkers Challenge Week 455 ~ Spots and/or stripes

3. Inkspirational Challenge #166 ~ Make a Card in 10 minutes or less (it took about 7 or 8 minutes)

4. Sweet Stampin' Challenge ~ CAS 

Merry Christmas!

There was a slight delay in the Rudolph Days Challenge this month, so you have got until August 7th to make a Christmas project to join in the fun.

I used an Apple Blossom 'Merry Christmas' embossing folder, using red and green snippets of card for each half.   After stamping the sentiment on a snippet of white card using a stamp from an Apple Blossom set of wavy stamps, I used a freebie die from a magazine to die the the sentiment.  As a finishing touch I added three red pearls which, IRL, are the same shade of red as the red card.  

I am joining in the following challenges:

Rudolph Days July Challenge 

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #331 ~ Use Snippets

Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #303 ~ Holiday

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #404 ~ Christmas in July

Dream Valley Challenge # 183 ~ Christmas in July

Back to Basics Challenge #8 ~ Use an Embossing Folder