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