hoppy new home

Be hoppy in your new home, thought this would be fun images to use for a new home card, and just so cute . This cutie is from LOTV and love the carrots they make such a neat embellishment. 

Coloured with my trusty promarkers and fussy cut before sticking to a turqoise base card, one of my favourite colours maybe as it reminds me of warm summer skies.

The card is a trifold aperture card but I thought I would use it a little different to the intended way so I also added an image to the aperture and made it the card centre. Again hand written sentiment and image coloured with promarkers and fussy cut.

I was quite pleased with the end result and hope it makes the recipient smile.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

The cutie pie challenge -woodland creatures

ABC-f for fancy folds

the paper girls -fancy folds

crafty gals corner -cute as a button

kraftin kimme -seeing double

crafty friends - all things cute

Suzy Bees- anything goes optional twist make it female

Dream Valley -all creatures great and small

Buzz, it's your birthday

I love daisies so this is one of my favourite stamps although old I think it came from Stamp Addicts. I stamped onto white card with versafine ink and coloured the centre with promarker. 

I used a white base card and added a piece of yellow ribbon that has sparkly bits in it and added the daisy to one side. I added some rough cut leaves also coloured with promarker. 

I stamped a darkroom happy birthday sentiment and embossed in moonglow obsidian emerald embossing powder. 

I added a die cut bee also coloured with promarkers and added glitter to its wings, then hand drew a dotty line winnie the pooh style.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

HLS mixed media -wings

MAWTT -spring flowers

OSAAT - wings

The ribbon girl - april any image

CAS on Sunday -tic tac toe

(floral,stamp,ribbon)

Clear it out -nature

Simon says -girly

creative craft cottage - feminine

If you give a crafter a cookie -photo inspirations

Crazy 4 challenges-spring flowers

Eureka- add some bling

Make my Monday - April showers bring May flowers

Come and get it -glitter and bling

A card for my son

My baby boy had a birthday recently not that he's small any more, towers above me and is a grown man,but he'll always be my baby. He makes us so proud as he wasn't given much chance of survival born at 2lb 10oz and 13 and a half weeks before he should have been. He has always been inpatient and life has been tough but he fights against his cerebral palsy daily and has achieved so much.

My card sums him up a total geek , he works on a computer all day and spends many hours of leisure time still attached to a computer. This Penny black image is typical of him on a weekend and though we went out for a wonderful birthday meal with friends as soon as he was home it was back to flying space ships , or dinosaurs or building roller coasters or whatever his game of choice was for the day,talking to friends around the globe.

I love the sentiment it just seemed so perfect and it came with the image so a great deal.

The happy birthday son were cut with dies from Britannia from blue mirri card.

It made him smile so was worth it just for that.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

Penny Black and more - Birthdays

Creative Inspirations - 2 of your favourite thing(mine stamps and promarkers)

Lemon shortbread - anything goes

Brown sugar -anything goes

Crafting with friends -anything goes

Seize the birthday -anything goes

Crafty girls creations - anything goes

LMM - anything goes

Crafting when we can - Birthday

The Paper Shelter - for the boys

kitchen salt splodges

A card I made with some paper I'd been playing around with. I love the sheen moonglow mica pigment inks have and the different tones too. I'd painted this piece a while ago on just ordinary cartridge paper and tried a technique I used when silk painting. Sprinkling table salt and rock salt onto the wet paint and leaving to dry(requires a little patience as a heat gun blows the salt around) when brushed off leaves a really pretty pattern. 

I used this paper to die cut butterflies in with a memory box die and placed on a white base card and instantly have white butterflies.



 I added a brown satin ribbon and tied with a knot and I think a masculine card. My son says not but for someone into gardening or butterflies I think so ,although I would be happy to receive a card in these colours so maybe it could be girly too.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

come and get it-things with wings

the paper players- CAS butterflies

RRR -things with wings and ribbon

make my monday - butterflies

Get well ducky

I was lucky enough to win this image from Miss  Daisy stamps and thought I'd make it bright and cheerful when colouring in with my promarkers,I used a blender pen to draw little flowers on the green brolly though they don't show up very well. I added sakura clear gel to the water to give it some shine and make it look wet.

 I fussy cut the image before adding it to my circle frame base. I used some stitching lines from memory box to create the rain effect before adding the frame which I created using poppy stamps stitched circles colouring the upper frame edge in bright red.

The sentiment is from the darkroom and is stamped in the same green promarker I used for the umbrella, the buttons are x-cut dies and again coloured in promarkers sticking to the colours I used for the duck.

I think it would cheer anyone up if they were feeling under the weather but think it would be especially suited to a child so will put it away in case any of my nieces or nephews feel a little poorly.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

Crafty time  -for the kids

Animal friends - birds

Miss Daisy facebook challenge- anything goes

little red wagon - rain or water

crafting for all seasons- bingo 

(I chose die cuts, digi and buttons)

crafty creations - stitching real or faux

fusion -april showers+/sketch

star in my pocket -use a digi

simply create too - stitching real or faux

Addicted to CAS -rain

triple layered happy birthday

One of the challenges I found this week is for triple layer stamping , so as I like to learn something new thought I'd have a go.

I decided on a star stamp good for a guy card and you always seem to need these so I used this stamp by anita, it's one of my early stamps so thought I'd give it an outing.

The tutorials on the male room blog are really easy to follow and although I used different card dimensions I still think it turned out ok.

I used versamark ink and gold dazzle embossing powder to keep with the sparkle theme, added gold mirri card for my layers and finished with a gold peel off sentiment before sticking on a white base card. It was actually fun to do and once all the layers were cut quite quick to make too and one I'm sure I will use again.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

stamps+fun =creativity-birthdays

sweet stamps -anything goes

the male room -triple stamping technique

oddball challenge-birthday

crafty catz -monochrome

613 Ave create -anything goes

seize the birthday - anything birthdays goes optional topping floral

crafting from the heart - anything goes

craft your passion -anything goes

water colour wishes

 I have seen many water colour cards around blog land and this prompted me to dig out my paints. I have always shyed away from using water colour paper in my card making but its good to try new things so I had a go and am quite pleased with resulting card.

 I used a poppy stamps die delicate chrysanthemum  and used it as a mask whilst literally dabbing on splodges of water colour paint from a fairly dry brush so the paint didn't run under the mask, as I was only holding it in place. I did 2 flowers turning the die cut for added interest. The die cut I used as the mask looked pretty with its two tone colour so with paint the stem green ready for use on a future project.

Once dry I took a white base card and stuck the water coloured paper to the bottom half of the card base cutting the top on a slight diagonal angle. I stamped and embossed a dark room anniversary stamp in versamark ink and powder embosed with moonglow venus violet blue powder keeping with the purple /blue tones.

I used some lilac ribbon to hand tie a small bow and added a length across the top of the diagonal before adding the bow with a glue dot.

I really like the finished card and am happy I tried and learnt something new. 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

craft dee bowz -anything goes with a bow

stamplorations -theme and sketch

(splatters and stamps and layout which I flipped)

poppystamps challenge -splish -splash

stamping sensations -one for the girls

addicted to stamps - pastel colours

Auds sentiments -anything goes

craft rocket -favourite colour combo

(my go to colours white ,blue and shades of purple for girly cards anyway)

cute card thursday -make your own embellishments

(my hand tied bow)

crafty gals corner -die cuts/punches

curtain call -simplicity

Patience or madness?

I recently stumbled across a blog that made me want to play something new. Pop over to Lia Griffith's  blog, you'll be amazed by this clever lady.

I don't have circuit or other electronic cutting machine but wanted to have a  so much I cut out all these small flowers by hand, it was great having some craft to do whilst watching TV with family.

I cut the flowers out of 3 different coloured papers,white,pink and ivory. I have to admit the white ones I did first and that was straight from the pattern that Lia Griffith provides on her website. The pink and ivory I actually shrunk down one of the flowers and made a template which I then drew around lots more than 200 times in total before cutting out all the flowers. I water coloured them with the same pink wash ,and the different base papers made me end with different shades of the same colour but they all co-ordinate perfectly.

It is then simply a case of following Lia's tutorial and getting a little sticky building the flower heads before you add the leaves which I cut form white copy paper and coloured with promarker,

 I know close up you can tell these flowers aren't real but from a distance or glance they are very effective and not only are they colourful but as a hay fever sufferer, they are allergy friendly and as my son's cat thinks all plants and flowers in the house are there for her to munch on cat friendly too.

I would like to enter these flowers into the following challenges:-

artbymiram - anything goes

a bit more time to craft - anything goes

paradise stamps - pastel colours

brown sugar - anything goes

creative fingers -anything goes

the paper shelter - flowers every where

timbroscrapmania - shabby chic or anything goes

polkadoodles - floral frenzy

the crafters cafe - what season are you in
(I'm in Spring but wish it could be summer all year long)

pink rings

Another die card, I am so loving this die it's just such fun. I thought a challenge for me , a girly pink card and using scraps of my papers, I love all the pretty papers you get so much so I don't like using them as then they are gone and I no longer have them to look at. I know I am a sad person but that's why I save any scraps but they did come in useful as I used them to make this card.

I cut the die in pink card and then different sections on the scraps of paper I had and inlaid them into the die sections and stuck them all onto a white card base. I love the effect and think its quite a pretty girly card, would suit me as I'm not a fussy flowery kinda girl as flowers are for the garden or in a vase although I do think there are some clever folk who make pretty flowery cards and it wouldn't do for us all to like the same things.

Think this would be good as a hello card,get well card or even a birthday card so will add the appropriate sentiment when I use it.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges;-

Tuedasy throwdown-use your die cuts

lemon shortbread - anything goes

CASology -pink

fab n funky -girly and pretty

AAA - anything goes CAS

CRAFT - CAS

Springtime garland

Another paper project from Lia Giffith, not something I would have thought of doing other than the garland I have on my mantle at Christmas, but I love how this brings a splash of colour.

Pattern from Lia Griffith blog on the freebie section, all cut from my stash of  coloured copy paper and white copy paper coloured with promarkers,before being cut out and stuck and shaped.

The ribbon I used is again from my stash and the flowers are simply threaded onto the ribbon.

I love how simple this is to make and yet adds such a burst of colour like instant sunshine.

I would like to enter this project into the following challenges;-

Clear it out - springtime stash and add flowers

Deep Ocean challenge;- spring in the air

Craft your passion - anything goes

Artistic inspirations -anything goes /flag colours

Crafting from the heart -anything goes

scrapbook stamp society -anything goes optional flowers

come and get it -bright colours

retro christmas decoration inspiration

I know, strange title but as a child I was fascinated by the concertina Christmas decorations my mum had from when she was a child, they were multicoloured bell and ball shaped concertinas and I thought part of the Christmas magic that they stored flat in a box and when the two card edges were brought together magically a shape appeared. 

Inspired by this I decided to try and find how they are made and was amazed how many tutorials there are on the internet, so after reading several I decided to have a go using some of my new memory box heart dies and this is what I came up with.

Dies make it so easy to cut multiple shapes perfectly equal in size and so quickly too. I cut equal quantities, 9 of each in 2 contrasting colours basically scraps that I had hence the lilac ones are slightly different patterns and after folding in half you stick together in 2 different places with dots of glue and then when joined together you stick with 2 dots of glue in 2 different places and that's what forms the honeycomb effect. Sorry its sounds a bit confusing but there are loads of videos and tutorials that show it really is easy.

After making 2 hearts I decided they would look great as a decoration to add a little spring colour, the fact that my son's cat is fascinated by it just adds to the fun, she sits and watches it spin when she taps the tassel,(also home made) and the gems catch the sunshine when it actually shines. I finished off with a wire hanger that happens to be purple glitter coloured so worked perfectly.

I would like to enter this decoration into the following challenges:-

Memory Box -anything but a card

The paper girls - mixed media

stampavie and more -springtime 

Little Miss Muffet -anything goes

creative craft cottage -add some sparkle

As you like it -favourite non card project

(I am really enjoying making 3D paper creations at present more to come in future posts)

Not just cards - anything goes

Dream Valley challenges -anything goes

Happy Little stampers...

... are celebrating why not pop over and join in.

 

Pink paper rings

I said I would try a girly ringlet die card so here it is . I again  used  the memory box die and cut from both white, pink and various pink patterned and plain papers. I simply inlaid a white die cut into a bright pink negative and then in-filled the spaces with various different papers like a jigsaw.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges;-

In the pink -dies and punches

Simon says- anything goes wednesday

that's crafty -all things bright and beautiful

The ABC challenge - E is for everything goes

crafting from the heart - anything goes

creative card crew - die cuts

krafted love

I am loving playing and trying out different techniques with the dies I recently treated myself to, its a whole new world for me anyway. They lend themselves so well to the clean and simple look I find myself feeling most comfortable with although I still feel like I'm cheating when a card is completed so quickly.

For this card I used a kraft base card and used white card to cut memory box heart arch in. I love how you end up with so many little hearts ,I keep saving all the useful negative bits from different dies in a pot and am getting quite a collection of card confetti.

I used one of the larger cut hearts to fill in one of the spaces cut once I had stuck the arch to the base card. I'm still looking for the best adhering technique, so far I've tried glue pen ,pva with a fine nozzle and pritt stick and all have plus's and negatives so open to suggestions as to what you use for those intricate die-cuts.

The letters of love are cut from some recycled (from a shop bought card I received) gold embossed card I felt it just added a bit more texture. 

Card done, perfect for an anniversary, engagement, wedding or valentine card or just to send love and good wishes to someone you care about .

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

craft your passion - anything goes

crafty calendar - anything goes

Noor design UK- anything goes

creative fingers - anything goes

brown sugar -anything goes

crafts galore encore- anything goes

kraftin kimme -anything goes

jades sparkling butterflies - anything goes

4 crafty chicks- anything goes

artbymiram-anything goes

2 creative chicks-anything goes

stempelsonne -anything goes

flower pot mouse tag

I love finding new techniques and trying them out so had to improvise to try the watercolour mono print technique using a stencil, basically as I don't own any stencils so had to make my own using a die.

I used one of the Memory Box Open Studio Distressed Baptisia Collage Dies for my stencil and a brilliance ink in pale blue and used it on a kraft tag I bought when supermarket shopping.

I had stamped the cute Housemouse stamp with black ink on the tag and also on a sticky pad note so I could cut out a mask to go over the image before stamping or is it printing the stencil.

I coloured the image with Lyra pencils as I wanted a white daisy, love how they show up on kraft  and dark card.Tag finished. I am not sure whether it will get used as a tag yet or as a topper for a card but think it would work well for a guy or a girl depending on whether I add extra embellishments or kept the card clean and simple.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

AAA - stencilling and CAS

Cards und more - kraft cardstock

City crafter- white wash

House mouse and friends - stencils/anything goes

Hanna and friends - use kraft

creative artiste - anything goes /option chipboard,stencils +/flowers

Gruffles and guests - tag it/anything goes

A gem of a challenge -no squares

Crazy 4 challenges:- baby critters or small images

Crafting Musketeers- spring is in the air

dragonfly journeys -tag you're it

come and get it - tag you are it

Happy Little Stampers - CAS stencil/monoprint

dotty spots

I am loving learning new  techniques with dies and how versatile they are. This technique is inlaying the die cut back into the negative. For this card I went a little over board and cut the same die in white, black, pearlised brown ,pearlised grey and black and white dotty paper.

It is simply a bit of a jigsaw puzzle,inlay the ring die back into one of the negatives of a different colour. Use different pieces from the various negatives to inlay back into the die.

I think it makes a great male card in these colours and plan to try different colours for a more girlie look in the future.

I haven't added a sentiment at the moment but think it would be great with a silver happy birthday, hello or even a good luck card.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

Addicted to CAS-inlaid dies

crafting when we can-based on a song

(black and white by Michael Jackson)

glitter n sparkle - use a die/punch

kraftin kimme - clean and simple

CRAFT - make your own background

crafty friends - anything goes

TTCRD - anything goes

Artistic inspirations -anything goes

Spring violets

Another old stamp revisited and painted with moonglow mica powders mixed with water after being stamped with versafine ink. The image is from the stamp man and I love how it combines a description of the plant text with the illustration and how it drapes itself down the text. I fussy cut the image to emphasise this.

I used a white base card and spritzed it with moonglow dessert iris spritz it leaves random metallic lilac spots across the card.

I added a length of deep green satin ribbon to one edge, I did tie a small bow but decided it made the card look too fussy , so instead I finished with 5 small lilac gems ,cos you always need a little extra sparkle.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges;-

Stampavie and more- ribbon

As you like it - bingo

mine has to be CAS, purple and gems

as I just can't do fussy it looks like a bad pizza

Handstamped sentiments - layout

my time to craft -girle

The pencil case - pretty or peculier

simply create too - purple and green

chocolate,coffee,cards - spring

card mania -spring

country view challenge - spring

RRR - flowers and ribbon/trim