Inspiration from Nature

I was inspired this morning by one of the honeysuckles climbing up a eucalyptus tree and it's brilliant golden blooms mingling with the silvery leaves of the tree.

The DP's are from an 8x8 double sided pack Janice resulted up for me when I wanted some that size and afraid I have no idea of the make but the colours match the honeysuckle so well. The stamps are two new ones from Hobby Art FL1910E and mathching dragonfly U1913D (it comes in two sizes, this is the smaller). I stamped the flower image several times in verafine black and embossed with detail clear and cut out four of the daisies. All were coloured lightly with Marvey pens and then glittered with a quickie glue pen and glittered with crystal ultrafine. One is decoupaged on the main image and the other three arranged into a flower at the top of the card.

The dragonfly was stamped and embossed on to vellum twice and assembled with silicone and wire antenna added. I also added some tiny dots of liquid pearls to mimic the dotty lines on the image. I rather like this card and it's growing on me so think it will for the basis for the board I need to prepare shortly for a Stampalot class in July using the new My Minds Eye papers - dates due to be released soon I think.

MS card collection update

Morning all, another glorious day. I do have a card that I rustled up earlier and will be back with that later after I've found a suitable place to photograph it in the garden.

But first I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has sent so many wonderful cards to me, Sir Stampalot and Stamp Addicts for the big MS fundraising day on 28th June. I have been overwhelmed by your generosity and would so like to thank everyone personally, but unfortunately some have been received with no contact details so hope those people will see this post.

There is still plenty of time if anyone else wants to send a card or cards - please click on the pink flower on my side bar for more detail.

Finally, our fuchsias are coming into bloom, this one is a semi standard variety and I just love the colours of the bobbing ballerina blooms.

Penny Black challenge 51

Well everyone, It's another gorgeous day and putting my mind to setting up the new laptop is not too appealing. So, as the children are already in the pool swimming and the older ones expecting a barbie, I'm combining this weeks Penny Black challenge which is a great sketch from Domi and Secret Crafter challenge which is the super combination of "Pink, Turquoise and a hint of brown".

My main image is Penny Black 3874K and I have also used 3940F down the side. Both are stamped in versafine sepia and the flowers have also been heat embossed with detail clear. Ovals cut on the Cuttlebug with nesties and scallop strip cut on the Cricit Plantin Schoolbook. I have replaced the bottom flowers from the sketch with a bow and stick pin (spellboubd bead) - hope the two for two amendment is OK. DP's are My Minds Eye.

My card has been photographed amongst the kolkwitzia which has an abundance of pink flowers that I thought matched my card so well.

Allsorts challenge 3

We are thrilled that so many people have joined in our challenge at Allsorts and to have received so many lovely comments.

This weeks theme set by Kirsten is "Curly Swirly" so a great one with all the lovely swirly stamps and other goodies available. The orange is a Doodlebug DP and the main image is Hero S5041 stamped simply in versafine black and embossed with detail clear powder. I used the same ink and powder for the butterfly Penny Black 3816E, which was stamped twice onto orange vellum, decoupaged and wire antenie added. The scalloped edges are using a fiskars punch and the scrolls on the top half of the card cut on Cricut Storybook, finished off with some grosgrain ribbon and gems.

Friday Sketchers 54

Good morning everyone, a beautiful sunny start to the day here, hope it's the same where you are.

I'm up against time here this morning as decided to treat myself to a laptop so I can transfer my Cricut software to it.............. and if I'm honest so I can blog on the go even when I'm away from my desk. But it will free up my desktop so justified I've told myself and John Lewis has a very nice new Toshiba on offer so I'm headed that way shortly.

Before I go, just found time to do this weeks Friday Sketchers challenge which is a lovely sketch from Jacqueline from the Netherlands. Have to say I'm not 100% happy with the finished article as not sure about the DP which is a double sided one from Crate Paper. I had decided on my image Penny Black 3949H and though the DP would match, but might be a tad dark for a summers day. But laptop calling, decided to go with it. The greeting is a skinny stamp from Stamps by Judith available from StampAddicts. Ovals cut on the cuttlebug with nesties.

Stamped as usual with versafine black and clear emboss, coloured with Marvy pens, stamped a second image for the two flowers at the top of the sketch and diamond glazed all. I cut the card itself on Cricut Wild Card, welding and flipping one of the shapes to achieve Jacquelin's chosen shape. I have used three beads threaded on a pin to fit with the left hand corner of the sketch and tied with a bow.

Also sharing a picture of one of the lupins and digitalis which are just coming out in the garden and also a hydrangea which is just showing colour. And by way of an explanation on the merecats before anyone asks, they totally fascinate me and when I saw these advertised in a ST supplement last year my Dad told me to buy them, so now they sit amongst the flowers.

Challenge Stampalot

Glory, grief........ afternoon already and my first post of the day is "Cutsie", yes I did say cutsie. I know I'm botanical and don't do cutsie, but winds of change must be with us as I came back from Sir Stampalot with Penny Black 30-014 and that means I'm timed as to how quickly I can get that card made and posted........ but I feel some comfort from this set as it's got a tree and a butterfly, so semi botanical. And of course my trip means more of these gorgeous new My Minds Eye DP's which I have used here.

So here is my card, hedgie under the apple tree, rather large apples so do hope he catches them if they fall. The images (I used three from the set, tree, hedgie and butterfly) have been stamped in versafine black and embossed with detail clear and coloured with Marvy pens. Also added some grass with Art Impression AA1348 and flowers with AAA1368.

So, I've been home all of two hours, put the shopping away, fussed the home alone four legged family and posted this, hope my timing meets requirements.

ABC challenge

My third card for the day is for this weeks ABC challenge which is "P for Pearls".

Again I have used some My Minds Eye DP for the side border and corners. The image is all time favourite Stampendous P107 stamped with versamark and embossed with copper, gold and pink which I added randomly. A tiny dragonfly has been stamped across the background with Brilliance orchid stamped off to achieve a softer finish (no source I'm afraid) and scrolls from Inkadinkado 97632 stamped and embossed in gold down the side. I roughed the edges with scissors and distressed lightly with Tim Holtz worn lipstick. The card itself has been stamped with Brilliance gold down the fold side with Penny Black 2642K.

I have to put my hands up and admit I pinched the idea for the part scalloped edge from Jules, but I did tell her that I might as I so liked what she did with a card at the weekend using this Fiskars punch. The corners are made from circles cut on Cricut home decor. Finally tiny punched flowers added to the main image, scallops across the bottom using the same punch and pearls to embellish.

Creative Card Crew 12

Well, the colour is appalling on this one as the leaves pretty much match the DP and flowers in real life which are hues of green but photographed blueish, so I'll blame the rain.

Anyway, the card is for this weeks Creative Card Crew challenge where the theme has been set by Paula who has chosen "Pretty Flowers". And as I'm still not fed up with my new Hero set from last week, it's getting another outing today so you are right Chris, I definately needed this set.

DP's are some if my current favourites from My Minds Eye DP's which I used to cut the frame with one of the Nesies I was asked to try out by Sir Stampalot - I know, should have got round to this last week but you know how time gets the better of you ! The flowers were also cut from the same DP using the ones that come in the nestie frame set, all of the sets have two frames and two flowers. The leaves are stamped with brilliance copper and thyme and embossed with detail clear using Hero CL338 then cut out. I ran a piece of Glimmer Misted card (chocolate, vanilla and gold which had cling film scrunched over it whilst still wet to give a crackle effect) through the Cuttlebug using birds and swirls and placed the frame over this top add interest.

The greeting is Art Impression F3143 stamped onto a ribbon tag which comes from another of the new nestie sets which has three in different shapes in the set. The 'buds' behind the flowers were cut on Cricut home decor.

Dragonsdream TIO

Walk like an Egyptian is the theme at Dragondsream Tag It On this week which gave me the opportunity to fish out some JudiKins stamps G7181, 2377F and 2375G which I haven't used for ages.

The hieroglyphics cube has been repeat stamped in versamark and embossed with detail clear powder. The edges gave been roughed up and highlighted with Tim Holtz weathered wood. Nefertiti has been stamped twice onto shrink plastic, coloured with gold Krylon and blue Sakura pens and King Tut stamped onto acetate, run through the Zyron and gold leafed on the reverse. Cord and ribbon to finish.

Stamptacular Sunday

The theme at Stamptacular Sunday this week is "Oh for the love of CHOCOLATE".

My bag was made simply by using a scoring board and covering with some chocolate and gold DP. Semi circles at the top were cut on the cuttlebug using nesties, the greeting Art Impression E3145 and the tiny flower embellie glazed with UTEE.

Cupcake challenge plus two

Good morning all, hope everyone had a good bank holiday weekend and that the weather was as good wherever you may be as it was here.

Today I have combined three challenges into one. The first is Cupcake challenge 41 entitled 2-2-2, two colours (plus a neutral), 2 shapes and 2 pieces of ribbon. The second is Everybody Art Challenge which is 3D creation and finally A Spoonful of Sugar which ask that lace is used on your project.

My 3D flower is made up of hearts cut on the Cricut using My Minds Eye and neutral DP. The inner layer of the flower is stamped with good old French Script stamp Hero H2356, which I have also stamped over the background using Tim Holtz Peeled Paint. The leaf is one of my new stash again from Hero CL338.

Lace and ribbon across the bottom, a square button in the centre of the flower and my second piece of ribbon and finally a swirl in the corner stippled with acrylic dappers.

Papaer Makup challenge

Beautiful weather and visitors all weekend has kept me from my craft room, but we have to make the most of the sun and warmth when it arrives as we all know in the UK, tomorrow might be sub zero.

I did get round to one card thought for this weeks PMS challenge where they have the theme "Any Winged Thing" and as they are also highlighting awareness of Alzheimer's, I felt this PMS sentiment was very appropriate.

My DP is some of the new double sided My Minds Eye from Sir Stampalot, the leaves embossed with turquoise powder to match are from Hero CL338 and the butterfly Creative Stamping HH269F has been glittered.

Scrapbook layout

I don't do much scrapbooking despite taking dozens of photos, but did managed to get this one done of Anysias prom. True to her nature and affinity with horses she went in style in a horse drawn carriage, although I don't think the lad in question was over thrilled with the idea.

Secret Crafter challenge 33

There's a moral for me when bying DP's, wear my glasses, otherwise you get surprises as I did with this on from Crate, it's got new baby words, not pretty flowers. Anyhow, it's come in useful as the challenge for Secret Crafter this week is "New Beginnings".

Quite a simple card really which is just as well as I've got the shakes a bit today (no not the vino, although I did have a glass or two last night, just MS). I have made an aperture within the top later of DP by cutting diagonal lines and rolling them back, stamped the corners with a duck corner stamp (no idea of the origin) and cut a pram on the Cricut (stretch your imagination) and placed in the apertures. Stamped a sentiment with a Judikins stamp (sorry no ref on it) and added gems.

Penny Black challenge 50

Button galore is the theme for the Penny Black challenge this week.

The DP is double sided Chatterbox and I have stamped the image onto the reverse, coloured in with Marvy pends, decoupaged the flowers and coated them in Diamond Glaze. The image is PB3976K and I have also added some grass, flowers, clouds and butterflies using Art Impression stamps. The scallop border was done using a Fiskars punch and finally button threaded on ribbon across the top.

Allsorts challenge 2

All of us at Allsorts were thrilled by how many of you joined in our very first challenge. Thank you all and we hope to see you back this week where the new challenge is to create something with "No stamping".

This is my DT creation, initially it was shock horror, no stamping, but when I got my head round this alien idea I came up with this tag book, even then I stamped a sentiment to add then suddenly remembered not allowed.

I cut the book on the cricut welding the letters to each page. The name is Annie who is a young lady who loves purple and spots and has a birthday next month. I found it really difficult to photograph this project as the angles are difficult and fail to show the elements properly despite me spending hours trying to achieve a better perspective and I'm still far from happy with the outcome, so aplos all.

The DP is Doodlebug and Penny Lane and the pages were fixed together using the Zutter, then lots of ribbons and embellies to finish.

Stamp Something challenge

This weeks Stamp Something is spotlighting Emily and one of her sketches which I really like, clean crisp and just my sort of thing.

I have stamped a swirl from Inkadinkado 97632 in black versafine and detail clear onto linen cardstock. The roses are from Magnolia Tilda range stamped twice on vellum using the same ink and powder, coloured in with Brilliance rocket red and thyme then decoupaged . The greeting is Hobby Art GR435. The main image is matterd on to black gloss card and Doodlebug DP.

Friday Sketchers 53

A wonderful sketch by Heidi is this weeks Friday Sketchers challenge and has given me another opportunity to try our more of the new My Minds Eye papers and stamps detailed in the post prior to this one.

The Hero stamp set is a bit quirky but has a real appeal. I decoupaged the leaves and little birdie, anyhow I think he's a bird, stamping with versafine sepia and clear embossing powder onto the reverse of the DP. I lightly distressed the edges with Tim Holtz vintage photo and also embossed the flowers with detail clear to give them an enamel look. The oval mats were cut on the Cuttlebug using nesties.

Challange My Minds Eye

It's a hard life, had a tough morning of craft chatter and pawing over new papers from My Minds Eye and now I'm against the clock to make something from my new stash - I'm convinced a certain person times me don't they Janice ?

So this is what I'm manged in the hour or so since I got home. As I said, my task for the day was to create with these yummy new MME papers from Stampalot. They are all double sided and a really good weight and the one I have used is AndreaVictoria. I was convinced by Chris that I 'needed' the Hero set CL338 which has this cute birdie, he's a bit physically challenged but you have to look close to see - his right leg was a casualty of my craft knife ! He was stamped onto Bazzil with versafine brown then I embossed the whole piece with detail clear. The swirls are Inkadinkado 97632 stamped with Tim Holz scattered straw, the leaves and corner cut on the Cricut and embossed with iridescent powder and the hero flowers inked and embossed with detail clear (no peanuts here Chris). More tomorrow with some of the other colour papers.

I took the piccy in the garden - yes as the sun is shining in the Fens at last -against the Fermentadendrom as the colours matched so am sharing a piccy of that as well.

Inspirational Card Sketchers

There is a lovely sketch by Dawn B for this weeks ISC challenge. This card is also for this weeks ABC challenge where the theme is "O for Orderly - a balanced card - if you use a flower on your card this needs to be balanced with another", mine is balanced with three pearls.

I had off cuts from some leaves I cut on the cricut what were screaming out to be stencils, so I used these to chalk the background onto which I stamped PSX G2007. This was stamped twice and the flowers and bird decoupaged after colouring with Sakura pens and pearl stamens added. DP is Doodlebug Designs bubblegum boutique and the flowers cut with punches.

Awards going onwards

Oh my goodness, I never realised how hard this would be - Nilla did warn me when she passed them on that it's difficult making choices - and there's me thinking this blogging business was fun !! My cards today might be distressed but I'm definitely stressed. Thought I'd got it all sussed then blogger went AWAL, didn't save my draft so I started all over again.

So, I have to pass each award to five fellow blogger in gratitude of their support. Well this means I'd need to send it to all of you who visit me and leave lovely messages. Unfortunately the laws of blogland don't allow me to do that so to those of you who I can't pass this on to I send my love - not much consolation I know, but not my rules. And no, the apple blossom is not the award, it's just a piccy from the orchard, didn't seem right posting without one, but please feel free to lift it if you want.

The Blog Support Award goes to:

Dawn - http://craftydawn.blogspot.com/

Jane - http://jemscrafting.blogspot.com/

Jules - http://jules-alwayswithaheart.blogspot.com/

Pinky - http://pinky-pinkysworld.blogspot.com/

Mel - http://applecakeart.blogspot.com/

Gift of Love Award (the one with the teddy)

Silki - http://silli-silli.blogspot.com/

Debs - http://handcraftedespeciallyforyou.blogspot.com/

Gisela - http://mueppis-bastelwelt.blogspot.com/

Lisa - http://crafty-moments.blogspot.com/

Lorraine - http://coldwaters2.blogspot.com/

The awards are in the post before this one, please lift them to your blog and display with pride. Again, many thanks Nilla.

Two awards came my way

Good morning all, now I was all set to start work on some new TV material today, can't tell more, still a closely guarded secret but promise to share soon.

But when I opened up my blog I found I had received two wonderful awards from my blog friend Nilla, so naturally that distracted me from work in hand. Firstly I must say thank you so very much Nilla. Now as I'm new to this blogging I've had to check the protocol here and it seems I pass my awards on, but I need to give this a little thought so will post up again later on that front. In the meantime here they are.

Dragonsdream TIO

Dragonsdream TIO challenge really is true to it's name for me this week, mainly because the theme is "Oriental - China Blue". The oriental part is no problem, it's the blue as it's a colour that for some unknown reason I rarely use and struggle to find the right ingredients.

Anyway, I started with a stamp that has a lovely story which Sarah from Stamp Addicts told when it was used it in one of their C&C shows. The stamp designed by Judi from JudiKins (2776G) is called Aiko and was based on her own Mother. I have used UTEE, starting by heating a small pile on my heat mat (no card, just powder) and repeating this process three times so an irregular shape is achieved. Lastly I added sapphire, malachite and gold, heated again and stamped my image, inked with black stayzon into the hot shape. When cold it was matted onto some blue card torn around the edges to mimic the shape.

The blossom is cut on Cricut home accents and flowers and gems added and the tag is also cut on the Cricut plantin using schoolbook, I stamped the tag all over with Magenta 32090M, inked the edges and added lapis embossing powder and heated to give a distressed look. Added a piece of ribbon across the bottom to carry the blue and Mizuno cord - I know there is a proper way to tie this, but have no idea how it's done, so mine is just twisted.

A Spoonfull of Sugar 52

A Spoonful of Sugar challenge this week has the theme "Celebration - any celebration will do".

My card could be a wedding or special anniversary using Art Impression J3398, a lovely greeting which was a special commission by Sir Stampalot for one of their Create and Craft TV shows, which incidentally is scheduled to screen again at 4pm on Thursday (21st May). This card is not dissimilar to one of those I created for that show, although I've had to improvise with the flowers as the cuttlebug folder I used then went walkabout at class and never found it's way back to my basket !!

The centre element has been run through the cuttlebug using Swiss dots at either end and scrolls added using one of the the fancy corners. The flowers and leaves are cut from Hero LP140, which I stamped onto vellum with veramark and detail gold embossing powder.

Everybody Art Challenge 40

The theme at Everybody Art Challenges this week is Red and Black, a stunning combination to work with.

This colourway always conjures up Oriental to me so I have gone with a design I have used before which is very simple to enhance the colours. Image is Hampton Art 4523, stamped simply in black versafine and embossed with detail clear and colourd with Marvy pens. Vellum has been ripped and laid across one section of the image to add interest and a dragonfly embellie added along with a tassel.

Cupcake challenge 40

My second card today is for this weeks Cupcake challenge where there is a super sketch from Donna.

For the main image I used a new Inkadinkado set 98852. I think these are the latest fad they call 'inchies' and something tells me they are intended to swap rather like ATC's - sure someone will put me right here ? But I liked the images and have selected four spring like ones, birds nest, tulips, thrush (well he looks like a thrush to me) and a butterfly - of course. And to go with the spring theme some really fresh double sided DP - afraid have no idea of the origin other than Stampalot which is where the stamp set also came from.

The images are stamped onto bazzil using versafine sepia and detail clear embossing powder. The sentiment is a skinny stamp from Stamps by Judith (Stampaddicts). The narrow side strip was made using my new Fiskars punch and gold swirly embellies in the corners.

Paper Makup

This weeks challenge over at PMS set by Lisa McKinney is to use watermelon, apple green and black and or white in your project. These stamps are new to me as they only shipped from the States a week or so back, so this is the first outing for 'Swirly Buds', a set of five stamps.

I used three of the stamps to create the main image and also the tiny individual leaf, stamped with versafine black and embossed with detail clear. The main cardstock has been run through the cuttlebug and the mats cut with nesties. Liquid pearls have been added to the leaves to carry the watermelon colour and ribbon and staples to embellish.

Stamptacular challenge 7

The theme this week at Stamptacular Sunday challenge is Pink, Green and Brown which is a really nice combination to work with and I've kept my card fairly simple.

I started with Glimmer Mists pink bubblegum, creme de cocoa and pearl to create a background for my stamped image which is Magenta 09236N stamped with versafine sepia and clear embossing powder. Edges were distressed with TH linen. The DP is My Minds Eye and the scallop borders using my new Fiskars punch (like half the Country still waiting on some MS ones). I added some gems and a stick pin (Spellbound) tied with some yummy new raspberry and brown ribbon.

Three into one

My second card today combines this weeks Penny Black challenge which is "Recipe - three flowers, 2 papers, 1 charm/brad", Secret Crafter challenge which requires the use of "Glitter" and Friday Sketchers which is a sketch by Claudia Rose which I hared round to draw in all three requirements.

The image is Penny Black 3633K, stamped with versafine black and embossed with detail clear, coloured with Sakura glaze pens and glitter added whilst still wet. DP is Basic Gray and the circles have been cut from this and some really nice deep blue glitter paper using nesties through the Cuttlebug as have the flowers. A small flower charm added to the top and the image mat dusted with chalks to soften the background.

Cute Card Thursday 60

This weeks challenge over at Cute Card Thursday is "Letters and Numbers" so have created a birthday card for a special little girl who loves elephants.

The image is Woodware FRV004 stamped with brilliance violet and embossed with detail clear, then stamped a second time and decoupaged. The elephant actually has a lollipop in her month, but I have replaced this with a little flower. The letters were cut on purple card using the cricut and double embossed with UTEE. Border is a fiskars punch and DP is Doodlebug and the button brad Laura Ashely.

Allsorts challenge one

Good morning everyone, today is the launch of our new Allsorts challenge and the theme this week is "SWEETS" and can be interpreted however you wish, colour of fav sweet, shape however you interperet sweets.

I decided on a gift box for sweets with matching cards and tag using a really nice textured cardstock. Here's how I made the box: Cut two strips of card, one 4" x 12" and the other 3.75" x 12", then score both at "4 increments, so you have three equal squares. Punch holes in each of the end squares where you want to join with ribbon and round the corners. Stick the middle square of the smaller strip onto the corresponding section of the larger strip, thread and tie ribbon to draw the box together.

I find it simplest to do all my stamping before I assemble the box, which in this case is Hamton Arts CJ4922 using versafine black and clear embossing powder. The same stamp is used on the two cards and just the ends of it on the tag which I cut on the Cricut. The verse is Penny Black 2905H and two sentiments Art Impression G463 and F3143. Finally, gems to embellish.

Stamp Something

The theme for this weeks Stamp Something challenge is "Clean and Simple Thank Yous" and also to case one of Lurens cards. I have selected her card from Happy Friday, 8th May shown here. My image is Magents 0445 and as Laurens card has two flowers, I stamped the main flower only, masked it then stamped the whole image. I have kept the colouway as close as possible to laurens card, using a K&Co paper in soft blues and coloured the image with twinkling H2o's and added ble stickes to the flower centres. The thank you is Art Impression G463 stamped in TH weathered wood.

Another nestie frame

You know those days when nothing goes right or turns out like you planned, well that's today. Despite all good intentions, lunchtime and just two cards, neither of which I'm happy with. My body's in revolt and giving me huge hints to remind me I do have MS and some days you just have to slow down. So this one and I'm going to do just that for an hour or two because I need to be on the ball for our Allsorts challenge which kicks off tomorrow.

The frame is the smaller of the two from the nestie set (the full range is here) as are the flowers. The background is stamped with Hero GR1341F using soft sand and the main image is a small section of Hero S5041 stamped with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear then one of the butterflies cut out and decoupaged. The card itself is also stamped with S5041 using Veramark Dazzle champagne and embossed with detail clear. I inked the frame with JudiKins embossing ink and rubbed over with perfect pearls to get a shimmer effect. Added chipboard circles, inked and embossed to the centre of the flowers, ribbon and gems for the butterflies thorax. The scallops across the card are the side sections of the larger nestie frame which I used in my earlier posting.

Three clovers 13

I promised some cards with the new nestie frames I was asked to try out by Sir Stampalot, there are several gorgeous deigns which you can view here. I've only managed one card as yet this morning, minds on go slow. Anyways each nestie frame set has two frames and some flowers which I will be using later today and post up then. I also got this new Magenta 0445 Swirly blossom stamp yesterday and it fits the larger frame as thought they were designed to go together.

I thought the blossoms look rather like clematis which is in full bloom in the garden so am using my card for this weeks Three Clover Designs challenge entitled "May Flowers".

The image is stamped with versafine black and embossed with detail clear. I stamped it again onto vellum and cut out to decoupage and coloured with marvy pens. Hero H2365 has been lightly stamped over the background with Hero soft green. The nestie frame itself was run through the cuttlebug and cut from My Minds Eye DP, gems added and diamond glaze to the the flower leaves at the bottom corner. The card is actually purple, but the light is really bad today as it's raining and can't get a good picture - must not moan, hubby says we need to to make the fertiliser go through the ground.

Idling the day away

Goodness, it's gone 4pm, no posting as yet and even worse no cards made today. But I did spend the morning at Sir Stampalot and somehow got drawn into Monsoon and Coast - well I did have to wait for my glasses to be repaired and had to do something for an hour !

But on the positive side, a big bag of new goodies from Stampalot and Andy asked me to try out some gorgeous new frame Nestablilties, so I'm planning having a play with them and come back with something to share later. In the meantime, in typical lab fashion, Buffy wearing her Hawaiian garland.

An award from Jem

Thank you so much Jem, this little fellow really does have a special meaning to all of us who know about him. And I love your reason for awarding him, the sentiment is appreciated.

Here's a link so people can truly appreciate his unique appeal. And well done on creating this picture with froggy centre stage.

Everyday Art Challenges

The challenge from Everybody Art Challenges is "Friends and Family" and the DT have cope up with some really inspirational work which shows how diverse each person's interpretation of a theme can be.

I have used a beautiful image from Rubber Stampede 3942F. I was not sure if it would lend itself to UTEE treatment but decided to give it a go and am really pleased with the result. I used two coats of clear and a third of jade, orange and gold and stamped into it with stayzon black. I wanted to carry the gold without overshadowing the image so just used four corners cut from gold linen card using Cricut storybook. The corners look a bit baroque and the image art deco according to my daughter (a history teacher) !

Inspirational Card Sketchers 16

The challenge from ICS this week is a great sketch by Dawn B. Unusually for me I started with my DP'd, I usually think stamp, then work around it, but I love the colours of this paper and really wanted to use them.

The DP's are Basic Grey and the image two stamps (branch and birdie) from a Hero set LP140, which I simply stamped with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear. Gems, ribbon and button added to finish off.

Dragonsdream Tag it on and ABC challenges

Motoring this monring, four challenges sorted, just need to write them up and post.

My first is for this weeks TIO where Ali has set the challenge "Rhubarb Crumble and Custard - use pink (for the rhubarb) yellow (for the custard) and texture (for the crumble) You must use at least one stamp and 2 embellishments. When I read this first thing this morning all I could see was a plateful of crumble and custard had wondered how on earth I could depict that, two espressos later (that's the only way I can kick start my day) I read the task again and the idea came together.

The challenge over at ABC this week is "N is for Not a Card", so i thought my tag would qualify there as well,

The bottom section of my tag was run through the cuttlebug to achieve the texture element. I stamped Hero K5162 with brilliance orchid and poppy and highlighted the flowers with yellow liquid pearls. I took a look at the rhubarb in the garden and cut leaves on the cricut to loosely reflect what they look like and coloured with brilliance thyme and ivy. Added ribbon plus a brad and some staples as my embellies.

Creative Card Crew 10

Minimal is the theme set by Joey for this weeks Creative Card Crew challenge. So what is minimal in the world of cardmaking ?

I decided no DP's and chalked a blue scallop edge using an acetate stencil cut on the cricut, then distressed over with Tim Holz antique linen. I lightly stamped over the entire piece with Magenta 32090M using Hero soft sand to soften the background. Main image is Stamps by Judith (Stampaddicts) 0-90 which I stamped a couple of times, then stamped just a few of the branches to make it fuller. The greeting is Art Impression G3130 (Stampalot). Added tiny flowers, gem centre and a bow.

A spoonful of sugar 51

Well, not really sure I like this one, it might grow on me, but an awful lot going on, all those buttons, but "Buttons Galore is this weeks challenge from A Spoonful of Sugar.

I fancied trying our a combo of green and brown using a DP from Bella Press. The circles are cut from nesties on the Cuttlebug, sanded and Tim Holtz peeled pain rubbed lightly across the surface. The swirly stamp is Hero H3317 and underneath to soften the green I stamped Hero H3317 with soft sand also Hero.

A pack of brown buttons seemed to have abundace of the same ones so I used these and followed the circles to achieve a scrolly effect - I know I've just counted them 13, I'm not superstitious. A few Hero flowers, brads and button added and a piece of ribbon fixed with a jumbo staple.

Stamptacular Sunday challenge 6

Been up since the crack of dawn with all good intentions of getting my project done for the new Allsorts challenge this coming Saturday - if you haven't heard about it yet go check it out.

So as 9am looms and the office beckons, all I have to offer is my card for Stamptacular Sunday Challenge where the is a brill sketch to follow. I've used some pretty new DP from Chatterbox and Art Impression M2005, stamped with versafine sepia, embossed with detail clear, coloured in with twinkling H2o's and the edges distressed with Hero soft blossom. The flower head has been stamped again onto vellum and decoupaged and the butterfly Creative Stamping HH1106B is also stamped onto vellum. Sentiment is Penny Black 3940F.

Sketch and Stash 10

This fortnights challenge from Sketch and Stash is to follow a nicely balanced sketch.

For my main image I have used Art Impression T3093 (Stampalot) which is a cute little girl that I really like. Stamped as is my norm with versafine black and detail clear embossing powder - I know it might seem repetitive, but for colouring in it gives a lovely sharp edge. I added some grass and flowers to her dress again with Art Impression stamps and welded some flowers together on Cricut storybook to create the scallop edge. MY new item required for this challenge is a double sided DP from My minds Eye.

Papermakeup Glitz challenge

My new PMS stamps arrived last week so for the first time I can enter using the right stamps. This weeks challenge is entitled "Puttin' on the Glitz - sparkles, bling, stickles glitter".

The stamp used is Birthday Lauren, stamped in verafine back and embossed with detail clear, coloured in with Sakura stardust pens and extra glitter added to her wings and hair bow. Mounted onto sparkly paper from which I also cut a butterfly on the cricut using Home Decor. The card itself is was cut on the cricut from Plating Schoolbook and the word "Fairy" welded down the side so it is an integral part of the card. Gems and ribbon added to finish.

Cupcake challenge 39

The theme for the Cupcake challenge this week set by Denise is 'a card for a man or boy' and as she says these cards are "tricky".

I fished out a stamp I've not used in ages Creative Stamping LL227G, stamped it onto acetate with black stayzon, ran it through the Xyron and put a multi coloured leafing foil on the back. Unfortunately this made it really difficult to photograph, but assure you the image is clear in the flesh. I stamped the image out again with versafine black onto Diane's Daughters papers which I also used as the background, embossed it with detail clear and cut circles with nesties using the Cuttlebug. Added a greeting using a Skinny Stamp from Stamps by Judith (Stamp Addicts) and a metal corner.