Anything but a card

Good morning one and all, it's time for a new challenge at Allsorts and this week Debs would like us to create 'Anything but a card', but before my DT work a few bits and pieces of news.

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who has joined in at Stampalot Challenge this month despite the little 'problem' earlier this week. And a little heads up that that there is a very special weekend coming up at Stampalot shortly, more details further down this post.

And lots of you have been so kind and asked about the post holiday saga so just to update you, no joy with my jewellery I'm sad to say. The concierge from the ship got back to me to say they had done a thorough search of our cabin just to make sure the box hadn't got pushed under the bed or something like that, but nothing turned up. Our cabin steward was a lovely lad from Mauritius and was so thrilled to have just been promoted to being a suit steward and their jobs are so precious to them that honesty is second nature and I have no doubt if found he would have handed it in. So I can only conclude it was stolen from my case in Paris at some point.

Fridges and freezers still empty but sparkling clean...........at least it forced a well needed job to be done............. as I've just not had time to shop since we got back as work and files up to the ceiling sort of took over, but it's high on my agenda for the weekend. And after all the indulgence on holiday a lean diet won't hurt us for a few days.

On to my DT piece for this week and I have come up with a Christmas tag book which I cut on the Big Shot Pro (thanks for the loan Stampalot), distressed each page with TH fired brick and sage, then spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl. I stamped round the edges of the pages with Inkadinkado 98396 and the birds on two of the page are from the same Christmas set. The sentiment on the middle page is Art Impression J1674.

Finally, I added red Stickles, some punched poinsettias and tied the spine with ribbons.

I am off to Stampalot tomorrow, new Hero Arts and Le Blanch stamps beckon, so all going to plan I should have a few shares shortly as I need to get cracking with samples for the big Christmas launch weekend starting on Saturday 27th August. Some of the goodies are already available and can be found here.

Thanks for visiting and hope you have a good weekend.

To Follow the Star

Happy Wednesday peeps.

Whose going to the NEC then ? I am and really excited, only ever been once before so when hubby said would I like him to take me a jumped at the opportunity as it's not much fun driving all that way on your own, meaning I don't usually bother. And I am equally excited that I will be meeting quite a few new faces........assuming we can find one another amidst the crowds.

So my shares today are going to be quick as I have two days work to pack in today to clear my desk a bit so I can go tomorrow.

This first card is a relatively quick and simple make. I used post it noted to mask the coloured sections, on a piece of gloss cardstock, inked with Tim Holtz distress inks rusty hinge and dried marigold, then stamped the trees from a Creative Expressions set using versafine black and embossing with detail clear. Simply matters onto coordinating cardstock and a border punched with Fiskars threading water. This card is for the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Penny for the Guy (male card)
Paper Sundaes - For the Boys

Scrapbook Sisters - Autumn Colours

My second card has a background created by distressing with Tim Holtz broken china and dusky concord then stamping Hero Arts F5042 leaf flourish.......a real old favourite that I uses over an again........with bleach to lift the colour and expose the pattern of the stamp. Next a panel run through the Cuttlebug and inked with TH black soot and the main image is Penny Black4112K To Follow the Star stamped with versafine black and embossed with detail clear, then shaded with the same TH inks. The sentiment is Penny Black 4116H embossed with detail white, then eyelets, lace and cord added to finish. This is for the following challenges:

Everybody Art Challenges - Untraditional Christmas

For Fun - Use metal somewhere (eyelets)
Oldie but a Goodie - Distressed (main image is an old one but was re-issued this year under different code)

The above card is again a really quick and easy one, I placed a piece of paper with a circle aperture cut out onto gloss cardstock and brayered over with Big and Juicy Hydrangea lifting colour from the middle and left of the inkpad so I missed the pink section. I removed the mask, inked the brayer again, but removed a good amount of the ink from the brayer so I got a light covering of ink across the corners. I stamped the main image Crafts and Me Orchid of the Night twice with versafine black and embossed with detail clear, coloured in with the same B&J inkpad, glittered the wings and flowers and decoupaged.

The corners are a stamp from a clear Inkadinkado set (no codes I'm afraid) and the decoupaged flower is made up of several of the small flowers from the fairy stamp. This card is for the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge - A is for Angels and Fairies
Kreative Stamp Friends - Favourite stamps
Anything Goes - B is for Beautiful
Flutterby Wednesdays - Open (wings of course)

Spoonful of Sugar - Relish to embellish

New Molly Blooms and The Witching Hour

Good Morning, hope everyone is ready for the weekend, whatever you have planned. Lets hope the weather is kind.

I picked up a couple of new stamps at Sir Stampalot this week........well more than a couple if I am honest, needs must and all that and I do have an upcoming class and demo day to consider.........

I fell instantly in love with this lovey scene forest scene CRR 123 from Stampendous which I stamped onto gloss cardstock using stayzon, then used a versamak pen and clear embossing powder to highlight the tree trunks, houses and tiny trees. I added a little watercolour to the roofs and small trees then brayered using the lights end of Big and Juicy soothing sunset. The embossed areas resisted so I could buff up to make them show through the brayered colours.

The image is Molly Blooms MB00341, one of the new Christmas range recently released by Sir Stampalot. She is coloured with the same B&J inks and decoupaged. The frame is a Nestie and the DP My Minds Eye. This card is for the following challenges:

A pocket full of posies - Autumn leaves
Stamplaing for the Weekend - Halloween or Fall

Crazy4 Challenges - Fall

At Allsorts this week Helene would like us to play Bingo. This is a new theme to me but it has been great fun to work with.

Two cards from me, the first following the 'flowers, lace and tag' row on the Bingo board and using what I think is an Inkadinako stamp......no codes anywhere.....which is stamped and coloured with Aquamarkers and Copics. The DP is Cosmo Cricket and the poinsettias are made with punched from red vellum.

My second card follows the 'flowers, pearls and ribbon' row. The image is Rachael Anne Miller, coloured with Copics and cut our on Nesties. The paper was provided to the DT by this weeks sponsor Robyns Fetish. This card is also for the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - Autumn

Something Completely Different - Orange and Black

This week at Polkadoodles, Ruth has given us the theme "Something Spoooooky". I so hoped someone would come up with this one as I love the Halloween section on the new CD Sundaes of Seasons. I'm not big on Halloween usually, but this CD changed all of that, thanks Nikky.

Don't you just love the witch ? I enlarged and printed out some spooky trees onto an A4 piece of cardstock, then decoupaged the witch, toadstools and leaves to make a scene. Created an arched window from acetate and added a couple of dangling spiders. This card is for the following challenges:

Everybody Art - Halloween

Creative Craft - Trick or Treat

Cute Card Thursday - What's Buggin' you (spiders)

New Challenges, Fabby Prizes

It's the first of the month and that means new challenges at Stampalot and Penny Black at Allsorts.......and my wedding anniversary.......hubby will have had his usual rummage through my baskets of cards trying to remember which ones I said I especially liked.

I know I promised to think outside the box a bit more when I came up with challenge themes although its clear it did not work this month, but they were sent a while back and the girls were all enjoying making their DT cards so left things as they were. Mind you, judging by some of the lovely work in blogland the last week or two, it's a theme you all enjoy.

The top card is my DT card for Stampalot Challenge where the theme is "Autumn Breezes, Buttons and a Bow". I created a background with Tim Holtz rusty hinge, frayed burlap, olive and Glimmer Mist iridescent gold. I then stamped the leaves with bleach using Inkadinkado 97513. The sentiment is Hobby Art GR1353 with a frame made with Nesties using Basic Grey DP and the bird Magenta 41014I. Some lace, punched leaves coloured with the same TH inks and embossed with detail clear, buttons, cord and a flower made with my Tattered Floral Die. This card is also for the following challenge:

Stamping for the Weekend - Autumn Inspired

Everybody Art Challenge - Friends

Another card for Stampalot Challenge, a background created by stamping leaves from Hero Arts CL457 with TH frayed burlap, then covered with Diamond Glaze. When dry I inked the whole piece with TH barn door, wild honey and sage, then overstamped with Hero Arts H2365 old French writing. The fairy is from an unmounted set by Personal Impressions embossed with iridescent powder and her wings glittered. The leaves are punched, the border Martha Stewart woodland branch and buttons, ribbons and raffia to finish. This card is also for the following challenges:

Flutterby Wednesdays - Glitter and Shimmer

Moving Along with the Times - Fairy or Fantasy

Glitterbabes - Embossing wet or dry

This one is my DT piece for this months Penny Black at Allsorts challenge where the them is "Colours of Autumn".......told you I was repetitive. It's quite a quick and simple card to make, but I quite like the effect. I used various Autumnal coloured inks to brayer the backgrounds with masks to represent the changing phases of the moon. The tree is Penny Black 3880F Fantasy, stamped with versafine black and embossed with details clear with stickles added here and there amongst the branches.

I did say there was a lot of it about didn't I, so I am entering the above cards for the following challenges:

Simon Says - Autumn

For Fun - Fall

My Time to Craft - Looks like Autumn

Finally a bit of Christmas. I was sent this new Magnolia die to try out. It's a half circle which you need to match up to cut the other half. I though it was a bit of a faff at first, but once you get used to matching up the dos it's easy and makes a really pretty doily like circle.

I created the easel card on the DS and Cricut Plantin Schoolbook. The DP is K & Co and the image is Penny Black F5075 Sparkle Poinsettia inked with Tim Holtz fired brick and sage and spritzed with water before stamping. I made the poinsettias with punched vellum, added pearl stamens, punched and glittered leaves using Martha Stewart pine branch and gems to embellish. I also decorated an envibox........I found these on the internet the other day, they come flat packed and are brilliant for cards with a bit of dimension that don't really fit into a regular envelope. This card is for the following challenges:

Creative Cottage - Bling it On
Creative Inspirations - Christmas in September
Charisma Cardz - Christmas
ABC - An Easel Card

Stamp Something - Celebrate Something

Plain and Simple

Version four

Version three

Today at Allsorts my great teamie Emma has set us the theme of "Plain and Simple". And I admit these two are my third and fourth attempts at 'plain and simple' and I'm still not convinced I've got the hang of it.....one and two were binned.......I know sinful for a crafter.

The black and white effort is some simple stamping and embossing onto with lined cardstock using a bird from Inkadinkao 9836 and part of a sentiment from Hero Arts 30-056. A rose made from some stash DP using my tattered floral die, a but of punching with Martha Stewart loop and a couple of pearls coloured back with Copics. This card is for the following challenge:

Fab 'n Funky - Quote me Happy

For the next one I used a piece of card that had been spritzed with Glimmer Mist honey dew mist and stamped with Hero Arts D5449 fabulous flourish using Tim Holtz dusky Concorde. The sentiment is also from hero, but an unmounted set for which I no longer have the code I'm afraid. I mounted the piece onto bazzil cardstock and punched the border with Martha Stewart zig zag and a butterfly also using a MS punch.

Over to Polkadoodles where this week the my great blog pal Claire wants us to make something with a Hidden Element. So I have come up with this little box which I made on the scoreboard and covered with paper from the Paper Boutique CD and inside bobbing butterflies and flowers. The flower on the top is made from the same paper using three punches and spritzing with Glimmer Mist pearl.

My final card is another of the lovely image from Sweet Pea poppy love. The background has been brayered with Big and Juicy Happy Birthday, masking a moon.....this image just seems to lend herself to a moonlit background. I coloured her with the same inks. The DP is from stash, Martha Steward eyelet lace border, some ribbon slides and a punched flower spritzed with Glimmer Mist dazzling diamonds. This card is for the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges - Bling
Friday Sketchers - Sketch
Sweet Pea Challenge - Charmed I'm Sure (it's in the centre of the flower)

Strawberries and Cream

A sweet treat I cooked up for crafty research, calorie free of course

Here in the Cambridgeshire Fens, the arrival of strawberries in late May is always an eagerly awaited event in the produce calendar. Although you can buy them year round in supermarkets, there is nothing to beat the flavour as they come straight off the plant.....I should know I was brought up with them and thought nothing of being in the fileld at 4.30am for the start of the picking day for the six week season.

So I have chosen the theme of Strawberries and Cream for my theme week at Allsorts and have come up with two pictures as inspiration for your projects this week. You don't have to have strawberries on your work, but I would like you to draw your colour combo from the pictures.


I created my first card using purely the colour scheme as my inspiration, however my hubby thought I had totally lost the plot and asked where the strawberries were, so I made a second card with a couple of baskets of shrinky ones - OK Lou - for those of you who don't know, she's the queen of cream shrink plastic and believe me Lou, I needed a magnifying glass for these.

So the card above has a little scene created with Sarah Kay farm girl, masked and decoupaged with a Magnolia fence, Hobby Art tree and Art Impression birds, grass and flowers. The strawberries are also Magnolia and the baskets from Sarah Kay stamps.

The second card which was my first effort used Hero Arts CG185 elegant weeds stamped onto a background distressed with Tim Holtz worn lipstick and stickles added to the flower heads. The resist background was created stamping Inkadinkao 9718 with versamark, embossing with detail clear and distressing with the same TH ink. The sentiment is from Hero Arts CG198 whatever, a piece of corrugated card to add some texture and a punched flower spritzed with Glimmer Mist tattered rose.

Wedding pictures tomorrow !!

Just a card

Hello everyone, though I would try a bit of crafting this morning, have to say not really back into the swing of things, minds still fuzzy from all the hectic Christmas activities and the body's less than willing. The need for a holiday seems to be high on the daydream agenda, although the reality is it's not a likely option......... but I can dream of warmer climes. My ideal year would be November to February somewhere nice and warm like Egypt or Florida, oh if only.

So back to reality and a card using one of the stamps I chose as part of my Simon Says win at the Penny Black blog hop a few eeks ago. It's Inkadinkado 93075X which I stamped with versafine black and embossed with iridescent embossing powder then colourd with a wash of Twinkling H20's.

I stamped swirls down one side with Inkadinkado 97632 and Hero Soft Peach, then laid over a swirl cut from a Sizzix border die on my Big Shot Express.........Santa delivered this on Christmas day.........a conspiracy between my hubby and the Stampalot guys.......and it is a dream to use, just hold the button and it cuts, not cranking or turning, just wonderful and easy.

To finish butterflies and three roses made from matching paper, some punched laves and a border using Fiskars Threading Water punch.

Allsorts challenge 30

By the time you read this I should be deeply emersed in demonstrationg at Sir Stampalots Big Demo Day........if you live anywhere near or in driving distnace of Peterborough, then it really is the place to be today with lots of different live demonstrations taking place, demo day special offers and refreshments as well.

We had another week of fabulous entries again at Allsorts, it seems you really are enjoying our challenges and we are all so pleased to welcome you each week with your wonderful creations. Gro has selected the theme this week which is "Colours of Advent" where she would like to see the colour purple on your creations. The DT have been treated to images from this weeks sponsor Stretch and Bubbles.

My images from our sponsor are the Christmas tree which I printed three times and glittered liberally using Art Institute dries clear glue and ultra fine glitter. The reindeer was cut from Cricut Christmas Solutions and stamped with Inkadinkado ?? using versafine purple and clear iridescent embossing powder. I used the same stamp and ink to stamp across he corner of the mat which I run through the Bug using the new snow folder. The DP is Daisy Bucket.

Everybody Art Challenges

Hello everyone, been a bit quiet this end and not too much crafting for a day or so what with my flu/cold plus Buffy is poorly. Been to the vets a couple of times......with Buffy - not me......mind you I might get more sense if I made the change. They think it's some kind of virus - bless her she is sneezing constantly and has a really high temperature, but hopefully the antibiotics will kick it quickly and she will be back to her old self. When a Labrador if off her food you know she's not feeling good.

Back to all things crafty and something for this weeks Everybody Art Challenges where Thelma has set theme of 'Autumn', one I just love to play with. The sun has been created with a mask and sponging and then my owl image -Inkadinkado 98396 - stamped into the centre with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear.

Quite a lot of stamping going on in the background using Hero Arts 97513 Harlequin and Inkadinkado 97513 and Brilliance Thyme, Rocket Red Gold and Rust and Hero Arts H2365 stamped onto the bank across the middle which I punched with Fiskars Threading Water. The leaves are from the same Inkadinkado set as are the tiny ones which have been stamped onto Shrink Plastic with some raffia and a single rose made from the same paper as the band across the middle of the card wich is stamped with H2365 Old French Writing.

Allsorts challenge 23

Welcome to week 23 of Allsorts challenge and this week it my turn to host the theme. I have come up with a sketch with the added twist of a monochrome Christmas. I think many of us think shades of black and white for monochrome but according to the ancient Greeks "μονόχρωμος" means "a picture done in different shades or a range of tones of a single colour".

You would not believe the problems I had following my own theme her and ended up making the card three time, the first time a lovely card, but then Oh dear.......didn't I do a sketch to follow ? That just about sums up my week.

So here is what I finally ended up with. The main image is Penny Black 3997K Majestic stamped onto Bazzil cardstock using Versafine satin red and embossing with detail clear. I used this stamp for a sample board for Sir Stampalot a few weeks back and they tell me is has been oh so popular, I think it's the pure simplicity of the image which lends itself to so many card designs.

I used the same ink and embossing on the three panels stamping with one of the flourishes from Inkadinakdo 97632. The greeting is that favourite of mine Penny Black 3995F. The corner was created using Martha Stewart embossed scallop and the holly and leaves from punches. I added a spotlight to the tree to add interest and distressed the edges of the mats and DP's which are from K&Co's Winter Wonderland pad, using Tim Holts worn lipstick and fired brick. Pearl gems added to embellish here and there.

Sir Stampalot Demo Day

I can't beleive it's Friday already and I can't really identify what I have done all week. Apart from 'proper' work, my spare time seems to have drifted by in a haze preparing for various DT work and my demo day at Sir Stampalot this coming Saturday - 10 through 4, free refreshments and demo day special offers.

I will be stamping with Penny Black, Hero, Inkadinkado and more and of course some nice messy background techniques, brayers and distressing.......mind you by the time they get rid of me Andy and Janice might well be the distressed ones after putting up with me all day.

Here are just a couple of the cards from the sample boards I have made up ready for Saturday. The first is very simple with a moon created by masking and using Tim Holtz broken chine and brilliance silver. Stamped with Inkadinkado 98396/97513 using versafine back and detail clear embossing powder.

The second card has a background created with Tim Holtz spiced marmalade, dusky concord and peeled paint.......now for some of my peronal technical crafting terms...... all 'splodged' onto a non stick sheet, spritzed very liberally with water then watercolour card 'swished around' in it. The image is Penny Black 3982K stamped with Versafine imperial purple and embossed with detail clear, then stamped again offset with the residue left on the stamp. The DP is Daisy Bucket, all well distressed and tattered round the edges, with cord and handmade roses made from the same matting paper.

By the Cute and Girly reminder

Well, it's halfway through the month and what a fabulous response we have had to our first challenge at By the Cute and Girly . We are thrilled how many of you have already entered, but for those of your that have not had a look yet you can do so by clicking here. The Inspirational Team came up with a fantastic selection of projects for this months theme of Autumn Glory and being that this challenge is about ALL crafts we hope it will allow more of you to join in and show us what you make in your spare time. And of course there are prizes on offer and not just the one either, but three.

This is one of my projects where I tried to capture the three phases of the day, morning, noon and night. The image is JudiKins 2633G and the cobble path Art Impression L3297. The background on all three images was created with Glimmer Mists and masks and touches of Tim Holtz distress inks here and there. The words on the front were cut on Cricut Stretch Your Imagination and the leaves are from Inkadinkado 97513 inked with Brilliance and the tiny ones have been stamped with the same ink onto Shrink Plastic. The border is Martha Stewart Arched Lattice.

Two cards, two challenges

I usually do a separate post for each card, but time being a bit at a premium and with several posts to let loose early next week for an new Stamp Addicts Create and Craft show on Wednesday 14th , I am including two here for two different challenges.

The first is for this weeks Friday Sketchers following Beatrix's sketch. I have created a moonlit background by masking the moon then brayering with Big and Juicy Waterfall. I have absolutely no idea of the origin of the image which I think is a Venetian gondola.......might be on the river Cam for all I know, ther is enough of them there, but Venice is far more romantic a notion. The overhanging leaves are Art Impression F2055. The DP os from my stash as is the butterfly and gems. Not a lot more to tell you really, quite a quick and simple card. Mats were cut using Nesties run through the Bug.

The second card is for this weeks Stamping for the Weekend where there is a colour theme of Orange, Brown and Leaf Green, nice combination. The DP is My Minds Eye and the image stamped onto the reverse of the DP is Magenta 42022K simply stamped with Versfine sepia and embossed with detail clear. I stamped the leaf and dragonfly again and decoupaged them. I made two two paper roses from the same DP and added some cord and pearls. The leaf across the bottom corner is from Inkadinkado 98396.

Allsorts challenge 22

It's Saturday and Allsorts challenge 22 where my teamie Gro has selected the theme of Halloween. Judging by lots of your blogs you like this theme so this is the perfect opportunity to play along with chance of winning the wonderful prize from our sponsors this week Pink Gem Designs.

My DT card is rather orange to say the least but it's growing on me. My main image is one of my new goodies Hero Arts F5210 Curious Owl stamped simply with black versafine and embossed with detail clear. I made the background paper by repeat stamping onto orange card using the same method as the owl using one of the leafy images from Inkadinkado 97513......they call this a Halloween set, but a pumpkin is as near as it gets really, but the leafy flourishes and tree are gorgeous and I have had so much use out of this set. The pumpkin is from the same set and the little bat which has no code.

The borders were punched with Fiskars threading water, the wording cut on Cricut Jasmin and the spider inspired by Kath using a button and paper offcuts.

Cupcake Challenge

Thought it was too good to last as today us fen folk woke up to a cold dull day which has now turned into rain.......yes I know we do need it. That central heating switch got a nudge this morning.......minus one in our greenhouse according to hubby, so those frosts can't be too far away. At lest that will help the sprouts on their way........mind you sprouts are a dodgy subject sometimes a bit like Marmite, you either hate them or your love them.......but they make the best bubble and squeak ever.

So on to a card, this week over at Cupcake the theme is 'Thanks a Bunch'. Just right for botanical me and a chance to share a recent card for a demo day at Sir Stampalot. For those of you who live in the area, I will be doing an all day demo with them on Saturday 17th October, refreshments and special offers all thrown in for good measure and a chance for lots of crafty chatter.

The image is one of the new Hero cling stamps CO102 inked with Brilliance Tyne and Hero shadow Soft Pool. The background card is repeat stamped with Hero H2385 Old French Writing, then overstamped with one of the swirl stamps from Inkadinkado 97513. The DP is Doodlebug punched with Fiskars Threading Water. String, flowers and pearls added to finish.

By the Cute and Girlies goes live

Today sees the start of the brand new monthly challenge By The Cute and Girly. And no ordinary challenge either as we want to see all your crafty projects from cardmaking, scrapbooking right through to needlework and cookery. The are prizes on offer for the different categories from some wonderful sponsors.

Fittingly the first challenge is "Autumn Glory". All of the wondeful and varied DT's creations are on the main challenge blog, but we will individually be sharing our own with you throughout the month. You will also find links to free downloads, tutorials and other useful information.

The first of my DT projects I am sharing is a frame card using Inkadinkado 97513. The frame was cut on Cricut Plantin Schoolbook which I then stamped randomly with the single leaf stamp using Brilliance Crimson, Thyme, Copper and Chocolate. Three more leaves were stamped onto card, cut out and decoupaged in the corner with some raffia. The background for the inside of the frame is watercolour card inked with Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint and Scattered Straw - my preferred method of doing this is to dab each inkpad onto a silicone sheet several times, spritz well with water and then rub the card into the colour wash. The leaves are from the same set and the bird from Inkadinkado 98396 all embossed with detail copper.

We've all heard the one about needing a good vet, well that's the only way things can go here at the moment. The face is on the mend, but now I have a 'girly' problem, so more doctors and pills.......can you all hear the rattle ?

Needless to say Mr Mojo is nowhere to be found even if I felt like crafting which if I am honest I don't, so to keep things a bit alive, here is a fairly quick and simple one I did for Stampalot a week or two back using one of the new Christmas sets from Inkadinkado 98396. All of the stamping was done with versamark and embossed with Sticky Stuff, then brushed over with gold and green Perfect Pearls and some cerise crafting foil pressed on here and there. The border is Martha Stewart embossed zigzag.

Allsorts challenge

Saturday morning can only mean one thing........a new Allosorts challenge. And this week Lisa is hosting the challenge and has chosen Autumn Days as her theme. Such a beautiful time of the year and a chance to use all those glorious rich colours on our cards.

I have made a card with a matching gift box which my hubby came home with a few days ago........he got them from the pound shop and thought they "looked like me".......OK then, three plain cardboard boxes. When I questioned his comment he tried to redeem himself by saying what he mean was he knew I would make them into something pretty.

So here is what I did. First I made my own DP by stamping a sheet of heavyweight cream paper repeatedly with one of the leaf collage stamps from Inkadinkado 97513 using Brilliance copper, crimson, thyme and chocolate. I used this to cover the box and the card, distressing the edges of the piece on the card.

The tree is from the same stamp set and stamped with the same inks and the ovals cut on the Bug with Nesties.

The leaves on the box lid and panel on the card were stamped with the single leaf from that set onto shrink plastic, again with the Brilliance inks. The scallop border is punched with Fiskars threading water and the panel stitched using my vastly expensive new buy from Dunelm........all £12.99 of it - remember I gave my 'proper' sewing machine away. I edged the box with lace and aded a piece to the card to carry the theme and some pearls and swarovski gems.

Rosie Dees challenge

It's Sunday which means a new Rosie Dees challenge and sneak peek and the reveal of last weeks project.

I decided to think outside the box........sorry folks, bit of a pun here, but the theme was 'two squares and a rectangle' so I decided on a gift box, a thank you card and gift tag. The box was cut from Cricut Wild Card, acetate placed in the aperture and the box stamped randomly with Inkadinkado 98702 DC, a new one from them which is so very delicate and fine. The panel on the card was cut on Cricut Storybook to match the box aperture and matted using some Doodlebug DP, which I also used to punch the little daisies. I added some lace to the top of the box and pearls to embellish.

A little gift

Goodness me, I don't know where the last two days have gone, sort of always been busy but not much to show, especially craft wise.

So I am going to share something I made a couple of weeks ago as a little gift for my DIL. I would take forever to give instructions how I made the folder if I could even make it understandable which I doubt, so all I shall say is I used my scoreboard and made lots of folds ! If somebody really wants some guidelines, please PM me and I will see what I can explain.

The DP is my minds eye, the tree stamp on the front is from Inkadinkado 97513 and the one on the notelets is also Inkadinkado 98702-DC........in case it's not been obvious the last couple of weeks, I really love the new Autumn releses from this company. I added a small punched flower to each notelet and coloured the leaves with Promarkerts to match. I also ran each notelet though the Cuttlebug using different folders so each is individual.