Fab Friday: Happy Easter!

Hey,

Happy Monday!

Hope you managed to stay sane, whilst on lockdown this weekend.

I was ridiculously prolific at my craft desk..

Including my card for the Fab Friday challenge.

I love a sketch and I was so happy at how my card came out, I made another one!

I stamped the Concord & 9th 'Confetti Turnabout' stamp, I am totally obsessed with their turnabout stamps (now that I understand how to use them!

I then die-cut it out using a square stitched die and I used a slightly bigger size to cut out the other square. I cut a coordinating panel using a stitched rectangle die and layered up my squares, adding a bit of gold glitter washi tape and a small sentiment banner, that I stamped onto.

The bunny sticker is hilarious and from a set from Hema that I believe JT gave me at least 2 years ago. It was so nice to use them and make these quirky cards.

Hubby thinks the bunnies look guilty about something! What do you think?

Cx

Watercooler Wednesday: Halloween

Hey,

Happy Friday!

I wanted to play along with a new to me challenge - Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.

I love the theme - I am ALL about Occasions.

My wedding anniversary is actually Halloween! And this year we celebrate 10 years of marriage, so I really wanted to send a bunch of Halloween cards to our friends.

I loved this great set 'Mr Bones' by Tim Holtz that I bought from Michaels (you get stamps, dies, embossing folder) - it's a bit scarier than I would normally go, but I just fell in love.

I made a TON of these.. I used the embossing folder that came with the set with both black and orange papers to mix it up a bit. The awesome 'jagged edge' came from the Tim Holtz speckled edge dies.

I stamped 'Mr Bones' and used clear embossing powder over him to add that shine you can see, it wasn't necessary, but it felt like a nice touch to add.

I kept the sentiment simple, I punched a bunch of the little sentiment banners in orange and black and added an ancient Clearly Besotted 'Happy Halloween' to the banners.

I only realised whilst I was writing this post HOW many techniques I used - go me!

I am super pleased with how they came out. I figure this set will now be a fave.

Hope you have a great weekend, I am off to an all-day class tomorrow - super excited, I will be carving my own stamps - whoop!

Cx

Sketch Saturday #532..Fabrika Fantasy...

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you and welcome to the latest sketch for the Sketch Saturday challenge.

Our sponsor this week is Fabrika Fantasy and they are offering 3 digis from their store.

Here's the sketch...

I chose to use Cute Hippos (the version on my card is no longer available, the link is to a newer version).

As this week's sketch is by my bestie Jessie, I thought it was only fitting that I used it to make a anniversary card for her and her hubby :)

I chose purple as my main colour, as I know Jessie loves her some purple LOL. I coloured the stamps and die-cut it out using a stitched circle. I added a heart punch border strip and some enamel dots to fit the sketch. The sentiment is by Mama Elephant.

I was pretty pleased with how this came out.

I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch, but first check out what the rest of the DT have made over at Sketch Saturday.

Challenge ends on my birthday! 28th Sept 7pm GMT / 2pm EST

Cx

Sketch Saturday #522 Just Me Digital...Christmas Llama..

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you and welcome to the latest sketch for the Sketch Saturday challenge.

Our sponsor this week is Just Me Digital and they are offering a prize of two digital stamps from their store.

Here's the sketch...

[about my image choice, include link to the digi]

I rotated the sketch, as I thought my Llama would work better that way and I printed the stamp and the sentiment that comes with it.

To create the scalloped border, I used a red spotty scrap paper and I broke out an ancient border PUNCH!! I honestly have forgotten about punches.. I added a strip of glittery paper behind the punched border for a bit more interest. 

I die-cut two white panels using Lawn Fawn Stitched hills dies and layered them just over the Llama. I added Nuvo drops to the hills and teeny tiny gems to each side that are my take on the stars in the sketch.

I love this card SO much, it's such a fun Christmas card.

I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch, but first check out what the rest of the DT have made over at Sketch Saturday.

Challenge ends 20th July 7pm GMT / 2pm EST

Cx

Paper Players: Monster Thank You..

Hey,

You know I love a sketch! The current one over at The Paper Players, just called out for a MOnster card...

I used one of my fave Monster sets by MFT 'More Monsters'. I love this set as you get separate stamps for the eyes and teeth, so you can mix and match them.

I chose a funky piece of background paper from Pink Fresh Studio and cut a circle from some scrap paper in a toning colour.

The sentiment is also from the same set and I love the punch that I stamped it on to - by Stampin' Up called 'Washi Tape', it gets a lot of use.

I mounted the Monster and the sentiment using foam tape and added some enamel dots and googly eyes for a bit of fun.

I love him, he's so bright and cheery!

Cx

Sketch Saturday #514..You Look Fabulous..

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you and welcome to the latest sketch for the Sketch Saturday challenge.

Our sponsor this week is Di's Digis and they are offering a $12 voucher to their store.

Here's the sketch, another one by me!

This week we didn't have any images from the sponsor, so I decided to use one that was created for me by a company that sadly no longer exists. They used to make great stamps in the style of the lady on my card and before they closed their business I asked them to make a couple of stamps for me.

I love how the card turned out AND I got to use a piece of ancient patterned paper - the very last piece of it!

I added hearts for 2 of the little boxes in the sketch and my lady stamp is the middle box :) I created the sentiment, using 2 different stamps.

A perfect birthday card for a friend.

I can't wait to see what you do with my sketch, but first check out what the rest of the DT have made over at Sketch Saturday.

Challenge ends 25 May 7pm GMT / 2pm EST

Cx

OMG..Time to Celebrate..

Hey,

So I found out late on Monday that I was the Grand Prize winner over at the Bugaboo 8th Birthday Bash!!

I am gobsmacked, not only do I get $130 prize for the Bugaboo shop, but I also get to be GDT for 4 months - yay!!

AND if that wasn't enough I also won the main prize for the Day 1 Birthday Bash challenge.

AWESOME!!!

Isn't it great when happy news comes at a time when you are struggling.

So to celebrate I am playing along with Bugaboo's current sketch challenge -

I won the last Bugaboo anything goes challenge and so I decided I would use one of my new stamps that I bought with my winnings.

Bug Girl Sitter with Cat is very cute. I printed and cut it using my Silhouette. I love that I can do this with Bugaboo stamps.

I coloured her using Promarkers and Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens.

I wanted the girl and the cat to look like they were on a wall, so pulled out a piece of Recollections fancy brick style paper.

I die-cut the 'frame' using a Lil Inkers die and then I hand-cut the aperture, so that you could see the wall through it. So that it fit the sketch, I added a piece of acetate - 2 layers, but one being clear!

Particularly pleased with my genius idea here..

I die-cut Avery Elle pennants for the small ones you can see and I added a stamped and punched sentiment banner. I thought the sentiment was perfect for the card. It's by Market Street Stamps, I don't think they are around anymore, I bought a bunch of their stuff second hand last year.

Super cute and perfect for my Aunt.

Cx

Sketch Saturday #496 DSB...Happy Day!

Hey,

Happy Saturday to you and welcome to the first sketch of the year for me for the Sketch Saturday challenge.

Our sponsor this week is Digi Stamp Boutique and they are offering a £10 gift certificate to their store.

Here's the sketch...

I really liked Shopping Kate, I thought She would work really well with the sketch and I also really wanted to colour her!

I coloured the stamp using Promarkers and then I fussy cut her out. I kept the papers pretty simple and created the simple sentiment banners using a stamp by Market Street which I heat embossed onto the punched banners (punch by Stampin' Up). I added a simple piece of grey bakers twine to fit the sketch.

Love it and it's already on it's way to a friend!

I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch, but first check out what the rest of the DT have made over at Sketch Saturday.

Challenge ends 19th January 7pm GMT / 2pm EST

Cx

Clearly Besotted In the Frame...

Hey,

I have had this Clearly Besotted In the Frame stamp and die set for a while.

I have played with it, but the results have been a bit meh..

So over the weekend I thought I'd try again and now with my shiny new MISTI the stamping is much better. It all felt over inked before, like I had pressed too hard on the stamp block.

The main card was such a fun easy make. I stamped the frame in purple ink, then die-cut it, then I stamped the sentiment.

I LOVE tags, I can't get enough of them, I have x2 sets of tag dies, but yet I am always buying them, I have a photo box FULL to the brim of them.. The glittery, spotty, vellum beauty used here was bought at AC Moore when I was in Philly for the family reunion, 6 for $1 and the plain card under was a bonus, I didn't realise they had that AND they came with that sparkly twine..swoon central.

I mounted the tag onto a card blank made using my fave purple Simon Says Stamp cardstock. I added the frame piece to that and voila! finished card..

Love it.

Banners made using a Stampin' Up banner punch

I made another one, which is winging its way to a friend -

Two different cards using the same set..loving stretching my stamps right and now and so happy I had another play with this stamp set and it worked out for me.

Cx

Moving Along With The Times - Inspired by your Fave TV Show

Hey,

It is time for another great challenge from Moving Along the Times and Team B.

This week Hazel is up with a great theme Inspired by your Fave TV Show

I had a few ideas, but then remembered about my as yet unused birthday gift from JT. A great Kenny K stamp that fit 'Nashville' really well.

I think she has the Country music glamour look.

I started out by colouring the image, using Promarkers and a Copic marker and a dsash of Stickles glitter glue. I am loving the new Copic skin tone marker..I might buy a few more..

The background paper is by American Crafts and I used a scrap of brown paper to make a kind of wall/shelf for her to sit on. Finally I punched a tag and stamped a sentiment by Simon Says Stamp. Securing it to the front of the card using a mini staple  worked well. Loving mini staples right now.

Now it's your turn to show us what TV show you are inspired by. Before you do that though, go and check out the fun creations over at MAWTT from the rest of my lovely teammates.

Cx

Moving Along With The Times...Get Your Sketch On!...

Hey,

It's time for Team B over at Moving Along With the Times..

This week I am the hostess with the mostess :) I chose a sketch theme for today -

This is one of my fave sketch layouts, as you can rotate it and it still works.

Also I am offering you a prize this week - I am clearing out my NBUS (never before used schtuff) and this Xcut birdcage die has never been used, so I thought one of you fabulous people would treat it better!

I decided to work with a colour theme of red, white and black, partly because I knew I wanted to layer the label die-cuts (xCut label dies) and thought it might end up too fussy with lots of patterns.

I embossed the white papers using a Darice folder, to make them stand out a bit. The heart and arrow I stamped and heat embossed.

I tried blingy gems in the top left, but they didn't work, so I went with Candi (from JT) - they always work!

Now it's your turn..but first check out the rest of the Team B's sketchy makes over at MAWTT.

Don't forget that we have a Design Team call going on right now

Go here for all the details - can't wait to welcome our new teammates to our friendly little team.

Cx

I heart glitter...

Hey,

I love glitter, I know it gets everywhere but I can't resist it.

I recently got a big mixed box of American Crafts glitter pots - all different colours and textures...a new one for me textured glitter and OH how do I love it.

I decided to have a quick experiment session - using Silhouette double sided-adhesive paper, a punch and some glitter.

The hello card was on my desk unused from another project, so it because the base for this little experiment. The 'hello' is from Pink Petticoat.

I punched a heart out of the adhesive paper, peeled off one side and stuck to the front of the card. Then I removed the top piece and added my glitter.

Super simple!

Not only does it look amazing - all that texture - but it is amazing, as the glitter doesn't fall off when you shake the card?!

How is that possible?

Lots more fun to come with these sheets methinks.

Lemon arrives tomorrow - whoo hoo!! I am working from home awaiting her arrival and cooking Curry Goat in her honour!

Cx

Fun start to 2013 part 2

Morning everyone!

It's pretty hectic right now as I am in my last few weeks of work and I am busy planning the move to NYC, which is exciting and terrifying all at once!

This is the second part of the playdate post. This one is non-birthday oriented.

The main photo today is another modified Pinterest idea. I love it and think it will be useful as either a Valentine's card or as an Anniversary card. The hearts were not cut with my numerous heart punches, but with the new die I got with the Big Shot. I really like the whole layering idea, might have to try it with different shapes and see how it works.

JT brought some really cute square mini stamps with her. She said she found them a bit trixsy to work with. I have a mini square scallop punch that I thought might work well with these stamps. Here are the results -

Mini stamps 1

Mini Stamps 2

Mini Stamps 3

Card 1 is the first card  I made using the stamps and I loved the gingerbread ink on the white paper. Card 2 is one of my faves from the playdate, love the colours and the simplicity of it all. Card 3 uses JT's mini 'Thank You' and utilises my own square mini stamps - not sure what you'd use these for. I decided the stamped images looked like they were floating, so I used blue glitter strips to anchor them.

The card above was a 'challenge' that JT set us. Basically I had the sticker flowers for ages and was a bit terrified about using them, as they are quite fussy. I think the embellishment with the Papermania background, die cut shape, contrasting ribbon and white stamped sentiment works and now I'm like 'What was all the fuss about?'

I have recently been playing with a new technique (well new to me) where you die cut a shape and then emboss it. I did this on the card below using a dress form die by Spellbinders. The spotty paper is by Pink Petticoat and it really makes the dress pop. The daisy chain punch was one of the Christmas gifts that JT got from her family - cute right?

Final card in this epic post uses my new Big Shot flower dies, the possibilities are endless. I like this blue and green combo with pale blue Candi's to bring out the colour in the patterned flower. No sentiment here, as I can't decide what would be the best use of the card...maybe I'll just leave it blank.

See you tomorrow for WOYWW! What's on Your Workstation Wednesday.

Cx

Hearts Everywhere!

I now have 2 heart punches, a heart embossing folder and a box full of foam and felt hearts...

I am starting to think I might have a bit of a thing for hearts!

This comes as a surprise to me, as I have always found hearts a bit twee, but I am starting to find more and more non-love ways to use them.

Today's main photo is of an anniversary card that I made (well I made 5). I have been dying to use the heart paper for ages, but it wasn't cheap and so I wanted to maximise it as it only came in 4 x 6 sheets, it's'All About Girls' by DCWV. I like the contrast of the green scalloped heart (Woodware Punch).

However I think it's only fair that I point out that the idea stemmed from the card set I made for the next craft fair - photos below are of the original idea -

I finally bought 'Happy Anniversary' peel-offs and it came to me that they would work really well with this card - so out came the green permanent marker and voila! an Anniversary card (or 2..)

Cx