ATC weekly challenge

This weeks challenge was "purple" so I used Milled Lavender Distress Ink pad to cover the entire ATC. I then stamped one of my new Gibson Lady stamps from The Artistic Stamper using Dusty Concord Distress Ink. I then edged the ATC with the Dusty Concord and added a purple flower brad.

Sunday Stampers Challenge

This weeks challenge is "I'm a Laydeeeee!" so I have made two cards. I couldn't decide between my new oriental lady stamp or the lovely one I got the other week. The oriental lady has been stamped in black-staz on and then watercoloured. I had to copy the image on the wooden block to get the shading right. I then edged the mat with gold Krylon pen and mounted it onto red pearlescent paper which I had covered the A6 card blank with.
The other stamp is again stamped in black staz-on and coloured in with Marvy Le Plume pens and a black watercolour pencil.I covered an A6 blank with some Basic Grey Periphery paper(which I love). I took an Adirondack Dabber in Bottle along the edges of the stamped image and then mounted this onto the card. I haven't added greetings to either card as yet as I don't know what I will use them for. I am much happier with these efforts than other recent ones :0)

Another mishap

I have attempted the Hidden Depths challenge on the Craft Swap Forum challenge blog. You had to follow the folding instructions and then decorate the inside using different techniques from the outside (the hidden depths).The theme was to be Spring. I have inked up the inside of mine using distress inks over some flower, butterfly and dragonfly peel offs which I then removed. I was happy enough with this part. Then I decided I would use papers over the outside- my mistake.I cut it into 3 strips and used DS tape to stick it in place, matching up the design. HOWEVER, when I close the card, the creases show as these have not been papered over??? Perhaps I should have used inks on the outside and papers inside. Will have to have another go at this when I get the chance. Well, Simon did call it a challenge

Papertake Weekly challenge

This weeks challenge was a frame card. The frame tutorial gave instructions and although I tried to follow them, my card is a bit dodgy!!!! I have used a Henrietta image from Funky Fairy for inside the frame and the matching text along the bottom of the card. I used some red pearlescent paper on the front of the card and some Prima flowers with a flower brad to finish. You should pop over to the Papertake blog and see the fab cards shown on there. Mine is not quite up to the same standard but I shall keep practising :0))))

Arty Girlz/My Paper World #6 challenges

I have used a sketch from My Paper World for this card. I love these sketches, they give you such great ideas for cards. The Arty Girlz challenge for this week was "Stars" so I incorporated some on this card as well.
I covered some white cardstock with Adirondack Dabber in Pink Sherbet and then stamped the stars with a Cranberry Dabber. I then matted this onto the card together with some HOTP textured paper, following the sketch design. I then cut a strip of pink Bazzill cardstock and matted this across my two sections. I stamped Baby Millie from Sugar Nellie and coloured her in with Marvy Le Plume pens. I mounted her on some 3D foam and placed her on the pink Bazzill. Finally a co-ordinating strip of Anita's Sticky Ribbon and pearlescent card with a Best Wishes peel off on it. Hope I have done the sketch justice!

Flower tag swap

I have already shown one of these tags this week for the My Time to Craft challenge. I made another two last night. I have coloured the tags using Distress ink pads in Shabby Shutters for the green one and Broken China for the blue. I then stamped two Anna Griffin stamps in black Staz-on and coloured the images in with watercolour pencils.
On the reverse of the tags I have stamped another Anna Griffin floral design in Pine Needles Distress ink for the green tag and Nick Bantock's Deep Turquoise for the blue one. I have added a Little floral brad to each and some co-ordinating ribbon/fibres. Thanks for popping in for a look :0)

Tickled Pink!

My Time To Craft challenge this week is to make something pink!. I need to make some tags for a swap so decided to make one of them pink. I used Adirondack Dabbers in Pink Sherbet and covered the entire tag. Then I stamped a cala lily stamp by Joanna Sheen in red Staz-on on the front. On the back I stamped the wording and then the top part of the lily stamps again.I then coloured this in using Sakura stardust pens and a little water. Back to the front again and I stamped the word "lily" at the top. I took a green watercolour pencil and gently shaded the leaves of the lilies, blending with a little water. I added a pink butterfly brad from Lakeland and some pink ribbon, then edged the tag with a Cranberry Dabber.

Funky Fairy Challenge

This weeks challenge is as follows
In with the OLD
Out with the new
Create an Item
That's just for YOU
Go through your stash
That you've had packed away
And fetch out those Goodies
To have a little play! :)

I decided to finally alter an old teabag tin to store my bits & bobs in. I covered the tin in my gorgeous Rustic Gem papers then stamped images from Clear Art Stamps randomly around the tin. I covered the rim of the tin with Adirondack Dabber in Gold and brished this lightly onto the edge of the paper. Then I used my Cropadile to punch some holes round the tin and threaded some ribbons through these. This is my first attempt at tin altering, feel the urge to try some more :0)

Sunday Stampers - Turning Japanese....

This weeks challenge set by Hels was oriental. As I had no oriental stamps, Hels came to my rescue and sent me a couple of stamped images. I inked up the oriental script using Nick Bantock Vermillon Red ink pad and Distress Inks in Scattered Straw & Black Soot. Then I used the Scattered Straw direct to paper to colour the other two stamped images. I then covered these in clear embossing powder and attacked them with my heat gun. I matted the larger image , which I love, onto the script and the smaller image onto some white cardstock. I then inked the edges of the cardstock with the red & black ink and did the same round the edge of the card. Finally I attached a couple of oriental charms with gold brads.
I love these images, must find out where I can get my hands on them. Thanks for helping me out Hels :0)

Di Hickman Sketch

I thought I would try another sketch card as I really enjoyed the last one I made. This one was from Di Hickman. I used papers from Funky Fairy's purple papers and added a purple Prima, with a black brad in the centre. I also used some of Anita's sticky ribbon to edge where the different papers meet and then mounted a greeting on black cardstock to finish.I really like the end result and will use this sketch again. If you want to see other cards made using this sketch, visit Di's blog, the link is in My Favourite Blogs below.This was March sketch #1 posted 05/03/2008.

Notebook for a friend

I decided it was time I used my BIA again. I used K & Co Sweet & Sparkly papers to cover the chipboard covers. I then tied co-ordinating ribbons to the wires and used some Stickles in Crystal to highlight the flowers.I used some bubble stickers to spell out "notes" on the front cover. Finally a little stamped message on the inside back cover and I'm done. :0)

30th birthday cards

My cousin will be 30 later this month so my aunt and my mum asked me to make cards for them to give him. I also made my own card to give him. He is a big fan of Glasgow Rangers and a keen golfer. I got the images for Rangers FC from Google and matted them on some navy Bazzill. I then mounted these on 3d foam onto some blue paper which I had attached to the card blank. I typed out the text on my PC and matted it on Bazzill as well. The golfer image and backing paper is from a Joanna Sheen disc. For the other card I used paper by HOTP and then stamped Hamish by Sugar Nellie onto some cardstock and coloured him in with Marvy Le Plume pens. I have mounted him on 3d foam onto a mat of navy Bazzill and again typed the text on my PC.
Three different cards, hope he likes them all.

A birthday card for a friend

My hubby bought me a new stamp yesterday so I have used it to make a card for a friend whose birthday is this week. The stamp is by Creative Expressions and I have coloured the image in with Marvy Le Plume pens. I mounted the image on some red paper from Funky Fairy and completed the card with a Happy Birthday peel-off and a couple of sequins. Nice & simple, she isn't a crafty friend so wouldn't appreciate a card that had taken hours. Hope she likes it :0)

Altered Dominoes

Well, this is my first attempt at altering dominoes. I used alcohol inks in Wild Plum, Stream and Butterscotch and dabbed them all over until I was happy with the overall effect. I then used my lovely domino stamps from Cats Life Press to stamp onto each domino. I took the photo and since then have covered the stamped image in Glossy Accents to make them shine.

Funky Fairy Challenge

I managed to fit in another challenge. The Funky Fairy challenge this week was to use "eyelets and ribbons". I used my new Sugar Nellie stamp Baby Millie and coloured her in with some watercolour pencils. I mounted her on some paper from Funky Fairy's purple papers. I then used my lovely Cropadile to set two pink floral eyelets and fed some pale pink ribbon through each of them. I love this stamp and all the purple papers are gorgeous :0)

Furry Friends

This is this weeks ATC challenge on Craft Swap Forum, set by moi! I have used backing paper from Funky Fairy and the image is from Joanna Sheen's Animal Antics disc. I trimmed round the animals so they would fit on the ATC. I then used my trusty Cropadile to set a pink floral eyelet in the top right hand corner and threaded through some sparkly pink fibres. Ta-da!

DIY challenge

The current Fat Book challenge on Craft Swap forum is "D.I.Y." set by Vanessa.

What about a bit of DIY? Do something yourself on your fat page, i.e. handwrite your own message/sentiment, do a little bit of doodling or a little drawing! It doesn't matter how little or how much!

Well, at first I was despairing because I cannot draw!However, I remembered when I was young my mum taught me how to draw a ladies face. I drew one then decided that the best thing I could do was cover it up again lol!
I cut a hat shape out of some pearlised cardstock and added some lines with a Sakura glitter pen in pink. I added a bow to the hat and positioned it so you could only see the tip of her nose and her mouth. I coloured her lips in with the pink pen and then mounted this on some lovely paper from Funky Fairy. I added two small gems for ear-rings and finally doodled around the flowers on the papers and drew a stitch line round the page with a purple Sakura glitter pen. I surprisingly am quite pleased with the end result but my was it a challenge :0)

Black & White

That is the ATC weekly challenge on Craft Swap Forum this week, set by June. I have used paper from a Papermania black & white pad and then stamped one of my thirties ladies form Artistic Stamper in black staz-on on to a piece of white card. I used Stickles in Crystal to highlight her the straps of her dress and headdress and matted it onto the ATC. Then I used the same Stickles to highlight the swirls and dots on the paper for added bling!

My Time to Craft & DCM challenges

Again I have made the most of my available crafting time and combined two challenges with one card. DCM challenge this week was "I am Woman" so I have stamped one of my lovely stamps, from Artistic Stamper, in black staz-on, onto some white cardstock. I have then coloured her in using Marvy Le Plume pens and matted this onto some paper from DCWV Once upon a Time stack(I love those papers).
I finished off the cards with a couple of co-ordinating Primas and a little gem to incorporate the My Time to Craft challenge this week which is "Flower Power". I really like the end result, very elegant I thought!

Papertake Weekly Challenge

This weeks challenge was "Squares". I had to make a 30th birthday card for my brother-in-law who is a huge Aberdeen football fan. I cut out squares from red pearlised paper and stuck them to white card in a chequerboard fashion. I googled a couple of Aberdeen F.C. images and mounted them on black card which were then placed on 3D foam pads and popped on the card. I stamped the word "Goal" in black staz-on in some of the white squares. Finally I printed off some text and mounted this on black card as well. My mother-in-law has paid some shop in town £4.99 for a handmade card for Simon(she forgot I could make her one!) and hubby says mine is much better :0). Let's hope Simon likes it.