Monday 25 August 2014

Last week for Unstampabelles August Challenge


Unstampabelles August Challenge:
A Significant Birthday CARD

TWIST:
A shaped card

Sponsored by Regal Craft
$15.00 voucher to be spent in the on-line store

Well, my contribution to this final week includes two cards - a gorgeous gussie card, lace together with black satin ribbon and sporting lace and ribbon trim!


I cut the shape from a piece of already embossed Coordinations 12 x 12 card - half the card was used for this 'gussie'. I measured and folded the two sides in - had to trim a bit - and then lined up on both sides the eyelets to thread the ribbon - with the red eyelets being inserted using my Cropperdile! Easy peasy!


I added some ribbon trim to the top ....eerr.....bottom scallops of the gussie (meant to be at the top!), so I had to add some lace to the top bit!


eyelets and lacing



Inside has a sheet of SU DP  - I thought I would use this for a gift card holder or to hold money inside using a slide to hold it in place, and my sentiment is actually on the back of the card. It is computer generated.


My second card is for a person who has just purchased a new house, and is having a significant birthday as well - so has combined the house warming with the birthday party! So, out came the dies and I began to play.

Skylight over door

Fancy windows

Chimney and roof


Card slides inside using the roof as the 'handle' - sentiments are both rub-ons and stickers.

Sliding inside the card


My house!

There you have it - shaped cards for Significant Birthdays, made without using stamps!

Why not pop over and see the rest of the DT work and then have a go in the challenge - it closes on Friday night, the 29th, at midnight.

I will enter these at the following challenges:
Crafting at the Weekend: Anything Goes - the Gussie card
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge: Anything Goes - the house
A Creative Romance: Fantasy - the gussie card
Sister Act: Anything Goes - the house


Sunday 24 August 2014

Spring has Arrived in Tasmania!

The Squirrel and the Fox:#76 Spring or Autumn


Does this get the seal of approval?


Taken off the southern coast of Tasmania - sunning him/herself!


More spring like?


Yes, the Squirrel and the Fox are challenging us to think all things Spring (or Autumn if you live on the northern end of the earth). As Tasmania is very much in the southern area of the world, we are having 

SPRING!

The Sponsor for this challenge is:
Prize - 3 digi stamps


My DT creation for this uses one of their digi's (provided by sponsor, thank you) and I coloured this with my new Stampin' Up Blendabilities alcohol markers. They are like and not like Copics and I used Xpress Blending card to make sure that they blended well after printing out the tulips image. I also used the SU embossing folder Tulips, and added SU Rich Razzleberry ink to the edges before adding the Very Vanilla card. This was layered up onto Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry card before putting it onto the card. The tulips are fussycut and layered onto the embossed piece. 


I used the set Rich Razzleberry to colour the bottom flower, and the red one was coloured with Cherry Cobbler while the next one was back to the RR, with a touch of Calypso Coral, and the leaves were done with Old Olive.  There is a fair amount of colour lifter pen wielded. The background was in Coastal Cabana and was too bright so I tried to tone it down with Prisma pencil.

A close up of flower one



Flower two and the inked, embossed edging

Flower three - the Coral is under the Razzzleberry, and gives it a lovely deep shadow look


An Annabelle Stamp sentiment in RR ink, and a punched circle with some Old Olive ink smeared around.


Highlights added with the colour lifter pen

I will add this to the following challenges:
Color My Heart: Smoky Plum and Olive
Sister Act: Anything Goes
Sweet Pea Stamper: Embossing (dry used here on border)



Wednesday 20 August 2014

Challenge#33 at Crafting with Dragonflies

Crafting with Dragonflies are asking us to create a box - a specific type of box of course: a tissue box! So the Challenge #33 is to find a template (just Google, believe me there are lots!), create your box and photograph it, and enter it HERE!  Don't forget to let us know where you found the instructions or if you made one from scratch by yourself, so instructions for the rest of us who are not as clever!

My box can be found on Splitcoaststampers - just search for tissue box. It works with the small square box by Kleenex.  I used Kraft card for construction, and SU Coordinations embossed with a TH folder with gears, and then lightly sanded to bring out the core.  I was making it for my husband so I wanted a masculine feel, and an unfinished look.

Work - Gus: image provided by our sponsor


The challenge is being sponsored by Bugaboo

who are offering a prize of 7 free digi's! WOW!


I coloured up my image using Copics and just adhered it to the front of the box, as I didn't want to add any embellies to something going into the workshop. I wanted it to be found easily though, hence the colour!


This is what it looks like before the box slides over the top of the tissue box.

So, why not go and made yourself a drink, and have a look at the rest of the DT inspiration (stunning work as usual) and then have a go yourself!

I will enter this in the following:





Monday 18 August 2014

Midpost over at the 'Belles - a Significant Birthday

The August challenge at Unstampabelles this time is A Significant Birthday 
and the TWIST is to use/make a SHAPED CARD.



They are sponsored for August by the wonderful

Regal Craft
and the prize is
$15.00 voucher to be spent in their on-line store!

I made a male card - although it could be for either sex! It does not have a significant age on it yet, but this can be added above the sentiment, which is a sticker




The card is supposed to be in the shape of a carpenter's pouch to attach to the belt. I found something similar on Pinterest, and readjusted it to suit.  I used my new tool dies from Die-Namics, and die cut two sets in SU black and silver card before adding them together; and some Bazzil card for the pouch itself.  I really just flew by the proverbial seat of the pants to put it together and it was quite easy to do.


 My shape is not that different to a normal rectangle card, as you can see here. There is an inset under the top layer with a sentiment and space to write a note. I created faux stitching by punching a line of holes and then drawing a line with a fine line pen. I used brads for studs. I also smooched a bit of Vintage Photo (TH Distress ink) around the whole to make it look a bit old and worn. I also smooched that onto my "ribbon" tape. 


I hope you like it and will be inspired to create your own Significant Birthday card for someone, and make it a shaped card for some added interest, and to meet the TWIST!

I will enter this in the following challenges:

Monday 11 August 2014

Challenge #38 at Unstampabelles - Significant Birthday

This card I made to offer some additional inspiration to anyone interested in entering the challenge at Unstampabelles for August - A Significant Birthday - and it is a shaped card, because the TWIST for this challenge is to make/use a shape card

This card could be used for a girlfriend who has one of those dreaded birthdays that end in zero.........30, 40, 50 , 60..........personally they don't worry me as the alternative is a bit dire! Each birthday is a bit of a win really!

sentiment created with rub on's

Yes, there is a prize because we are sponsored for August by the wonderful

Regal Craft
and the prize is a
$15.00 voucher to be spent in their on-line store!

I started with my SU label dies, and cut some gorgeous Co-ordinations embossed card using the largest one, and then another shape using the middle one.

I sanded lightly - should have also sanded around the edges to make them more definite.  Why do you know this after the event? I will have to do it now but too late for the photo shoot! 

I scored and folded a line down both shapes, and used these to hinge/attach to either side of  a rectangle of SU Very Vanilla card. I then covered the joins with a piece of old SU DP. I used this DP also inside the card, and on the back of the VV piece - to cover an error I made by trying to attach the smaller front to the back of the card instead to the inside front!


I used my SU punches to punch out firstly the image (Meg's Garden) and then the circles and attached to the smaller front flap. I added an SU button with some SU twine, and used this to carefully catch the edge of the smaller flap under it, to hold closed until you want to open the card.


When open the flaps spread either side, showcasing inside the card.


I added another version (bigger) of the Meg's Garden image and left the RHS flap empty - this is where I would probably add the age of the recipient! The rub-ons were then added in the middle, where they would be covered by the two outside flaps when closed. You could write your personal message on the back of the card if you wished. 


There you have it - a shaped card useful for a Significant Birthday!

Why not have a go at this challenge - visit Unstampabelles and see what the DT have come up with so far, and come back later in the month and see what else they have provided for your inspiration as well - you will be very impressed, I tell you!




Sunday 10 August 2014

Anything Goes at the Squirrel and the Fox!

The current challenge (Number #75) at the Squirrel and the Fox is Anything Goes, which means we will probably get lots of entries!




Our Sponsor is - Make it Crafty, a wonderful Aussie store

Prize - $10 Gift certificate to their store. 

Bonus Prize - use a MIC image to go into a second draw to win a $10 Gift certificate to their store. 



I needed a male card so this is the image I chose from our sponsor. There are some wonderful new images that are so amusing available! 



Usual trick of printing off onto X Press card and colouring with Copics - this time though, the image was a big one - deliberately! 


My sentiment is from VERVE stamps, and stamped in Momento Tuxedo Black. 



I masked the image and sponged on some Momento ink for the sky and ground also, and added some TH Distress to form some dimension in the ground. I added a star, 'cause he is! 

Inside says "Sending BIG hugs!" 

Hope you like him. 

I will enter this in the following challenges:
Hiding in my Craftroom: KISS - fairly simple I thought!
Alphabet Challenge: M is for Men



Wednesday 6 August 2014

Dragonflies are Side Stepping this time - or Centre Stepping!

Today is windy and wild but reasonably mild. We have been having a run of very wild winter weather and have had lots of snow on our mountain, hovering above the city. We live over the river Derwent, on the other side of the city and above it, and look out into a bay, but if I go to the front deck, this is what I could see to my left on Saturday morning.  It may have been a last late leap from winter, as all the spring flowers are either out or budding! They are being blown away today!

my photo

This was the sunrise this morning:
Not my photo

What is that old rhyme - red at night, shepherds delight; red in morning, shepherd's warning!

Anyway, enough on the weather! I have finally got my craft space back to a semblance of order, my computer hooked up and running with the internet and a card to share with you for my DT duties for

Crafting with Dragonflies  #32 : Centre step or Side Step Card


There are two sponsors for this challenge

 Handmade Harbour prize: six digis for prize winner.
Handmade Harbour digi stamps

and

$10 gift Certificate for the Winner.

Now, I used an image from Make it Crafty, as I really like Gus - such a funny person! He reminds me of someone I live very closely too as well!!!!


Gus

He is being really sweet here in this image - I printed him off and coloured him with my Prisma pencils and Zest; I then masked him off and sponged on some Momento inks to create a horizon and the semblance of sky and grass. 



I die cut out the image and......


......created my step card - I got my instructions to make one of these a few years back and cannot remember where, but if you just Google side step card, you will get heaps of tutorials for one. I made mine in purple 12 x 12 Bazzil sheet, cut in half. I know there was some trimmed off the end and the cuts are made inside the rectangle, with folds at the front of the steps and the back of the centre......does that make sense?

I added some DP to the centre and the front of the card but left the side strips blank, as I  knew I was adding some SU punched flowers in bright colours there. I die cut a label for the front and stamped using an old SU stamp, and added some bling.  

There you have it - my DT card for Crafting with Dragonflies. Why not go over and see what the others are doing and have a go at the challenge - create a side or centre step card!

I will enter this in the following challenges:
4Krafty Girls challenge: anything goes
Delightful Challenges: Anything Goes