Spread your wings....

......the stamp said, and so I decided to have a go at something different.

The first card I have to share is one I made to highlight a stamp I got on my June Craft Stamper magazine; it is a stamp by Toby Tumble and is called Cuddly Buddly!  I used my Copics to colour him, die cut him with a Spellbinders Nestie and then put him in a commercial card that had already been dry embossed with some words. I also die cut a butterfly and added that as well as a handmade flower. Three Annabelle sprinkles were used for the body of the butterfly

The second card is made after I bought and read a magazine from USA called Stamp It! Winter 2011 (this version was on techniques) which I only buy occasionally as it is so expensive here.  However, this one has lots of great ideas in it so I forked out. The two cards were made using embossing differently.

Number one uses the flat side of a butterfly stamp to create a basic shape, and use this to stamp in Versamark, load it with EP and build up several layers doing this before turning the stamp around and stamping into the hot EP.  You then cut out the butterfly and make a card with this element. I made three butterflies and used lots of different EP before settling onto my Pipe Dream Opalettes - Tropicals.  I then used a Tim Holtz embossing folder in the Cuttlebug, with some Co'ordination brown card, lightly sanded, of wood grain, and a Spellbinders Shapeabilities label. I stamped the sentiment with Memento brown ink and sponged the label in both TH Antique Linen ink and some gold Pearlex. This is hard to see in the photo.  I also rubbed some of this over the butterflies to make them shine.

The second card in this series used watercolour paper (SU) and embossing with clear EP. Then use dye ink - my Tim Holtz distress inks were used, a green, red and blue one - and apply the ink, creating a gradient effect.  I spritzed it with water and  then put some gold Pearlex into a spray bottle of water and lightly sprayed the mixture over the paper as well.  I dried it off with the heat gun carefully, and used a tissue to clean up the embossed bike. I then stamped the sentiment with black Memento ink and trimmed the piece before rounding the edges.  I put some green silk ribbon and some twine onto the card and added the image with dimentionals.

This is a close-up so you can see the shine a bit better - it actually looks really good IRL!

Another week gone!

Just like that! I have a new part-time job and it is taking more of the part than it should at this stage, but hopefully it will settle down.

I haven't had time to craft until today, so made a card to fit several challenges.  I used the Mojo Monday #190 sketch for my layout, and Crop Stop wanted me to use Copics "in the shadows", while the CR84FN Challenge wanted me to use red, yellow and neutral. Tuesday Throwdown this week is to use a die cut in your work, and I have! Copic Oz is also having a challenge to 'celebrate women', so her goes for that too. So, here goes!

I used an image from Annabelle stamps, stamped onto Xpress paper with Memento black, and coloured it with Copic pens.  I die cut a frame using Nellies rectangles in red card, and die cut a flower as well.  The red in the flower and the red it the frame are just slightly different as I used scraps from my stash - didn't show up that much until I took the photos!  The background paper is from Basic Grey's Hello Luscious paper pad.  The ribbon is a Kaiser one and the rub-on is also one of theirs I think.  The base card is a commercial blank. The brads are from stash, and the heart is a Bella jewel. It is assembled as you see it, with the frame layered over the image. 

This is a clearer picture of the image and the colouring.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and grandmothers and steps and others that act like mothers.......hope you all have a great day!

Finally I got some time to craft after all the running around when we got home getting things sorted out, washing and ironing and other household chores, doctors appointments and ladies breakfasts, visitors and such!  However, my MOJO has been on holiday and doesn't want to return,  so I found myself staring at stuff without any ideas of what to do next!!! Finally decided to colour in a digi  image I have had for a while and practice my Copic work.  Before I did that I carefully re-read all my notes and sorted them with  my samples into my notebook, so I thought I knew what to do........hmmmm, not so sure now I have completed the image, think I need a bit more practice!

So, thought I would enter a challenge next - chose another digi image from Digital Delight and decided to enter their Someone Special challenge. 

However, this time the printer ink smudged and worked against me (I had just changed the black ink cartridge) and smudged despite the fact that I heat set it beforehand.  I tried to feather the wings as well and look at light source, but I am afraid my image needs more work.

I thought someone who needs cheering up would be pretty special!  I followed the sketch at CPS #216 but am too late I think to enter it in their challenge. My die cut is Labels Fourteen by Spellbinders, and the card is all SU scraps except for the base card which is a Bazzil card.  The sentiment is from WMS and the flag is also. Three Annabelle sprinkles were used. 

My next attempt was to try something Clean and Simple - Challenge #139.  

I used the WMS stamp set Irish Blessings and SU Glorious Green ink on some green card scraps, and a blank card made with SU Glorious Green card.  The ribbon is from Papermania Verde set.  I stamped the clovers in a regular pattern but twisted the stamp each time I stamped it to get a different position for the clover.  It looks OK.

My last one was to go all out and make a fussy card for the Colout Throwdown Challenge #40 using SU Blushing Bride, Early Expresson and Baja Breeze, with a touch of Kraft.  I followed the MOJO Monday sketch Challenge #189 for this, and decided to let my head go and enter the Let's Ink It Up Challenge to Embellish It also.  

I used SU card and stamps and ink, the flag is a WSM stamp and the background paper is from My Minds Eye Pretty Please Spring papers. The SU stamp set for the sentiment is Well Scripted.  The circles were eithr punched out using SU punches or were from the Nellies Multiframe Circle set. I sponged the edges of the papers with SU Close to Cocoa ink and used Annabelle twine, Kaiser pearls and Websters Pages designer trim lace. The base card is folded Early Expresso, and the Kraft colour is in the twine. 

Tuesday Throwdown #47 was to create a Mother's Day card - well it was made on Mother's Day and is for a mother! Aud Sentiments #27 also wanted a card for Mother's Day - so I will enter it in both these challenges as well!!

I have been busy!

Been visiting family in Canberra and Melbourne, and while in Melbourne I was able to attend a Copic class and get myself Certified (!) as a Copic Teacher. So, guess my colouring will need to be pretty up there in future!!!

Will be back later with a few samples.

Party Preparations

I am preparing for my first SU party as presenter outside my house today - there is such a lot to carry!  However, hopefully it will all go OK.  The hostess wants some scrapbooking stuff (hhmmm) and some easter containers ( I will do a simple box with handle), and perhaps some cards.

This is the page I came up with first:

Master Jack, starring role!  This one is in A4 Landscape. I like clean and simple, but this seemed to be too clean!

Second attempt came together better - it is the 12 x 12 page.

Then I made two cards with the same colour scheme and papers, and ideas:

See you soon!

Round, not square

I decided to have a go at a round card.  I have had my SU roundy, cutting thingy for a while now - Circle Scissor it called, and have used it a few times, but not really played with it much.  I cut out the card in SU Kraft, and then two more circles, each one smaller than the last, in Orange Bazzil and DP.  I used the Spellbinders Nestabilities Scalloped Oval for the background card and some SU punches for the sentiment, my DP's are from SU and then flower is cut from one of these. The jewel centre is from Prima.  There are Annabelle sprinkles around the edge, and the bird is from the SU set, Notably Ornate, stamped in Purely Pomegranate. That bird looks less pink in real light, but I had to take it a night on my desk and it's not a good photo.

I am entering this in two challenges: Colour Throwdown #136 (orange, soft sky and kraft) and There She Goes #101 - a card without angles (but I missed this one). I based this card design on last weeks Mojo Monday sketch (sort of...). Have to go and watch Q and A - riveting watching on a Monday night!

Always too late.......

....AND I got up early for a Saturday to complete them! I'm talking about Waltzing rodents sketch Challenge this week, which was to make three "itty-bitty cards"! Never mind, I will enter them in Let's Ink it Up's challenge for Easter Creations and the Tuesday Throwdown - Spring challenge #43 anyway.

My three little gift cards are for Easter - and I made them using WMS stamps from several different sets: Bitty Banners, Líl Buddies, Eggstra Special and Nestie Eggs.  I embossed the eggs with different EP's and cut them out with scissors despite the fact that I now have the Nestability to do this (forgot!), stamped the chick from the Líl Buddies set and coloured it in with the Copics, and then fussy cut them out and stamped the sentiments in various SU inks to match the colour schemes of each.  I added the flower to match, and used my Martha Stewart edge punches to liven up the backing papers.

The background card is a piece of yellow Gemstone, and the small card blanks are commercial. I find that they don't fold well though - you have to redo them with the bone folder several times to get them to fold properly.

I will make several more of these, as I have already got several more eggs embossed and ready to go - I was trying out different embossing powders with this stamp - and more chicks and banners already stamped out.  They make up quickly.  I had to desist from working on them last night to go and cook dinner, and that's why I'm late for the rodent challenge- spent all day yesterday on relief teaching work! At least I get paid for that I suppose but it doesn't seem fair to miss out on crafting time! Enough moaning, the day is still nice outside so I will get moving and go out!

Second Edition (aka several hours later):

I will add this to the Craft Us Crazy - Easter/Spring theme challenge:

I had a box (one of many saved) and thought that as I was making a few of these, I might as well make a box to put them in! So I dressed up the old chocolate box and added the cards!

Appropriate name for a (small) box of chockies!

Five cards fit inside easily

The front of the box! The ribbon is recycled Christmas ribbon. 

Oh what a beautiful day!!

Talk about the weather - today as a corker of an autumnal day, sunny and warm.  AND tomorrow is apparently going to be better!!

I made a card this afternoon for several challenges: Aud Sentiments wants a child's card, the Lollipop Ladies #17 are working with lovely pastel macaroons + gloss, and the Sweet Stop  #SSS102 sketch challenge looked interesting. So, as I have just purchased my very first Magnolia Tilda stamp (Hello Butterfly) I combined them to create this!

I tried to match the macaroon colours, and the gloss is on the Annabelle sparklers and the sentiment banner, which are from WMS.  The images is coloured with Copics, and the background papers are from the Cosmo Cricket set DeLovely. The card is folded Bazzil, and the flower is Prima, while the ribbon and ribbon slide (SU, I think) were stash. I cut the edge on the SU Regal Rose mount card with a Martha Stewart punch.

I cut out Tilda using the CB and an oval scallop nestbility. Outside my green ink looks like the wrong green, but inside it looked OK  Why does that happen!! It is SU Wild Wasabi. The gloss on the banner was still wet so I had to lay the card onto the outside table, rather than sit it up.

Autumn's biting

Bbrrr, its cold today.  First time I have had the heater on downstairs as I work this afternoon.  They (the neighbours) are sailing in the bay outside - last race for the summer!  Daylight saving ended today as well and I got an extra hour to lay in bed this morning.

I have been brooding this card for a while - it is a birthday card for my SIL.  I had made the flowers from tissue paper by cutting out lots of scalloped circles with my SU punch, and then spraying them with my bottle of Peppermint Stick Glimmer Mist and they do shimmer! When they were dry I scrunched them up and then threaded them into a pearl brad each. I was going to enter this is two challenges today - Tuesday Throwdown #42, which is simply 'Florals', and Papercraft Star #39 which is a recipe card, but the second one has finished - when is 9.00 pm Sunday Eastern time in America in our time?  I thought the USA was behind us in time...........I always miss this one! Never mind, Tuesday Throwdown it is!

ED: forgot about Crop Stop's "shiny" challenge, so will enter this in that as well!  the flowers are shiny and the pearls certainly have a lovely glow! 

I used papers from a mini deck from Cosmo Cricket - DeLovely - and my florishes were cut from the Sizzix dies.  The card is Baja Breeze and the mounting card is Regal Rose, both from SU.  I used a small pennant from WMS, and stamped it in Baja ink as I did for the sentiment which is from WMS Frame It. The ribbon is from the stash and is folded and stitched to form a bunch among the flowers.  Three pearls complete the card.  Bye the way, the sailors were second over the line and very happy when they came home!

Meet Meg and Tiddles

The rats that belong to my eldest granddaughters! They have one each although they seem to spend most of their time with the eldest.  This was taken at the little birthday celebration we were having for our daughter's birthday yesterday.  I was helping wash up and turned around and they were there!

I made a card this afternoon for the Creative Cottage Challenge - use white/blank space. This is to be their last challenge in this format, so we wait with baited breath to find out what's next! I will also enter it in the Verve March Diva Dare - colour me Spring.  Now I made this card, photographed it and then decided it need another mount, so remade it and photographed it again and now I cannot decide which one is better - so I will put up both and get you to tell me which one is best and why, please. 

Can you see the difference?  

Anyway, I made this by using my CB and a Coulture Creations Embossing folder - Victorian - and then using a soft pink Copic and carefully going over the raised bits with it to highlight them (saw it in a magazine and thought I can do that!) and then added a freebie tag from the English magazine Creative Cardmaking Issue 24 on which I had stamped on the sentiment using a Verve stamp. I sponged both the tag and the backing paper with SU Pink Pirouette ink before I embossed the sentiment with Sparkling Ebony EP (and it does have a real sparkle) and then popped on a Prima rose.  Three little pearls from Annabelle's sprinkles collection and it was done.  Until I decided to add the mount - in a deeper pink. All the card is from SU - confetti white, blossom blush and regal rose.