Christmas Sparkle

My goodness what a week it has been since my last post.  My friend Jo and I went to see the new Breaking Dawn film and can't wait to see part 2 next year. Not sure what you all thought of it, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.  The husbands didnt want to go so we had a girly night out.
My hubbies car decided to break down and I took some time out from work so he could use my car, me thinks that this was a good opportunity to get some cardmaking done - failed miserably, still trying to get more christmas cards done - at this rate I will have to go and buy some !!!!
My week got better as I won a card done by the lovely Jo Channon on her last Joanna Sheen show on Create & Craft.
However my final bit of good news is that I was lucky enough to win the Pennants & Bunting Challenge at the Allsorts Challenge.

Anyway enough chatter here is my latest creation (better late than never).

Have used the grand spellbinders (what did we do before these) in circles and scallop circles, I also used Create a Snowflakes dies.  The main stamped image is another one of the beautiful stamps from Heartfelt - Snowy Winter Background which I embossed in silver.   The little snowman stopper was 'Fun Snowman' from Woodware.  Everything was distressed with the new Tim Holtz distress inks Iced Spruce topped with Evergreen Bough and then I dabbed Cosmic Shimmer Twinkles on everything to bling it up. Just to add a little dimension I sculpted the snowflakes then placed them around the background image.
Simple but effective don't you think.

I am entering my little creation into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Going Round in Circles
Sweetstampin Challenge - Snowmen, Snowflakes
ABC Challenge - E for Embossing
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampsblog - Christmas Bling
Stampsruschallenges - Emboss It
Papertakeweekly - Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant Challenge - Snowflakes & Sparkle
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - Y is for Yipee

As always thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for all your lovely comments they are all appreciated,

Hugs xx

Birthday Pennants

What a weekend, I am recovering from a very hectic few days helping out at Jo Channon's shop Let's Create. It has been a fab weekend with several guest demonstrators, Steve (Little Claire's), Karen Lines (Creative Expressions) and Sheena Douglass (sheena.tv). Unfortunately Leonie Pujol (leoniepujol) was unable to make it as she had been struck with the cold bug going around (hope you get well soon).  Will hopefully put some photos on soon.

Couldn't  post my card before as I had made it for Jo and I didn't want her to see it before I gave it to her.

I used a card blank by Craftwork Cards for the base card,which I distressed with Dusty Concord Distress and then Seedless Preserve Distress on top. I then spritzed it with Ranger Pearl Spray Mist in Bubblegum.  The card layers were cut using Grand Nesties in Mirri, 2 layers of white centura pearl card - distressed using the same 2 distress inks, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Vintage Shabby Paper Stack (use a mask and distress through) , mirri again, the last layer in centura card.  The main image was stamped with a the lovely cupcake tree from Little Claire's and coloured with promarkers and light distressing in Dusty Concord to soften the image.  I placed a little bit of lace with cosmic shimmer ribbon under the main image topper.  I cut individual pennants which were stamped with small alphabet stamps and slightly distressed.  Bakers Twine was distressed with Dusty Concord and used to thread all the letter pennants,  Little bit of pinflair under to lift them.  I used a flower punch and made a rose, distressed again the with 2 distress inks then a little bit of twinkles on top.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Pennants
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Anything Challenge - A Real Sweetie
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Little Claires Designs - Shaped Cards
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Punches & Dies
The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Borders & Flowers

As always thanks for stopping by, your comments are very much appreciated.
Thanks for joining me in my little venture

Hugs xx

No Matting or Layering (& Top 5 with Allsorts Challenge)

I had a lovely surprise today, my Black & White Christmas Card was chosen as one of the Top 5 in the Allsorts Challenge last week.  Many thanks to Nicola and the rest of the design team for their lovely comments. 

Entering the challenges certainly starts to make you think more about different designs, styles and stretches you to do something that you wouldn't normally do. 

This week I have done something which is certainly out of my comfort zone.  I normally have lots of layers or 3d elements, so decided to go the total opposite to this. 
The base card is Centura Pearl Snow White with the illusion of layers - hope it comes across as this in the picture - but is in fact completely flat. 

To achieve this effect I started with masking the base card with low tack stencil tape at various widths on all 4 sides then started with the picture first.

I have used a combination of Creative Expression Stamps from Christmas and Vintage Christmas Stamps, stamped the tree and people first - I stamped the same images again onto Eclipse Masking Tape - the masks were placed over the original images and then I stamped  the manor house images over the masks to produce the background.  I stamped with Stormy Sky Distress Ink and also the light distressing around them. Did a little bit of watercolour with distress inks to highlight certain areas.
I then removed some of the masking tape to leave the pearl card 'layer' to form a frame.  On the next blue 'layer' I used Faded Jeans and tried to make the colour a bit darker.  Again I removed more tape and then finally used Faded Jeans again for the last 'layer' making sure that this was darker than the previous 'layer'.

The corners were embossed with Aurora Crystal Sparkle Embossing Powder and then over stamped using True White Embossing Powder.

Finally I used Fluffy Stuff with a sprinkle of glitter - decided not to heat just leave to try overnight -  to give the trees and ground the effect of snow.
Twinkles was dabbed onto the roofs of house.

On the second picture I used a silver metallic pen-touch to give the impression (hopefully) of mirri card with a deckle edge.

I am entering this little creation into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - One Layer Card
ABC Challenge D-for-Dazzle
Divas by Design Challenge - Monochromatic
Stamptacularsundaychallenge - Anything Christmas
Papertakeweekly - Christmas Cracker, Not Literally

Hope you like this effect.

All always thanks for stopping by, all your comments are very much appreciated and welcomed.

Take Care

Hugs xx

Classic Black & White

I say it everytime, where does the time go.

I have fully recovered from my little outing to the NEC on Thursday.  It was lovely to meet up with friends again and have some crafting fun.  Actually did behave (a little bit) and didnt go mad with my pennies although there was lots to see.

Thought I would have another go at some challenges and here is my little offering.  Not a drop of distressing in sight, thought I would try and keep it simple and hopefully elegant as well.

Purchased these lovely Heartfelt Pointsettia Ornament Stamps which fit nicely into the Spellbinders Heirloom Dies and just had to use them.

Stamped and embossed the images with Cosmic Shimmer Black Sparkle.  Cut them out using the dies.  Stamped the pointsettia images a couple of times with Stazon onto Mirri Card and decoupaged them onto the main images.

The background was created using a cuttlebug embossing folder and black card, matted and layered onto silver mirri card then onto black.  Before placing the mats onto the main card attached some silver thread to the ornaments and attached them to back of black card then mounted it all onto embossed snowflake card.

I have entered this card into the following challenges

Allsorts Challenge - Black & White Plus
Cards For Men - Its Nearly Christmas
Papertake Weekly - First Christmas
Sweetstamps - Non-Traditional Christmas Colours
Stamptacular - Punch It
The Pink Elephant - Embossing
Make It Monday #63

As always thanks for stopping by

Hugs xx

First Blog Challenge Card

Hi there, yet again another busy week.  However I am now off work for a couple of days as I am going to the NEC tomorrow(thurs) and getting very excited, looking forward to meeting up with old friends and hopefully meeting a few new ones. My sister has come to stay and this is her first time at the NEC, is she in for a shock.  I have warned her that Friday should be a rest day as she (and I) will need it.

As I wasnt sure what to put on the blog I thought I would bite the bullet and do my first blog challenge.  So here goes.

Decided to have a play with the Christmas House Mouse Stamps and could 'nt resist these two.
I used a BCE Octagon template.  Covered the base card with Kaisercraft paper - Wish Upon Twinkle, then used the reverse side and placed onto mirri card for the stopper.
Cut octagons from nestabilities.  On one octagon I stamped the image (walnut cradles) coloured with promarkers, highlighted the dripping wax using Crystal Lacquer.  Distressed the edges with Pink Taffeta Paris Trunk then twinkles.  The second octagon I used Marianne Pine Leaves and Spellbinders Poinsettia on card from my stash.  Coloured the leaves with Shabby Shutters distress ink and then used black soot on edges of leaves and poinsettia. Used tweezers to shape the poinsettia and a black pearl accent was used for the centre .  The message was off the walnut cradles stamp plate and the cut using Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Accents.  All edges were distressed and twinkled as the first octagon.

I am entering the following challenges:

Allsorts - Christmas Easel Card
BahHumbug - Diecuts
Ribbon Girls - Jingle All The Way
Papertakeweekly - Anything Goes

Well I hope you liked my first attempt, it would be lovely if you could leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks for stopping by

Take care for now

Hugs xx

Christening Card

Hello and Welcome again.

Time flies far to fast these days, I didn't realise it is nearly a week since I was here last.  Have been busy at work and haven't had much time to do the important things like crafting.

My little offering tonight is one I made for my sister-in-law who was going to be a Godmother for the first time and she wanted something special and also a keepsake.

I stamped the LOTV image onto stamping card and coloured it in using my promarkers.  Mounted and layered onto pink card out of my stash using Spellbinders Label 4 then onto patterned paper (sorry I can't remember the paper I used - just thought it went with the theme).  Used a strip of the pink card and punched a border using a Martha Stewart Heart Border Punch. To finish I decorated it with gems - the design was done using a Jewel Template, marking the holes where you want the design to go then placing the gems on the marks (this is a great way to get the look of the more expensive pre-made gem flourishes), flowers from WOC, ribbons and peel offs.
The box was made with the same pink as the main base card. Typed the details of goddaughter onto pink card and then I used Label 4 to make a plaque.  Matted and layered onto mirri card. More flowers and ribbon.  A different Martha Stewart punch was used, decorated with gems and secured with 2 different lengths of ribbon.

Definitely very girlie.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my little creations. 
Hugs xx

Birdhouse (unfortunately the bird has flown the nest)

Another sunny day - shame it won't last for much longer, the nights are already starting to feel colder.

I have had a fab day at a craft workshop run by Jo Channon (Lets Create). Got so messy it was great, we all produced totally different ideas that were all so colourful.
                                          
Thought I would share my little creation with you all.

                                                                   Not too messy YET

Not bad for a 1st attempt

A template of 1/4 of the roof was used to cut 4 pieces of coloured paper, then glued into place using pva - use a brayer to roll out any air bubbles and smooth out the paper ensuring that the edges are glued down well. 

I used several colours from the new range of Perfect Pearl Mists to colour the birdhouse - spray unevenly to get the desired effect.  Once dry I stamped with an archival inkpad and floral/leaves stamps around the roof and base.  The lace was also coloured using cosmic shimmer spray, dried with a heat gun (as I couldn't wait for it to dry). I used PVA to secure it to the birdhouse. Once again the flowers were cut from a punch, sprayed with pearl mist, scrunched to form the flower and dried.  Twinkles were dabbed over flowers, base and roof.

                                             Mark & Jo with some of the colourful collection

Pop over to Jo's Blog (http://www.letscreateakajochannon.blogspot.com/) to see what a good time was had by all and for more pics.

Thats all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Little Ballerina

Feels like ages since my last post, its just no good that work gets in the way of crafting Lol.

I am well and truly worn out after a hectic weekend including a brilliant day at Sincerly Yours Craft Show at Lincoln yesterday.  It was great to meet up with old friends and to meet new ones.  If you were lucky to go I hope you had a great time and didn't spend too much !!!!!!!!!!!!

My little offering tonight is a card I made for my youngest niece Ayshia for her 10th birthday, she loves to dance including ballet.  As she has such an unusual but beautiful name, just like her (but then I am biased), I always make sure I can incorporate it into the card for her. 
I couldn't resist the Molly Blooms Ballerina, she looks just like Ayshia right down to the freckles (which she hates)

 
I used the Grand Scallop Circles to make the base card, easel topper and the harlequin paper background.  Molly was stamped using memento and then coloured with promarkers - must remember to write down which colours I use in future.
A Marianne die was used to frame Molly, letter peeloffs for Ayshias name & age placed around.
Another favourite of mine is to make the paper roses using a flower punch and 2 shades of the foundations paper, I gave the finished flower a quick spritz with cosmic shimmer (Pearl - I think).
The stopper was made from a spellbinder label and finished with a Hero Arts stamp 'Birthday & Always'.

Hopefully you will continue to stop by and look, maybe leave a comment or two or even join as a follower.

Take care and have a good week

Hugs
Maria xx

Twins Birthday - Part Two

Well how are we all doing in this beautiful Indian Summer we are having.  It just doesn't feel right that its October and we are basking in the sun.  I have had to bring out the summer clothes again, but the winter ones could be back out soon again.

As promised this is the other card I made for the Twins 30th Birthday.  As you can see Amy is totally opposite to her sister, she loves shopping, ducks and all things girly.

The image was stamped onto stamping card and coloured with promarkers - sorry can't remember what colours I used.  I used the Spellbinder circle and the 'out of the box' technique and mounted it flat onto a Marianne die shape. Name and age was done with Storybook cartridge and shadowed with mirri card.  On the back of the card I used a label, stamped with Souffle the duck so that a greeting could be written.

Have a great weekend.
Thanks again for stopping by.

Hugs, Maria x

The Doctor !!!!!!!

No not Doctor Who but the motorbike champion (Valentino Rossi).

A friend asked for cards for his 30year old twins, Katy was into motorbikes & racing - you guessed it  - 'The Doctor' was her favourite and secondly cats.  Amy, well thats for another day.

I was lucky enough to find some photos and incorporated them into her card. One of simpliest cards I have made and she loved it.

 

Decided to do an easel card to show off the photos which were mounted onto mirri card cut from labels 8.
I used cricut storybook cartridge to cut out the 30 and Katy, then Katy was used as a stopper.
Cat stamps were from Clarity Stamps, stamped & distressed with black soot.

It would be great if you would would like to join and leave comments.
Thanks for stopping by and following my blog.

Hugs
Maria
x

Vintage Distressing

Happy weekend.  Just got time to post this Anniversary card I made for my lovely Hubbie.

Decided it was time to do more distressing and stamping, so out came my Sarah Kay & Kanban stamps

Love making these shaped cards at the moment, seems to go with everything.

I used Vintage Photo for the distressing, overstamping and colouring. 
The Tim Holtz Alterations Rosettes are great as an alternative to flowers. I also used the embossing folder then distressed it.

Thanks for stopping by
Take Care
Maria
x

Birthday Girl

I would like to share a birthday card I did for my friend Jo.  As she is a big fan of anything Tim Holtz, Distressing Inks, LOTV and Spellbinders, thought this would be a good starting point.

Also I would like to congratulate Jo on her first launch show with Spellbinders and hope you are all enjoying the shows as much as I am.


The inspiration for the card was from a class run by the lovely Clare (Cloudnine Crafts) that I went to some time ago and I just loved the original card, so thought I would do my own version of it.

I used white card cut out with grand labels, covered it with Tim Holtz Idea-ology Vintage Shabby Paper Stack and then distressed it with Pink Taffeta (Paris Trunk) & Dusty Concord.
The LOTV stamp is coloured with promarkers and cut out on another nestie and layered, Lace was coloured with watered down Dusty Concord.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are enjoying my little creations.

Hugs
Maria xx

http://distressedmiss.blogspot.com/
http://www.letscreateakajochannon.blogspot.com/

Butterfly Wedding Card

You know when you have that moment when someone says 'can you just '.  Well I had that when a friend asked me to make a wedding card based on the colour scheme for the wedding invitation - Yellow & Green with Butterflies.

I have to say that green is not my favourite colour - developed a mental block - yellow did become the prominent colour.  However once I got started I found my mojo.

Once I saw the look on my friends face all the hard work was worth it, it matched perfectly with everything.

 Used the butterfly stencil with distress inks to decorate the box

Hope you can see the pic - Like to decorate the tissue paper to match 

Once I started using  the Mini Flutterby stencil and distress inks (scattered straw & peeled paint) everthing had to be done!!!

I added dimension on the card with Grand Nesties using different layers, moving the stencil around then inking.  On the 3rd layer I used some beautiful butterfly material onto pearl card distressed with scattered straw for a different effect.

Large flowers were made from a punch and the smaller ones I used a Marianne Die.  Lace, ribbon and flowers all coloured with scattered straw then a touch of twinkles added.

To finish off I just had to use this lovely wedding stamp from LOTV, coloured with promarkers and a little bit of Flowersoft . Phew!!!

Well I hope you enjoy looking at my cards as much as I enjoy making and giving them.

Would love to hear what you think about it or to share my creations with your friends.

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care
Maria
x

Special Birthday

Well I hope you all had a good weekend even with all the wind and rain. Think we were lucky compared to other places.

I spent Saturday with some friends at our monthly parchment club (which is held at Let's Create owned by Jo Channon along with her lovely hubbie Mark). I find parchment very relaxing, it helps you forget about all your problems, moments of sadness or just to de-stress. Mind you think it was more chatting & eating cake and less parching this time.
On Sunday I decided that it was about time I tackled my craft room (again) and am still trying to finish sorting it out. LOL

I haven't had any time to make cards so thought I would share a parchment card I made in June for a friend on her very special birthday.

As you can see it is another template from BCE  http://b-craft-e.co.uk/ - love using them as you can do so much with them.

BCE Template, Crafters Companion Stamps, flowers (woc), gems, Marianne Frame Die, misc items from my craft stash, parchment, vellum

Hope you like it as much as my friend did.

Thanks for stopping by and following me in my little venture.

Take care
Maria x

Anniversary

Thought I would share my latest creation.

This was suppose to be an anniversary card with some pics - however as I couldn't decide which pic to use, I had to use them all and ended up as a card/album.  This is my take on one of Kim Sutton's new templates, paint fusion, masking & resist stamping.

BCE Template, Crystal Lacquer, Fired Brick Distress Ink, Nesties Grand Labels 1, Pebeo Paints, Promarkers, Sheena's Poppy Stamps

Have a good weekend
x

Here We Go!!!!!!!!!!

I have finally been persuaded to join the modern world and have a blog. 
Not sure how this is going to work and how much time it will take for me before I get it right.

My first little showing is a card I made for a friends daughter (Joanne) on her 40th Birthday.

I have used one of Arty Farty Templates (Bottle) and made it into an easel card. 
Lilac's. purples and silver were the order of the day.

Crafters Companion Stamps, Flowers - Wild Orchard Crafts, misc items from my craft stash, Nesties - Ovals, Promarkers, Scallop Ovals

I have used this template a lot, however this was the first time I tried it as an easel and was very pleased with the results. 

Sorry about the photos - David Bailey (or any other photographer) I am not, hopefully this will come with time and practise.

Hope you like the card, please feel free to leave  comments and thanks for stopping by.

Maria x