A Little Bit of Parchment

Thought I would try and post something different this week. 

I am having a little trip next week with some friends to Harrogate to the Parchment Exhibition.  My poor hubby has volunteered to drive the minibus - don't think he realised what he was letting himself in for taking 16 ladies on a craft trip.  They have all promised me they will behave and look after him !!!!!!!! LOL.

I used to go to Horncastle College for parchment weekends/summer school with Pauline Loweth (Parchment Express & Create & Craft). I made this on my first summer school week and although it wasn't perfect I felt a great sense of achievement and thought it was time I shared it with you.  Since then I have made several pieces and especially like gridwork (which has certainly improved).  Parchment is one of my loves although I don't have time to do much of it these days with everything else that gets in the way, it it a great way to relax.

I traced the basic fan pattern with a black fineliner pen on parchment.  On the main area of the fan I embossed several of the areas with a medium ball tool and then to make it a little bit whiter used a small ball tool, shading it where appropriate.  Every other area was embossed with a scriber and cross-hatched.  The gridwork was done using a 1-needle tool and then crosses cut out.  Various sizes of Sun tools and stencils were used for decoration.  Lower down the fan I used a mini stamp edge (which cuts where it is used). On the area near the tassel I stippled using a 1-needle tool onto a hard surface to give a different effect.

To finish I coloured some peel offs using a black promarker, parts of the peel offs were cut to form the embellishments and placed onto the parchment.  To make the fan look a little bit more realistic I made two more end struts and layered them on, black promarker was used again at the bottom of these.  The fan was cut out using a scallop tool to give a frill lace effect and then a tassel was attached.

I have place the fan onto black card as background to enable the parchment to show.

I hope you like my little creation this week.  It would be great for you to leave comments and also to hear from any other fellow parchers.

I am entering this into the following challenges (hoping that it is acceptable)

Allsortschallenge - Black & White

Emmascardsuk - Monochrome

CESchallenges - No Squares Allowed

Mymumscraftshopchallenges - Embossing

Totallypapercrafts - White on White

Thepoodlesparlour - Anything Goes

Papertakeweekly - Anything Goes

Divasbydesignchallenge - Monochromatic

Craftsandmechallenges - Favourite Colour Combo

Makeitmonday - Anything Goes

As always thanks for stopping by and looking at my little creations

Take Care

Hugs xx 

Have A Treat

I have been enjoying this lovely weather we have had, just hoping it will last a bit longer because I think we all feel better when we get the sunshine.
This week has been very hectic at work as it is end of financial year and probably like a lot of you it is a nightmare with stocktakes, invoices etc. Thank goodness it will soon be over.

Couple of bits of news I would like to share with you all.  I was lucky yet again to win a lovely card from Jo Channon using Joanna Sheen products and then I got Top 5 in the Allsorts Challenge with last weeks card 'Dance, Dance, Dance.

Now for this weeks little creation.  I made a birthday card last year for Lets Create and subsequently Jo Channon asked if I would like to do a workshop on it.  I will be posting pics later with the results from the ladies that came to the workshop.

Distressed Inks - a combination of Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Dried Marigold,& Spiced Marmalade - were used throughout the card.
Main Card - I cut an 8x8 card blank from Craftwork Cards in half and used one side to distress (the other half has been kept for another card) to form the base.  This was distressed and then spritzed (gently) with Cosmic Shimmer Mist Golden Fish. The mirri layer was cut using the faux technique (draw round the outside of the largest label and cut freehand). Two layers were cut using Grand Labels One, the largest & next size down in white stamping card and distressed.  The 4th layer I used coloured card, a mask was placed on this and distressed ink used.  The topper was pearl card, cut from labels 8 and distressed around the edges. The stamped image was from Little Claires (cupcake tree) and coloured with distress inks,  Another layer of mirri card was used then supported with foam pads. I then stuck layers 2,3,4 together. I cut 2 small pieces of lace and stuck a piece on each side and then on the left (as you look at the card) I placed a small piece of ribbon (from a 1metre length) on the lace and stuck that down on the back.
I then used another 8x8 card blank and glued 2 pieces of folded card to form runners along the top and botton as near to the edges as possible inside the card on one side, then place glue on the runners and shut the card flat to dry.
I made bunting, distressed and stamped letters onto them, bakers twine was used to string them together.  A cupcake was stamped onto pearl card twice and then coloured with promarkers.  I cut the icing part of the 2nd image and decoupaged it onto the cupcake.  Placed a little bit of twinkles on to the icing.
Inside Card - This was made from 3 layers from Lables 1 (2 white card and 1 coloured card) same technique was used as main card.  I used a cupcake recipe and which was cut using labels 8 and put onto a mirri layer.  The little pull handle can be done with small punches or 2 coins (2p & 5p) cut 2 and glue to and attached to either side of 1st layer.  I inserted the inner card into the main card making sure that it ran smoothly on the runners.
Putting It All Together - I stuck all the layers (main card) onto the base card (apart from the topper). Lace and ribbon was then stuck on the front of the card and also the lace piece.  I made sure that the gap would be covered by the stamped topper.  I then punched a hole through all the card (near to the centre) using crop-a-dile.  I then used the remaining ribbon (from the metre length) and fed it through the hole making sure that the ribbon was equal. The inner card was then placed into the main card gently pushing the ribbon, once fully in, the ribbon was threaded from the back through the pull handle and tied in a bow.  Finally the topper was placed on the card to hide the mechanics.  I made a stand and glued that to the back making sure the punched hole wasn't covered.  I placed the bunting around the card and secured the stamped cupcake using pinflair.

Phew - sorry it was a long explanation, got there in the end.

I have entered this into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Use a Cooking Recipe
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Stamp Something
Sweetstampinchallenge - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy - Anything but Square/Rectangle
My Mums Craft Shop Challenges - Stamp It
Partytimetuesday - Anything Goes
Lollipopcrafts - Anything Goes
Especiallymade - Distress


As always thanks for stopping by. I hope you like my little creation.
Take care and have a great weekend.
Hugs xx

With Love

Good news I have got my laptop back and feel better that it isn't taking me over 4hrs to do the blog and I can finally leave comments. didn't realise I would miss it so much.
Hope you all enjoyed the weekend - wasn't the weather great, thought spring was here and now its back to gloomy.  As it felt like spring I decided to do a card that hopefully reflected that, also gave me a chance to use some of my favourites things, using several dies and some stash that has been waiting to be used.

Once again I used one of my favourite card blanks as they are so versatile.  I found the spots & ladybird paper stock in my stash which I had bought sometime ago but never got round to using (sound familiar).  I used grand labels one (another one of my favourites), I used the outer edge of the largest size to create a faux edge in pink card.

I then used Cheery Lyn English Tea Party Doily (cut from Crafters Companion Pearl Card) edged with a touch of spun sugar distress ink (favourite). The stamped image (CC Pearl card) is from a set of clear stamps from pergamano, coloured with promarkers.  I used a spellbinders circle die, edged with spun sugar and some twinkles.  I used pinflair to lift it slightly from the doily.  Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish was used with green bazzill cardstock and placed under the doily.

The flowers were cut from Marianne Craftables (CR1204) using cardstock from my stash and layered to give a flower effect, edged with twinkles and a drop of cosmic pearl in the middle.

To finish I stamped a saying from Flowersoft stamps on pearl card edged with spun sugar.  Cut a ladybird from the waste paper and placed it on label.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Say It With Flowers
Pennyblack at Allsorts - Springtime
Cheery Lynn Designs - Use a Flourish
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Favourite Things
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Lots of Layers
Crazy 4 Challenges - Springtime
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Colour Inspiration
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Going Dotty
Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Mothers Day/Special Girl
The Poodles Parlour - Birthday
Totally Papercrafts - Favourite Things
Totally Stampalicious - Flowers
Papertakeweekly - Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - Spring is in the Air
CCmonthlychallenge - Spring

As always thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always appreciated.

Take Care
Hugs xx

Best of British

It hasn't taken long for one of my New Year Resolutions to be broken.  I promised myself I would try and blog more, and there I am on 17 days into the New Year and I have failed. 
Work has taken over again and maybe very busy for the next few months - hoping I can get more organised and try and do both.

Thought I would have a go at using more of my old bits and pieces from my stash and also a couple of new goodies that have been waiting to be used. At least I am keeping that resolution going (so far).

I used the Union Jack stamp from Indigo Blu and coloured it with Broken China and Fired Brick distress inks watered down and brushed onto the stamp to give it more of a distressed look.  Mat and layered it onto layers of Blue, White and Red card from my stash.
I used a Mini stamp from the Dream Cars from Creative Expressions with Memento and coloured it in with my promarkers.  I used my new metallic promarkers for the mirrors,wheel spokes and grills.  To make the lights look as if they were shining I used Crystal Lacquer.  I also used this for the windows to give the glass effect.
The image was die cut using a spellbinder die which was then also distressed with Broken China and Fired Brick.  I then embossed the edges of the die cut to give it a raised look and secured it with a deep layer of pinflair.
The edge of the card was embossed using the Cog Mask. To finish off I used some card candy I had in the same colours.

Hopefully I have given the feel of being British.  My hubby loves all kind of classic cars and thought the mini would symbolise it.

I am entering this little creation into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - Celebration of Nations
ABC Challenge - H for Happy Birthday
Crafty Cardmakers - No Floral Embellishments
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Anything Challenge - Anything Goes
Cards for Men - Boys & Their Toys
TrulyMadlyCraftyChallenges - Anything Goes

As always thanks for stopping by.  Your comments are always appreciated.

Take Care
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

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

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

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