Butterflies Galore

Apologies that it has been so long since I last posted.  It has been manic at work and other things have got in the way or being able to post regular.

I have a few problems with my laptop at the moment, so have had to crank up the old PC (which takes forever to do anything) to get blogging again.  So fingers crossed it won't be long before I can go back to my normal laptop.

As you can see I have been having a bit of fun with flitterglu and gilding flakes. 
                                                     

No Distressing



Distressed Version

 I have used crafters companion pearl card throughout as I like the effect it can give.

The base card was stamped using Flitterglu, Stampendous 'Butterfly Beauties' and Indigo Blu Gilding Flakes 'Morris Dance'

I used labels 1 and stamped the corners with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a small flourish from the Stampendous stamps. 

The main butterfly was from Indigo Blu 'Wild Meadow' set, stamped twice with Flitterglu and Crafty Notions Gilding Flakes ' Autumn Rose' as a contrast.

The sentiment stamp is from LOTV.  Decided to distress the card with Vintage Photo to give a different look.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Spread Your Wings
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Christmas Crafting - Non Christmas Image
The Pixie Cottage - Anything Goes
Do You Stackup - Things With Wings
Flutterbywednesdays - Butterfly, Fairy or Angel
Alphabet Challenge - B for Busy Bugs
Sparkles Forum Challenges - Things with Wings
Penny Black at Allsorts - Springtime
Stampin Sisters in Christ - Things With Wings
Samuel Taylors - Butterflies
CC Monthly Challenge - Spring

As always thanks for stopping by and looking at my little creations.   Your comments are always appreciated

Take Care
Hugs xx

Caribbean Wedding

Where has the time gone - we are already approaching February.  I don't know about anyone else, I do believe the older you get the quicker the days/months/years go by.

A friend asked my to make a wedding card for her niece who was getting married abroad - my remit was "anything bright with blue and to reflect the Caribbean" and hopefully I achieved that.  It was a chance for me to use different colours to my usual wedding cards.

The card had to fold flat as it would be travelling to the wedding destination, so I decided to make a double easel card with different shaped easels to add a bit more interest.  I stayed with 3 different colours - blue, orange & yellow throughout. As you can see I loved using the spellbinder edgeabilities to form the base in the 3 colours and also the large easel background.

The first topper on the large easel was a picture of the couple and framed with various layers of spellbinders classic and scalloped hearts.  The other topper was made from one of my new heart lac'e dies - which did all the hard work and produced beautiful work, I could not have cut them freehand with the same precision. I punched a 2" circle and then kept winding organza ribbon to form a flower rosette (secured along the way with double sided tape) which hopefully represented a Caribbean flower.

The second easel was made from labels 8 and stamped with stamps from Inkylicious Special Day Flourish.

For the main stopper I brayered gloss card with Kaleidacolour Desert Heat Inkpad (an alternative to Big & Juicy).  I cut a strip the length of the card and stamped palm trees and on a small piece of the same card used the smallest heart die and then stamped a couple walking (Stampscape Stamps) which was placed on the long strip - stopper for 1st easel.  Last of all I had been given the 3D flip flops, as they were the wrong colour I distressed them with Wild Honey and Dried Marigold and these created the stopper for the 2nd easel.

I am entering this little creation into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - One or More Hearts
Paper Creations Ink - Love/Romance
Inky Impressions Challenges - Heart You
The Pixie Cottage - Love & Kisses
Corrosive Challenges - I Heart You
Crazy 4 Challenges - Layer It On
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Ribbons
Drunken Stampers Challenge - Something New
Do You Stackup - Ribbons
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Anything Goes
Stamps R Us Challenges - Valentine/Love
Paper Pretties - Love
Sweet Stamps - Love
Hooked On Craft Challenges - Something Bright
Penny Black At Allsorts - Hearts & Love
Simply Create Too - Love Is In The Air

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

Take Care
Hugs xx

Sew-Delicious

Hopefully going to try and get a challenge card out by Tuesday/Wednesday of each week !!!
If I can get one done I will be happy.

My hubby and I have had a busy weekend trying to sort out some more items from my late mum. She was a seamstress many years ago, then once she had us girls making all our clothes and teaching us how to sew.  I went to a workshop (think it was a couple of years ago) and first used the tailors dummy die and knew I would want to use it again sometime and decided to do my own twist, doing this card brought back some lovely memories of her and looking at her old patterns gave me the inspiration to make this card. 

Still into these shaped cards as they give you a large background to work with.  I used different papers from Eline's Winter Hues Paper Pack for the background, dress and tape measure.  On the lower half I used a button mask and lightly embossed the paper. I then used Victorian Velvet Distress Ink all over the papers and then edged with Vintage Photo.  I then added some faux stitching around the card and the paper.

For the edge of the card I used a Marianne Ribbon Die on pearl card, used both distress inks again, then threaded some ribbon from my stash. Finished it with some Cosmic Shimmer Pearl.

The mannequin, buttons and thread reels were all from a Tim Holtz Die.  I used the paper rosettes die then stamped it with Joanna Sheen tape measure from the haberdashery stamp set it for a different effect.

To finish I used some scrap threads from my sewing box along with needles and threader.  The mannequin was finished with cosmic shimmer pearl, organza rose and a decorative pin to hold it in place.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Needles & Pins
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Seeing Spots
Papertakeweekly - Happy Highlights
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Crafts and me Challenges - Use Pins
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Anything Goes

Think this would have made a lovely birthday or mothers day card for her and I know she would have loved it as I hope you will.

As always thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments.

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

New Beginnings

First of all Happy New Year to you all and hope you all had a good time over the festive period. 
Its seems a long time since I got in my craft room to create anything and do my blog.  Must admit I have enjoyed a nice break from work, hopefully now feel ready and refreshed to start again with my crafting which was also put on hold for a little while.

My first offering of the year I thought would be a Wedding Card.  Its a lovely way to start the year with someone you love and it is a new beginning for the happy couple.

This also gave me an opportunity to have a play with some new & old goodies as well.

I decided to do an 8" x 8" square and turned it into an easel card.  I used an Indigo Blu stamp called 'Love Is' and tried a new technique (for me) using Flitter Glu and Silver Gilding Flakes.  I used several layers of silver mirri, snow white pearl card and bazzil coordinations cardstock.  I then edged some of the layers with Spellbinders Edgeabilities and layered the bigger squares flat, with the smaller squares placed on foam pads to lift them slightly . 

My trusty flower punch and Marianne dies came out again to make the roses which were edged with cosmic twinkles.  Made a bow from organza ribbon and placed this beneath the larger of the roses. To finish the front of the card I used a Bazzill Jewel template and gems to create a flourish in one corner.

I included an insert which I edged again with one of the co-ordinating edgeabilities.  The stopper was made using labels 8 and the stamped image was a verse from Inkylicious Wedding Stamp Plate.

Along with the card I made a co-ordinating box out of snow white pearl card, decorated with the same ribbon and roses and labels 8 for a name plate.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Papertakeweekly - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Stamps R Us Challenges - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin Challenge - New Beginnings
Allsorts Challenge - New Beginnings
Crafts and Me Challenges - Anything Goes
The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny Black at Allsorts - Love & Hearts

Thank you for stopping by, any comments are appreciated and welcomed.

Take care and have a good weekend.

Hugs xx

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