Little Girl Birthday

Welcome - thank you for visiting - I do appreciate you calling by.

Our Grand daughter is about to turn two, and this is the card I made for her.

I love this image from Bugaboo Stamps, Summer Peek Flower Pot, which was one of the first freebies I ever downloaded.

I coloured her with chalks, then edged the card with worn lipstick distress ink and doodled faux stitching with a sparkle gel pen.

I added some Kindy Glitz to the flower centres for some added sparkle.

The sentiment was gold embossed, cut with a ribbon tag die and sponged with worn lipstick ink before removing the die, and mounted with a red gingham ribbon.

For added colour, sparkle and texture I stuck these adhesive strips of glittered card across the bottom.  I was given a packet of four of these strips some time ago and do not know where they came from.

I am linking this to:

Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #60 - birthday card with ribbon

Crafty Sentiments - For a Child

Creative Card Crew Challenge #9 - Ribbon

Lady Bug Craft Ink TLT Challenge #59 - Birthday

My Time To Craft Challenge #178 - Garden Gems

Oldie but a Goodie - In The Garden (Image is over 6 months old)

Ribbon Carousel Challenge #50 - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting - may your day be blessed.

Fishy Beach

Greetings to my cyber visitors.

 I trust you feel welcome - and relaxed at this beach.

I made this from 'scratch', starting with a chalked background. The sky was chalk applied with my finger. The sea, chalk applied with a cotton bed (Q-tip), also using a torn piece of paper as a mask. 

The palm image (by Kiwistamping) was stamped using a watercolour crayon direct to stamp, and then touched up using a brush and colour from the crayons.  The fishing rod (Hastings Rubber Stamps) was stamped using a dye ink.

The sentiment was computer generated and double mounted.

Kindy Glitz was added to give the impression of foam on the wave edges.

The whole was then mounted onto a dark blue base.

A simple card which the photos do not really do justice to.

I am linking this to:

Card Crafters Circle Challenge #5 - Happy Birthday

Chocolate, Coffee Cards Challenge #4 - Glitter Latte

Crafty Ann's Challenge #56 - Lets Think Hot.

Fairy Fun Fridays Challenge #70 - California dreaming

Crafts 4 Eternity - challenge #54 - Recipe
Bugaboo birthday Challenge - Happy Birthday
The Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge #168 - Anything goes, with blue
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - All that Glitters

Thank you for visiting (and commenting, I love seeing your thoughts.)
 May your day be blessed.

CAS and Wood Themed

Welcome to my little spot of blogland.

I had to make a birthday card recently which was done in a hurry, and was the second one I had had to make for this person. This was the result.

The creative process was started with the tree stamp - one I had received earlier in the week in a blog candy/RAK from Kary over at Papercrafting and Travels as part of her birthday give-aways.

Next step was when this tag fell out from a tray as I was getting out some scrap paper for my desk - it was an old one which I promptly turned over and re-purposed.

I applied two inks to the tree stamp fairly randomly, not in a true rock and roll technique, but the idea came from that.

The edges of both the main tag and the white image panel were distressed and sponged, and the sentiment was stamped using the same ink.

The ribbon was originally white, but I ran it over the darker inkpad to colour it.  Although it looks as though a thread on the edges has not taken the die, it did eventually spread right through the ribbon.

The dp was from an "el-cheapo" pack I bought from the Warehouse when I first started to consider using layers - very early in my paper crafting days!! It had a very pale striped pattern on it, which did not quite 'fit', so I ran it through a woodgrain embossing folder, and then swiped it with an ink pad.

The base card is a dark hunter green, and the whole was finished with some bronze bling.

Total time from sitting down to completion - 25 minutes!!  Pretty quick considering I really didn't have anything in mind when I started.

I am linking this to:

Card Making Mamas Challenge #34 - Sentiments

The Culture Shock - DIY (for a DIY guy, who works with wood!)

Our Craft Lounge Challenge #94 - Tag you're it

Stempelsonnen Challenge #51 - Fir trees

Thanks for calling by. May your day be blessed.

Recipe:

Stamps - sentiment Kiwistamping, tree from Peace, Joy, Love set by Unity Stamps

Inks      - Memento Cottage Ivy, Bamboo Leaves, Desert Sand

Paper    - Warehouse pack,

Card      - hunter and lime green

Accessories - Rhinestones by Kaisercraft

Computer Geek

Welcome and thank you for calling by.

 I was asked to make a card for a computer buff - who works with, plays with, programmes and studies computers. I was asked to have a computer image on it. This is the result.

The images were freely available on the internet (Google Images).  They were printed, trimmed and mounted on dark brown card.

The design paper is one from a Kaiser 6x6 stack, Le Chateau.  

The sentiment is from Kiwistamping and was gold embossed, cut out and sponged with a Spellbinders ribbon tag trio die

The faux nail heads are my own creation - I punch out the circles, adhere them where I want them and then put a drop of dimensional glue on them.

I am linking this to:

Creative Card Crew Challenge - Monochromatic

Creative Craft Challenges - Free For All

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #91 - Anything Goes

Tiddly Inks Challenge #74 - Anything Goes

Cupcake Challenge #169 - Teenage Boys

Get Hippity with Ippity Challenge @10 - embossing

Hooked on Crafts Challenge #12 - punches or die cut
Diva's by Design Challenge #15 - Monochromatic
Fab and Funky Challenge #100 - Happy birthday
Papercraft Star Challenge #72 - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting - I do so appreciate it, and even more so when you comment.  

May your day be blessed.

Thank You to an Angel in Disguise

Welcome to my blog again, and thank you for visiting - I do appreciate it when you call by.

We recently have had a few disruptions to our usual laid back lifestyle, and during this time we had a friend who visited each day and bought us fresh baking - yummy!!  

This is the thank you card I made for her.

I started by stamping the May Boutique stamp from Layers of Color in black ink on white Cryogenic paper and clear embossing it.  the image was then painted with twinkling H2O's.  

The combination of the paints and paper gave an incredible sparkle to this IRL, and I have tried to capture it here. I then matted that onto a blue card and onto a white base.

  The sentiment was then stamped and cut out and sponged using the smallest die from the Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio.

The twill ribbon was simply folded and held in place with glue dots to make the bow, and the button adhered to the top.

I simple card to make, but one that I was very pleased with, as is the "angel" who received it.

I am linking this to:

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #115 - being thank-full

Touch Twin Markers - Florals Pt1

Woodware USA - Challenge #47 - Anything Goes
Anything Goes Challenge #51 - Die Cuts, Punches or both
Sweet Stamps Challenge #36- Clean and Simple
The Stamping Boutique Challenge #17 - Someone Special

Thanks for visiting - may your day be blessed

Bright and Beautiful

Welcome - I have been MIA for a few days as life was a bit fraught for a day or so, but has calmed down now, thankfully.

I wanted to make a card for a friend who has minimal sight, and this was the outcome.

I went for texture as well as contrast - the die cut is one I bought recently, called Italian Flourish by Cheery Lynn. I cut it out from glossy black card which I had spritzed with water and applied Opalite inks to. (Yes, the bottom of the die-cut was trimmed)

I then stamped the flower from the Simply Delightful stamp set on gold card, and the leaves from the same set with Bamboo Leaves ink onto white card and cut them out and placed them over the die cut.

I then added gold and purple glitter - the purple unfortunately looks very washed out here - and the pearl brad in the centre.

The sentiment is one of my original stamps from Kiwi Stamping. It was stamped and gold embossed and then the purple glitter applied - it shows a wee bit better here.

I am linking this to:

Bows 'n' berries Challenge #10 - Glitter

Critter Sketch Challenge #84 - Anything Goes

Get Hippity With Ippity Challenge - Buttons &/or bows &/or Bling

Karboodle Doodles Challenge #86 - Pretty Doily

Oh La LA Crreations challenge #89 - Punches and Dies

Squigglefly Challenge #117 - Floral fantasy

Stamp Fairly.com - Add some sparkle

Delightful insipration Saturday Challege - Die Cut Divas

Thanks for calling by - may your day be blessed.

Teddy Bear Congratulations

There is a very special wee miss being expected in our (extended) family shortly. As there is a holiday break occurring in the DT work for McMahon Five Design.com, I thought I would get a head start on some other cards.

I took my initial inspiration from the Simply Less is More Blogspot challenge for the week, which is to have a one layer card and 'something with legs'...

This teddy bear stamp is from Kiwistamping, who are responsible for my  papercraft addiction as they introduced me to stamping....

I firstly embossed the dots using a border folder by cuttlebug, then 

 stamped the teddy in graphite black and embossed him with clear detail ep, and coloured him with chalks.

The sentiment (from Layers of Color) was stamped and gold embossed, and the card finished off with a ribbon and pink rhinestone 'tummy button'.  

This was a quick card, and a real joy to make.  I am linking this to:

Simply Less Is More - Challenge #23 - one layer and something with legs.

Ai Factory Challenge Blog - Spots and Stripes

Moving Along With the Times - favourite things - chalks, embossing, teddybears

Pixie Dust Studios - Girly girly

Crafting For All Seasons Challenge #5 - Furry Friends

Diva's By Design - Pastels

Paper Pretties - Use an animal - bear :-)

Scrapalicious Challenge # 11- Use a bear

Thanks for visiting - May your day be blessed.

Ball Games

Greetings to you all - thank you for visiting today.

I managed some studio time during the weekend, and although all did not go to plan I did manage to achieve some success, this being one of them.

This card came together very quickly for which I am thankful.  This image is one that was available at the web site Free Digital Stamps and was from an artist by the name of Sliekje

I coloured him with chalks with a wee bit of sparkling ink on the letters on his sweater.

The sentiment is from Kiwistamping and although I embossed it, the emobssing was absorbed by the hand made paper

The cream coloured panel was embossed using a cuttlebug embossing folder - which 9 year old boy is not fascinated by spiders!!

This is just a quick post as I started the day with a migraine and should not be on the computer....

I am linking this to

Card Cupids - no patterned paper

Corrosive Challenges - birthday

Creative cowgirls Challenge - Anything Goes

Emerald faires Challenge #1 - Anything Goes

One Stitch At A Time #62 - Anything Goes

Paper Sundaes Challenge #69 - Happy birthday

Pile It On - Boys and Girls Come Out To Play

Scrappy Frog Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting, may your day be blessed.

Orange Butterfly

Greetings - it is nearly two weeks since last I posted - life just seems to have got in the way!!

Today I managed two cards, and I am posting this one as the person it is for does not read my blog so I am 'safe'.

I was inspired by Card Patterns Sketch 110, and this is the result.

The pink paper has a sheen on it, which IRL makes it really pretty.  I punched the border with a Martha Stewart punch, which seemed to set the theme of dotted curves.

The brown dp is some from a 'scrap pack' I was given,  the gold dots are embossed, making it a delight to work with. I am using it sparingly as there is only one small piece.  (Others call it hoarding!!)

The lace across the bottom is some tatting I did years ago and never used.... I threaded some gold ribbon through it for this card.

At one end I threaded a buckle through, and glued a really dimensional button on for a focal point... this came from my button jar which has buttons from both my mother and mother in law.

The butterfly I stamped and embossed with copper embossing powder on pale orange vellum - it is my original butterfly stamp from Kiwi Stamping, and for years has been my 'go to' butterfly stamp.  

I painted a few of the features and body with twinkling H2O's and used dimensional adhesives to mount it onto a spellbinders dotted circle cut from gold paper.  

I am linking this to the following challenges:

Card patterns sketch 110

Aud Sentiments Challenge #26 - Anything Goes

Do You Stack Up Challenge #15 - Scallops

Little Miss Muffet Challenge #7 - Glitter and Shine

Rainbow Ladys Challenge #148 - springtime

Sassy Studio Designs Spring Mix Challenge

Crafts And Me Challenge #30 - Ribbon

Fab n Funky Challenge Challenge #68 - Spotty and dotty

Flutterby Wednesdays #150 - Butterfly, Fairy or Angel

OWH Stars and Stamps - Layers

Thanks for calling by, I love seeing that you have visited.

May you day be blessed.

Simply Masculine

Greetings once more.

 Yes, another masculine card - this time it was made with the Less Is More challenge in mind.

It was quick and easy to make - a sentiment from Kiwistamping, a flourish from Stampin' Up, some Pearle thread (no string on hand) and a button.

The stamps were embossed with gold embossing powder which added a lot of drama to the card.

I somehow think this really epitomizes the Less is More ethos. 

This is being linked to:

  Less is More - A Masculine Card

Crafts and Me challenge #27 - anything Goes

Sisterhood of Crafters - Lets hear it for the Boys

Stampavie and More Challenge #134 - Masculine

Clear it Out Tuesday #2 - buttons

Everybody-art-Challenge#134- Happy Birthday

Totally Ladybug Tuesday Challenge# 20 - Monochrome

Thanks for visiting - I really appreciate the fact that you visit!

May your day be blessed

More sponging.

Greetings, and thank you for visiting.

Yes, I am on a roll with this technique!!  

Not only is it very effective, but it is quite simple, and thanks to the family crises we have experienced recently, I needed to make up some time with my card making to get some orders delivered in plenty of time.

  I turned this card sideways and sponged three greens into the frame - Memento Cottage Ivy, Bamboo Leaves and Pear Tart, by Tsudineko.

The poppy stamp is by Kiwistamping, and is coloured with my Stampin' up pencils and a white gel pen.

The greeting was stamped using a scarlet ink from a three coloured pad I have had since starting stamping!!  The final embellishment was the ribbon.

I have another card made using this technique here on my Splitcoast Stampers gallery.

Thanks for calling by - may your day be blessed.

You're A Star

Greetings - it's good to 'see' you back here, and thank you for visiting.


Today I had a birthday card for a young boy to make, and I resorted to a digi stamp again - this time one from Bug A Boo stamps entitled star.

Initially the image was printed onto copy paper, then glued onto card - unfortunately the glue stick 'smudged' and I was left with a lump in the surface, so out came the trusty cuttlebug, and I made a 'sandwich' using the A and B plates, then the image, the tan mat and a layer of chipboard and then the  C plate - ran it through and presto, the image was smooth.

I decided to keep things fairly simple and coloured the stamp with pencils and then sponged the edges, keeping the colours clear and bright.

I then cut a star out of gold card, using pencil and ruler to design it, and edged it with gold Kindyglitz.  The greeting from Kiwi Stamping and the hand written word 'star' were heat embossed on the base card. The card was assembled with the star onto the red base, then the image, and gold 'party confetti' stars glued around the edges.

This was a straightforward card to make and has a lot of sparkle to it.




I am linking this to :
Aly's Sunday Challenge #25 - Sparkle and Glitter


The Corrosive Challenge Blog #82 - Clean up the Dust - old stash, the stars

Sundays With Chrissy - Sparkle and Shine

Thanks again for visiting, and feel free to leave a comment - they are always appreciated.

May your day be blessed.